'25 Limited - Tailgate open, overhead lights won't turn off, Wireless phone charger doesn't work, Uconnect weirdness

[StuartV]

I have a '25 Limited that I got at the end of May. I think this is the first time I've driven it with the tailgate open, so I don't know if what is happening is new or if it has been like this all along.

I loaded my motorcycle in the truck Friday after work, in prep to leave early Saturday morning to drive up to the dealer to have it serviced. Bike in back means tailgate is open. Driving to dinner on Friday night, the interior cabin lights (all of them, not just the ones right over the center console) would not turn off.

Saturday morning, the lights still wouldn't turn off. Also, my Uconnect acted like it was rebooting or something, making me think it might have gotten an OTA update. But, again, this was Saturday morning and the overhead lights wouldn't turn off Friday night, so....

Before I left my place on Saturday morning, I disconnected both batteries, waited 30 seconds, and then connected them back. That made no difference.

Once the Uconnect started up, it was displaying a reset home screen. I.e. not the normal 2-pane homescreen I had setup that shows CarPlay on top and Music on the bottom. It was reset to 3 panes with the built-in Nav on top.

When I tried editing the home page to change it back to how I like, I was able to choose the 2-pane, top and bottom, arrangement and add Music to the bottom pane, but it no longer shows CarPlay as a Widget that I can choose to display in the top pane! I can hit the CarPlay "button" at the bottom of the screen to have CarPlay show in fullscreen mode. But, I can no longer have it show just in a pane on the home screen.

I drove 100+ miles to Charlotte to drop off my bike for service. Overhead lights on the whole time - which is REALLY annoying when it's dark out (I left before sun-up).

Somewhere along the way on the ride up, I noticed that my phone, sitting in the wireless charging dock, was not charging. No Blue (or Red or Green) light showing next to it like normal.

After I got to the dealer and unloaded the bike, I closed the tailgate and the overhead lights went out and I noticed that my phone charger was working again.

I drove around Charlotte for a few hours, then went back to the dealer and picked my bike up. Once the tailgate was down again, I was back to overhead lights that would not turn off and a phone charger that did not work. I drove 100+ miles home like that.

Just before I got home, my phone battery actually died.

At home, I left the engine running, rolled down the driver's window, got out, closed the door, reached in through the window and put my key fob on the driver's seat, then unloaded my bike from the truck.

After unloading, I used my iPad to record this video. It shows the overhead lights are on, my phone is in the charging cradle, dead, and the tailgate open indicator is showing on the dash (red icon on the left side). The instruments also show Key Fob has left the Vehicle because I got out and closed the door with the key fob in my pocket, then reached back in through the window to set it on the seat.

After recording video of that, I walk to the back of the truck, close the tailgate and walk back to the driver's window and you can see that the overhead lights have gone out, my phone has started charging, and the tailgate ajar icon on the dash is gone.

I do have the MFT (Multi-Function Tailgate) and RamBoxes.

Has anybody else noticed these issues with having the tailgate open??

 

[MannyN]

My bed extender has clips on each side that click into the tailgate latches. This simulates a closed tailgate, no lights and no warnings on the dash. You can use a screw driver and push the locks on the tail gate, it will disable the warning and lights staying on. Just don't forget to release the locks before closing.

 

[StuartV]

My bed extender has clips on each side that click into the tailgate latches. This simulates a closed tailgate, no lights and no warnings on the dash. You can use a screw driver and push the locks on the tail gate, it will disable the warning and lights staying on. Just don't forget to release the locks before closing.

Are you saying that with your tailgate open you also cannot turn off the interior lights?

And your built-in wireless phone charger also does not work with the tailgate open?

 

[Bsjoiner]

Is there an aftermarket product to trick the truck into thinking the tailgate is closed. Similar to the seatbelt buckles that turn off the beeping.

 

[StuartV]

I confirmed again this morning that this is still a real thing with my truck.

I also confirmed that lowering the tailgate turns the interior lights on and turning off the bed lights using the switch that is on the sidewall in the bed does not turn the interior lights off. Only closing the tailgate lets the interior lights turn off.

And only closing the tailgate allows the wireless phone charging pad to start working.

 

[StuartV]

Thanks to @Peterhenric in the other thread for posting me a picture!

I am a big old dumbA$$!!

There are two buttons in the overhead console. I was pressing the one on the right, which turns the interior lights on/off. I never tried the button on the left. I thought that button was to turn on/off the mirror auto-dimming. Obviously, I did not look at it closely enough.

It never occurred to me that there would be second button there that ALSO turns the interior lights on/off.

DUUUUHHHH!!!

So, that button (on the left) does indeed turn off the interior lights for me when the tailgate is open.

And, it seems that when the interior lights are on or the driver's door is open, the wireless charger turns off. That is still dumb, I think. But, the wireless charger seems to work when the overhead lights are off and the door is closed, even if the tailgate is down.

So.... I am all good now. Thank GOD I didn't take it to the dealer and go through all that just for them to go "watch this" and then push that button... lolol!!!

 

[MannyN]

Is there an aftermarket product to trick the truck into thinking the tailgate is closed. Similar to the seatbelt buckles that turn off the beeping.

Like I said, I have this tailgate extender with the tie down straps. It holds it down and locks the tailgate lock. When inserted, there is no tailgate warning on the dash.

 

[Bsjoiner]

Like I said, I have this tailgate extender with the tie down straps. It holds it down and locks the tailgate lock. When inserted, there is no tailgate warning on the dash.


View attachment 207569

In the 2019 and newer trucks, the bed extender is different and I think only available if you have the RAM boxes. I wish I could find just the strap part and that would solve the issue.

 

[MannyN]

In the 2019 and newer trucks, the bed extender is different and I think only available if you have the RAM boxes. I wish I could find just the strap part and that would solve the issue.

I have a 19 Big Horn and no Ram Boxes. You can just push the lock close with you finger, very easy. Just don't forget to unlock them before closing your tailgate.