Comfort Access Error

[Arno]

After mounting paint protection film (PPF), a while back, I can no longer get Comfort Access for frunk (hood) to function with my hand sliding back and forward. However the trunk is working as normal with foot gesture, so I might doing it wrong despite good instructions on this forum.

I’ve tried standing and mowing my hand different directions and distances, jumping up and down, even a few cool dancing moves - but the hood does not eject. I even tried my old karate and judo tricks, still with no luck, the hood is stuck.

So, as of now I use the old school method and fish the key up from my pocket, every time needing the charging cable stored under the frunk. The only thing I succeed so far with all my gestures, are strange looks from my neighbor’s, wondering if I’ve gone mad (as I haven’t, at least not more than usual).

It might be a broken sensor or just a loose connection, as the front spoiler was dismounted some time ago due to strange noise from the AC-fan (small fix). Still I wonder if it might be the PPF, as this issue was discovered recently.

Have anyone else of you Taycan owners encountered something similar? Look forward to a few feedbacks on this issue. Thanx!

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[ron_b]

I also look forward to others success stories. I must say sometimes I try it and it works great. Then other times it ignores me. That was in the first 5 days of ownership. Now I am getting mine wrapped also. Will keep you posted.

 

[Bfreedma]

I am experiencing the same problem. The front hood opened with a wave of the hand prior to PPF but, I've not been able to repeat this magic post PPF. I too tried dance moves, karate chops, and prayers...all to no avail. Looking forward to hearing that it has nothing to do with PPF and everything to do with some esoteric setting in the menu. Ideas?

 

[Arno]

Thank you for the follow ups, guy’s

I does somewhat make sense, as the self healing PPF is rather thick - and has to be to prevent damage from flying rocks or haters wanna key another vehicle. Still though, I mean Porsche should have way of adjusting this sensor. PPF and vinyl wrap is rather common these days. I look forward to more post on this issue!

 

[Scandinavian]

I think you are correct @Arno, it seems the PPF and Ceramic has reduced the sensitivity. Before PPF my hood popped open quite easily. Sometimes also when it was not intended.
After PPF it is opening more like 2 out of 5 times I try. Not quite every second time.

Before your post I had not even reflected on it since I hardly ever use the front space. But now with our lockdown I have opened the hood to get access the battery. I have put on a Lithium battery charger to make sure I have no problem with the 12 volt battery. Car will be locked away for some 4 weeks or so. Unfortunately.

 

[ron_b]

Maybe @LukeManning can provide some feedback on the sensitivity change due to ppf and if there is any corrective action that he's aware of. Thanks Luke.

 

[wemct]

I was on my way to the dealership yesterday for a service appointment to fix a slight rattle in the driver's side B pillar, and to fix the frunk sensor. The comfort access for the frunk worked fairly well when I first got the car last April, but since the summer time it stopped working. Unfortunately, I got into a fender bender about 1 minute away from the Porsche dealership. When the body shop appraiser rubbed his hand over the damaged hood, voilà the frunk popped open. It was a drastic and costly way to fix the sensor issue (approx US$8k).

 

[LukeManning]

Maybe @LukeManning can provide some feedback on the sensitivity change due to ppf and if there is any corrective action that he's aware of. Thanks Luke.

Sorry for the late reply!

I have had quite a few clients do PPF on their cars. It's really hit or miss but the PPF does interfere with the sensors for the Comfort Access for the frunk.

Apparently the sensor literally senses the "friction" of your hand/palm/back of hand rubbing against the painted area, and with the PPF it tends to make it harder to detect.

I know this may sound strange, but try rubbing/pushing harder against the surface to see if you can still get it to go. Other than that there really isn't another recommendation that I have for it other than maybe using a thinner PPF on the front bumper (which I totally understand is probably where you'd want it to be thicker).

 

[ron_b]

Sorry for the late reply!

I have had quite a few clients do PPF on their cars. It's really hit or miss but the PPF does interfere with the sensors for the Comfort Access for the frunk.

Apparently the sensor literally senses the "friction" of your hand/palm/back of hand rubbing against the painted area, and with the PPF it tends to make it harder to detect.

I know this may sound strange, but try rubbing/pushing harder against the surface to see if you can still get it to go. Other than that there really isn't another recommendation that I have for it other than maybe using a thinner PPF on the front bumper (which I totally understand is probably where you'd want it to be thicker).

You are killing me Luke, I just sent dropped my car for a wrap and yes I asked for the thickest in the nose. But paint chips are far more painful that comfort access to frunk.

 

[Sonic]

Well, the upside for me is I never drove the car without ppf to appreciate it ?

 

[Dlurker20]

Well, the upside for me is I never drove the car without ppf to appreciate it ?

Same, and I have not yet had the frunk actually work from the hand gesture. Fortunately it’s so seldom I want it open that I don’t really care, at least not much. Now if the trunk would stop sounding like a trash truck backing up (without requiring a mod)...

 

[ron_b]

Same, and I have not yet had the frunk actually work from the hand gesture. Fortunately it’s so seldom I want it open that I don’t really care, at least not much. Now if the trunk would stop sounding like a trash truck backing up (without requiring a mod)...

I asked at the Porsche Experience Center to disable that sound for my car on delivery, they told me they could not. I will try other dealership's service departments.

 

[Genau]

Now if the trunk would stop sounding like a trash truck backing up (without requiring a mod)...

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/threads/silencing-the-trunk-beeper.1426/post-35242

 

[Bfreedma]

I was able to confirm @LukeManning suggestion to open the hood with PPF can be done with vigorous rubbing of the hood, in front of the crest, with your hand or cloth..it is now clear that PPF does interfere with the sensor to the point that it becomes impractical to open it this way. As other have mentioned, given that I need to access the hood so infrequently, I'm ok with simply using my key fob to open it. Too bad Porsche spent all this cost and effort to engineer this solution only to have a few mm of plastic void this functionality.

 

[Dee]

I was able to confirm @LukeManning suggestion to open the hood with PPF can be done with vigorous rubbing of the hood, in front of the crest, with your hand or cloth..it is now clear that PPF does interfere with the sensor to the point that it becomes impractical to open it this way. As other have mentioned, given that I need to access the hood so infrequently, I'm ok with simply using my key fob to open it. Too bad Porsche spent all this cost and effort to engineer this solution only to have a few mm of plastic void this functionality.

I tried this:
Locked car: approaching and car unlocks.
Now the hood sensor is also active.
Unlocked car: approaching but hood sensor inactive.
Once rubbing it a few times the car lights go on and hood sensor is now active again.
Conclusion: the car has to be some kind of "alive" (which I mentioned somewhere else) to have a 100% rate of opening the hood.
So far so good...
It also works when you first open the boot and then the frunk (not very practical but emphasizes my statement that the car has to be some kind of "alive").

PS The boot works every single time though, there's no difference with a locked or unlocked car.

PPS I find it hard to believe some film will interfere with this hood sensor.

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