Does Open Tailgate Drain Battery?

[tooberand]

I have my dome lights disabled and have noticed when I open the tailgate, that no lights come on (or at least turn off after a few seconds). Does anyone know if leaving the tailgate open with the dome lights disabled for extended periods of time will drain the battery?

[XC70Geo]

I was checking the load of the electric system.
When the car is shot down (closed, armed) its 0.07 A.
The doors open, car unarmed (no ignition) means 0.97 A. If you close the car, and arms the alarm system this goes down to 0.07 A in 2-3 minutes.

So open tailgate (with no light) easily can result in flat battery.

[barrysharp]

I very doubt very much that the battery would get drained. Mind you, if car left unattended in a public area the battery might be stolen. Does that count ?

[barrysharp]

I was checking the load of the electric system.
When the car is shot down (closed, armed) its 0.07 A.
The doors open, car unarmed (no ignition) means 0.97 A. If you close the car, and arms the alarm system this goes down to 0.07 A in 2-3 minutes.

So open tailgate (with no light) easily can result in flat battery.

Are you saying the open door scenario draws almost 1 amp ?

[tooberand]

So was the door scenario with or without the dome lights on? Perhaps I'll run the test myself for fun. Is this something that can pretty easily be done with a multimeter?

[XC70Geo]

The 1 A drain was with closed door and lights off.

You can check it:
Open the tailgate.
With your finger (or any tool) push the tailgate's lock into locked position. (simulate as the steel piece on the bumper intrudes into the lock, so the sensor feels tho tailgate locked)

Find the battery, release the + cable.
Turn the multimeter into A position.
Join a multimeter beetween the battery + corner and the + cable.
Now you can see the load of the open car.

Close the doors with the key or remote.
Now you can see the load of the closed and armed car. In 2-3 minutes it will drop down.
Open the doors, and you see 1A, that will never drop!

[qeff]

I often leave the tailgate open overnight to air the cabin (while parked in the garage) and I've never experienced a drained battery. I think it should be fine doing so.