My rear lift gate is not opening fully on my 09 Chevy Tahoe. It opens about 18 inches and closes. It's difficult to lift up manually. Locking mechanism works fine and starts to open. Any suggestions?

Question edited for clarity and typos.
Question moved to model category.

Others report the same issue.

https://www.google.com/search?q=2009+Tahoe.+The+rear+lift+gate+open+on+its+own

Here is how it works !
Liftgate Locking Operation
The lift gate will lock any time the vehicle is shifted out of park on vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission and at vehicle speeds exceeding 5 kph with manual transmission. This happens in conjunction with auto door locks if enabled or independently of auto door locks if the feature is disabled. This ensures that the lift gate is locked anytime the vehicle is shifted out of park or when the vehicle is in motion.
The lift gate lock relay supply and coil sides receive a constant voltage through the battery voltage supply circuit and the ECC fuse. The normally closed contact is connected to ground and the control side is connected to the body control module (BCM). A lock function will occur when a door lock switch activation, keyless entry lock transmission, auto door lock function or a lift gate lock function has been received by the BCM. The BCM will then ground the control side of the lift gate lock relay. This energizes the relay and allows voltage to be applied to the lift gate lock actuator lock control circuit. Since the other side of the lift gate lock actuator is connected to the normally closed contacts of the door unlock relay to ground, the lift gate will lock. When an unlock function occurs the BCM will ground the control side of the unlock relay and the rear doors and lift gate will unlock.
The BCM also runs diagnostics on the lift gate lock relay control circuit and will set DTC B3825 as current and also send a Class 2 message to the DIC. The DIC will display REPLACE LIFTGATE FUSE to inform the driver that a fault has been detected in the lift gate lock circuit and that the lift gate is not locked. Faults that will set the DTC and cause the DIC to display the message could be any of the following:
?€¢
An open ECC fuse

?€¢
An open or short to ground in the lift gate lock relay battery positive voltage circuit

?€¢
A faulty lift gate lock relay

?€¢
An open or short to ground in the lift gate lock relay control circuit

?€¢
A short to ground in the lift gate lock actuator lock control circuit

?€¢
A faulty BCM

[SOLVED] False Gate Ajar/Rear Access Open warnings: follow up post ...

forums.trailvoy.com > ... > 02-09 General Tech Q&A > General

Dec 28, 2009 - 4 posts - ‎2 authors
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A short stoll?

Insert the key and turn the lock cylinder while lifting up on the lift gate. You have to get the gate open. Once open, The strike plate (where the locking mechanism hits) is bolted to the jamb. Loosen the bolts and slightly move it toward the rear of the vehicle. NOT TOO MUCH!
Tighten the bolts, and try it. Hope this helps.

try removing your shocks/struts for the lift gate. once removed, check to see if they fully extend in and out of the barrel. You may have bent shocks/struts. Also, check to see there is nothing preventing the lift-gate from opening such as a bolt or acorns between the spoiler and the roof...

if they are controled or usually opened electrically, then it is probably a fuse. Check your fuse panel

check fuse first always, then check connections fron rear gate to body.