Today, 3 out of five times they worked OK, lifted the tailgate all the way.
Technical Rear door gas struts
- Thread starter Lynt
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Technical Rear door gas struts
Maybe it's only tall people that notice. I'm 6'3" and I think you're even taller Sludge, if I remember right.
I always have to push the tailgate the last inch or two to make sure I'm not going to hit my head.
If you were about 5'10" or less you might not notice that it hadn't lifted all the way to the end of its travel.
If you were very small you wouldn't be able to reach to push it even if you did notice.
I always have to push the tailgate the last inch or two to make sure I'm not going to hit my head.
If you were about 5'10" or less you might not notice that it hadn't lifted all the way to the end of its travel.
If you were very small you wouldn't be able to reach to push it even if you did notice.
It is possible that shorter people haven't noticed. I'm 6'4" and find the height of the tailgate is perfect for walking under (when it works properly) - even if it hasn't gone that last inch but now I'm always wary of it not going that last 6" or so.
Because the new struts had markings on them I've fired off an email to the manufacturers asking for their opinion.
What I would like is to get Fiat & Perrys techy bods to put in writing that there isn't a problem as the struts are designed to hold the tailgate only - not lift it.
\Update.
Had an email back from the manufacturer asking for serial numbers, seems they are interested in the saga.
As luck would have it, last few weeks have been almost tropical & the extra bit of heat has worked wonders on the struts, they've not failed since.
Real result today. Had a call from the local dealer, they have sourced another pair of struts & will fit them. Went down at dinnertime & a young lass came out & fitted them. The new ones performed really badly first few times. Took a while before they seemed to bed in. Now the door opens perfectly (although the heat did make my last pair work properly)
Had an email back from the manufacturer asking for serial numbers, seems they are interested in the saga.
As luck would have it, last few weeks have been almost tropical & the extra bit of heat has worked wonders on the struts, they've not failed since.
Real result today. Had a call from the local dealer, they have sourced another pair of struts & will fit them. Went down at dinnertime & a young lass came out & fitted them. The new ones performed really badly first few times. Took a while before they seemed to bed in. Now the door opens perfectly (although the heat did make my last pair work properly)
Hmm, I hope they stay working like that. Doesn't sound like they had a good start.
Are they a different make to the originals?
Yes, the originals were no-namers, had no markings whatsoever on them, this new pair is another lift-o-mat.
10.15pm, opened the boot & it stopped dead about 12" shy of max
Thing is, I have to agree with the techy bods. you can't use a strut that whangs the tailgate open at mach1 else it'll strain the hinges when it hits max opening so it's a balancing act between opening & balancing the tailgate, stopping it from dropping.
Maybe if I greased the hinges?
10.15pm, opened the boot & it stopped dead about 12" shy of max
Thing is, I have to agree with the techy bods. you can't use a strut that whangs the tailgate open at mach1 else it'll strain the hinges when it hits max opening so it's a balancing act between opening & balancing the tailgate, stopping it from dropping.
Maybe if I greased the hinges?
