Barn-door To Tailgate Conversion

[Johnjacko]

Morning John,
Mechanically I think the T5.1 tailgate will fit, but I’m not sure on the wiring side of it.
I can’t think of anyone who’s transplanted a T5.1 tailgate to a T6 so can’t say whether it’s doable or not. Hopefully someone else here may be a little wiser.

Where have you been looking for a tailgate? Kernow Transporters,
North West Transporter Parts, and
T5 Cotswold Parts
spring to mind.

PS how is the van driving now that you’ve changed out the VanSlams for original suspension?

The van drives so much better with the original suspension, I didn’t like the harshness of the ride, my son has had my Vanslams fitted to his t6, he loves it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
did I get the original suspension from you ?

 

[skinner51]

The Vagnostics wiring kit consists of a 6 pin relay that, when energised, is set to provide your actuator/solenoid with 15 seconds power when unlocked - this means that at all other times, the tailgate handle will effectively be switched off.

Relay wiring is as follows:

Pin 2 - wired to a 12v feed (wiring included).​

​

Pin 5 - wired to a 12v feed (wiring included).​

​

Pin 4 - joins the van loom at pin 14 (for the unlock pulse, which in turn energises the relay timer).​

​

Pin 6 - earthed to van.​

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Pin 8 - joins the tailgate loom at pin 11 for the handle.​

​

The relay interrupts pins 11 and 14, which should be earthed to prevent a loss in the electrical circuit throwing up errors in the BCM.​

Alternatively you can opt for an OEM approach where the relay isn’t used and a wire is run from the tailgate to the BCM with coding to accept the different locking requirement. @Eddcameron who runs VolksFit is the only outfit that I found able to do this (trust me, I telephoned loads of auto-electricians..!). Edd appears to know the VW electrical system better than VW do themselves, so he's your man for anything like this.

Hi Can I use just a standard 6 pin relay as I can’t find Vagnostics wiring kit

 

[Ads_Essex]

Hi Can I use just a standard 6 pin relay as I can’t find Vagnostics wiring kit

No idea mate. I binned it and had the van wired correctly. I don’t know what the relay properties were.

 

[Ads_Essex]

The van drives so much better with the original suspension, I didn’t like the harshness of the ride, my son has had my Vanslams fitted to his t6, he loves it ‍♂
did I get the original suspension from you ?

if you’re down in Thorpe Bay then yes mate, that was me. Glad to hear the van is running better.

 

[skinner51]

Ok I VcDs so can program with help but what wiring do I connect to. Do you where I can get help on this ? Cheers

 

[Ads_Essex]

Ok I VcDs so can program with help but what wiring do I connect to.
Do you where I can get help on this?
Cheers

Post #48 covers that.

 

[skinner51]

Thank you for your help

 

[Johnjacko]

if you’re down in Thorpe Bay then yes mate, that was me. Glad to hear the van is running better.

Hi Adam , yes I’m in Thorpebay,
I have a tailgate now, just hoping it’s going to fit !

 

[Littleblackflash]

Connecting the Heated Rear Screen.
This sounds easy but it was a pain. You need to change the heater controls for a matching unit but with the extra button for the heated rear screen. This is simply plug and play and no wiring is needed. It uses CAN to send a message to the BCM to turn on the rear screen or not.
I brought a unit from an old Golf for £10 and took minutes to swap over.

Using VCDS, go to Module 9 Central Electrics and enable Byte 15 Bit 7 Heated Rear Window installed.

You can check with VCDS through adaptions if the switched is pressed and recognised by BCM.

You now need to run 1x 2.5mm^2 cable from Pin73 of the white BCM plug to Pin 17 (check, it could be pin16). I'm assuming you already have the earth cable attached or you won't have the brake light or number plate lights.

I couldn't find the correct terminal to go in the BCM. It's the largest size pin 6.3 mm wide. If anyone knows where to get this terminal, please post on here. I used a pin from a BMW who I work for, but it doesn't click in correctly.

Edit to above.
The rear heated screen used 2x pins in the 17pin connector. Pin 17 is the power feed from BCM as above, and Pin 16 is the neutral for the screen only. It doesn't use the same neutral as the rest of the tailgate.

 

[skinner51]

Hi anyone got the wiring diagram for this either via the BCM or a relay for the lock as the company mentioned is knoW longer trading cheers

 

[Deleted member 30665]

Hi, we've just done this conversion to our van, but have found that a genuine tailgated van has a much stronger (thicker, 3mm double-skinned plus the spreader plates) roof/closing panel - where the tailgate hinges go.

So even with the genuine spreader plates fitted, there is still way too much flex as you open and close the tailgate.

I'm concerned that after some use it's going to seriously weaken/fatigue it.

Has anyone else noticed this? The whole point of the conversion for me was to add a genuine or fiamma bike rack, I'm not sure about the extra weight now!
Has anyone converted to tailgate and then added 4 bikes?

Thanks!!

Thanks for the information Dave. How is your tailgate now, have you noticed any fatigue in the hinge area? Where did you get the information from that a genuine tailgated van has a stronger/thicker construction around the tailgate hinge mounting area?

I have a T5.1 that was converted by a previous owner from barn door to tailgate. I installed upgraded gas struts and a Fiamma bike rack a couple of years ago. I recently noticed fatigue in the hinge area and a small split next to the hinge. From what you mentioned, I'm relating that to the potential weakness in that area with the load and conversion? I do notice a slight flex in the roof/hinge area when closing the tailgate on initially pulling against the resistance of the struts. I also noticed some rusting in the hinge bolt area inside, where the tailgate conversion may have caused fatigue and moisture ingress??

 

[skinner51]

The BCM outputs do not have defined functions so the pinouts are different between the vehicles
For example if you have LED headlights BCM pins 28 & 56 control the LEDs up front but if you have barn doors the the two cables that would be connected to these are doubled up (via a separation relay) and one of these terminals controls the deadlocking on the barn doors
I think the PR codes are BS, everytime i order a control module from VW i have to supply a VIN number to order against but the module always come blank (no coding, no WSC, no importer code), FWIW all T6s come with 090 BCMs (unlike T5.1s that had 87/88/89 etc and needed upgrading if you wanted to add a higher feature to a lower BCM) so i always thought any BCM had the capability of controlling any function, i imagine it just needs a cable running back to the BCM to get it working properly

Hi

I've had a few people contact me to ask how to wire up the tailgate lock, so here's how.

Why it's different
The barn doors uses a mechanical lock similar to the front doors. When you unlock the van, the body control module (BCM) sends power to all the locks for a fraction of a second which moves a solenoid in the locks to unlock them.
The tailgate uses electrical switched on the outside and inside of the tailgate, and sometimes one in the front door to tell the BCM to open the tailgate lock. Even though these switches are pressed, the BCM will only open the tailgate if the van isn't moving and the doors are unlocked.

How do you do it?
The wire telling the lock to unlock on the barn doors can't be used and needs to be cut and taped up. This wires does go back to the BCM but is still needed to unlock the front doors so don't change this wire on the BCM.
You need to add 2 wires to the tailgate connector from the BCM, one for the switches, and one for the lock.

Connections.
The tailgate has it's own harness with a 17pin connector joining it to the van.
1 - LOCK - From Pin14 on the tailgate 17pin connector to Pin10 on the black plug of the BCM.
2 - Switch - From Pin13 on the tailgate 17pin connector to Pin23 on the black plug of the BCM. (If you want any additional switches to open the tailgate, just add another switch in parallel earthing Pin23 from the BCM)
3 - The tailgate needs an earth. Pin 15 needs connecting to the earth point down the D-Pillar near the rear light.

Coding
Now you need to tell the BCM that a tailgate is fitted and it needs to look for the switch signal.
Using VCDS, go to Module 9 Central Electrics and enable these.
Byte 01 Bit 5 Central Locking/Rear Lid: Contact controlled on detent
Byte 01 Bit 7 Central Locking/Rear Lid: Rear Lid Locking/Unlocking via Central Locking
Byte 07 Bit 5 Central Locking/Rear Lid: One-Motor-Lock installed
(This is from memory, hopefully someone can check it)

Testing
Hopefully at this point your tailgate is working correctly.

To test the lock, you can manually trigger it using VCDS.

VCDS monitors if the latch is fully engaged or not. Select Measuring Blocks Group 006:

Field 2, field 3 = "Open", "Open" = when rear lid fully open​

Field 2, field 3 = "Closed", "Open" = when rear lid ajar (at first latch).​

In the picture below the lid was obviously closed.​

To check if the BCM is
getting the signal to open the lock, the statu
s shown in Group 008, field 4. Just indicates that the switch is pressed or not.

Could someone following this let be know if I've made any errors and I'll correct this post. Thanks to MMI to helping me understand this and getting mine working.

Hi haven't wired it up yet but had a look with VCDS and my BCM hasn't got these options ? 2016 T6 Cheers

 

[Longo]

I have just bought a rear end for my 2005 Vw t5 which is barn doors what wiring loom bits will I need please at a loss

 

[skinner51]

Barn Door taillamps to Tailgate tail lamps

Nearside taillight to be rewired in to tailgate connector plug (part 1J0973733) as follows:

1 grey / blue with black stripe.​

​

2 fog - empty​

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3 black with white stripe.​

​

4 Brown​

​

5 green with black stripe.​

​

6 black with red stripe​

Offside taillight to be rewired in to tailgate plug (part 1J0973733) as follows

1 black with red stripe

2 grey with white stripe

3 Brown

4 black with green stripe*

5 green with black stripe

6 grey with red stripe*



The asterisk indicates that I wrote down one thing but yet photographed a finished article as another. I don’t know. Trial and error it. Whats the worst that can happen.



It seemed that I could only find a VAG terminal removal tool (which looks like a miniature pitchfork) on eBay, so don’t waste your time in Halfords / ToolLine / ScrewFix / whathaveyou. Say goodbye to the feeling in your thumbs if you end up using a paperclip to free up the cables.

Hi have tried this and lights won't work (Transporter HQ LED style) unable to get working Any ideas please

 

[skinner51]

View attachment 34499 View attachment 34499 View attachment 34500 View attachment 34501 View attachment 34502

Hi have tried this but unable to get rear lights working ? 2016 T^ transporter hq led lights

 

[Ads_Essex]

Hi have tried this and lights won't work (Transporter HQ LED style) unable to get working Any ideas please

I’m afraid not. I worked my tail lamps out by trial and error - sat in the back with the light and loom disconnected from each other, taking it in turns to switch lights on and see what illuminates (You’ll see that the hefty brown cable is the earth). Write down what each cable does and you’ll soon have them sorted.

 

[Project 400]

Hi, I have a T5.1 and I have done a Front and Rear T6.1 facelift, I have been having a few issues with the fog/reversing light wiring (I'm using LED T6 lights currently), I will separate the looms (as you suggested @Ads_Essex) and do some testing over Easter to try and figure it out as currently I cannot get it through the MOT

I am planning on changing the T6 LED lights for the T6.1 Tron style LED Rear lights, do you anticipate any issues? I did read somewhere that I might need resistors? to stop a fast flashing indicator? I have a bulb warning light currently when I first touch Brake pedal, but I understand this can be coded out.

Finally, regarding the Tailgate wiring, are there any disadvantages with wiring the Tailgate handle to the Interior light (other than if the light is manually left on by mistake your Tailgate is unlocked) Is it really worth the hundreds of £'s for the wiring back to the Central unit etc.

I apologise if any of this has been asked before elsewhere on the forum.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Jacker]

I’ve finally bitten the bullet and bought a conversion kit, I’m trying to prep as much as I can before attempting the conversion and have bought the plugs for the van to tailgate loom (rather than splicing).

Does anyone know the cabling plug to plug numbers? Such as which pin on the van, to which pin on the tailgate? @Ads_Essex ? @Littleblackflash ?

 

[Ads_Essex]

Hi, I have a T5.1 and I have done a Front and Rear T6.1 facelift, I have been having a few issues with the fog/reversing light wiring (I'm using LED T6 lights currently), I will separate the looms (as you suggested @Ads_Essex) and do some testing over Easter to try and figure it out as currently I cannot get it through the MOT

I am planning on changing the T6 LED lights for the T6.1 Tron style LED Rear lights, do you anticipate any issues? I did read somewhere that I might need resistors? to stop a fast flashing indicator? I have a bulb warning light currently when I first touch Brake pedal, but I understand this can be coded out.

Finally, regarding the Tailgate wiring, are there any disadvantages with wiring the Tailgate handle to the Interior light (other than if the light is manually left on by mistake your Tailgate is unlocked) Is it really worth the hundreds of £'s for the wiring back to the Central unit etc.

I apologise if any of this has been asked before elsewhere on the forum.

Thanks for your help.

I've received your PM and am typing up a reply

I’ve finally bitten the bullet and bought a conversion kit, I’m trying to prep as much as I can before attempting the conversion and have bought the plugs for the van to tailgate loom (rather than splicing).

Does anyone know the cabling plug to plug numbers? Such as which pin on the van, to which pin on the tailgate? @Ads_Essex ? @Littleblackflash ?

This post & this post may cover it

 

[Jacker]

This post & this post may cover it

Thankyou mate, yeah I’ve printed off the lists and tried to get something together, I’ll try and get something together to add onto here if I manage to get it sorted.

Thanks for the whole guide, I wouldn’t be attempting it without your input!