Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a motor vehicle closing device with a positioning element (3) which turns around one axis of rotation (7) or which moves linearly along one lengthwise axis and which has a position which is to be ascertained, and with a position detection means (8) which works without contact and which is located on the path of motion of the positioning element (3) (or on the positioning element 3 itself). It thus lends itself to “diagnosis” by the fact that on the positioning element (3) (or on the path of movement of the positioning element 3) in the direction of its motion there are several passive position detection elements (9) in succession and that position detection takes place by counting the signals of the position detection elements (9) by the position detection means (8).