Odd electrical problem
 

When I use the driver door mounted button to lift the rear hatch on my Cayenne, the lifting mechanism will engage and start to lift, only goes up 1/2-1" or so, struggles, fails, falls down and relatches itself.

2 common reasons for that: bad battery, bad tailgate motors.

Battery is good. And here's the odd part. If I use the button again right after the door falls down, it opens perfectly fine.

What kind of electrical problem would do that?

Intermittent switch maybe ? Start simple and check/clean ground connections . See if you can bypass/jump the switch . If it consistently works then the switch is the issue . That's all I know to do .

Good thought. The switch is brand new from the dealer though I'm not sure that means much anymore. I had to put a new door lock actuator in a month or two ago and put the switch in at the same time. I can take the door panel off again and run jumper leads to test that, thanks.

It is probably not electrical. It probably has struts to help lift it...and when they start getting weak/n replacing, it always shows up when cold weather hits.

I concur doctor Fint.

Shaun, Simple test. Drive south to warmer weather and see if it works again.

I don't think it's struts. Been doing it for a while and was even just recently 75F here... actually been in the 70s all fall...thank you global warming. COLD now though, have to put the winter wheels on, Pirellis don't like 40F and below weather.

I'm taking the 911 down to FL when I get the seats, gets way better mileage than the Cayenne. And just going to install them there for the trip back. :D

Your seats are in Florida? You've got car parts all over the east coast, how do you keep track?

It has been cold here for a month.
Not global warming...

Once struts fail, although first identified by the cold, warm weather will not fix them.

try reprogramming the height limit adjustment.

I have parts all over the world: suspension stuff in NJ, seats in FL, transmission in TX (was supposed to go last Christmas and see friends and ship it back...covid or something happened) and Scirocco fenders in England, really looking forward to going to get those this spring.

Buying stuff all over the world creates adventure. And you get to see friends you wouldn't otherwise when you go to collect them. Just wish I had more time. When I'm up at 3AM today to finish polishing some window frames and get to the anodizer at 5, then the plater at 11, and that routine becomes normal, it starts to become a problem to go and get stuff. January, have to hire at least 2 people.

I will try that, thanks Lewis. Still have the surrounds, I now have someone who can wax fill for multi-color designs.

Well it opened perfectly fine 5 times during the day today and then end of day one time as noted in my OP.

It's got to be a ground I think.