Technical Tailgate won't stay up. Not gas struts.

[forzaf1]

Has anyone had an issue where by the tailgate won't stay up?

I've had to replace the tailgate and it struggles to stay up and wants to close. I've replaced the gas struts but that hasn't made a difference.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[portland_bill]

The gas strus are what hold it up. If it is still falling with 'new' struts, then either the new struts are also no good, either they were used, and also past their best, or the supplier has wrongly specced them. They need to be the right ones for the vehicle, not just open and shut lengths, but the internal pressure needs to be correct.

Have you added any extra weight to the tailgate? A spoiler, or a bike rack? Any extra weight on the tailgate will need uprated struts.

 

[mj2k]

Totally agree with above, if new (correct) struts have been fitted the only remaining possibilities are that you've added something heavy to the tailgate or that you've moved to somewhere with much higher gravity, like Jupiter.

If you are the first 500 owner on Jupiter, apologies and welcome

 

[forzaf1]

Thanks for the comments. I'm not writing this from Jupiter

Iive tried two sets of struts and appears neither have worked. There is no extra weight in it either, so yes, very confusing!

 

[John202020]

Did you get your struts from SGS Engineering if not give them a try explaining your issue

 

[Gina500]

You can actually test your struts on a bathroom scale when you press them down and read the scale.
Similar, you can weigh the required force by putting a broomstick or similar of adequate length on a scale and the fixing point of the strut.
That should give you an indication if there is a mismatch.
You can buy struts by length, lift and force in specialised shops. They are typically more expensive than the standard ones, though.
Nevertheless, I agree with what was said before - if the struts are the right ones for the car, it should work.
I had to add a second damper on the C after fitting a boot rack, but you haven‘t done such a thing, so
On the other hand, you changed the whole tailgate, so maybe the new part is simply heavier (for whatever reason )

 

[portland_bill]

On the other hand, you changed the whole tailgate, so maybe the new part is simply heavier (for whatever reason )

Missed that bit.
Where did the 'new' tailgate come from? Was it new, and you swapped all the components over? Or was it a used one, complete from another car?
If used, has it got a spoiler, when the original didn't?
It is possible that cars of different ages had different tailgates, of different weights. The required struts will therefore be different. You will need the struts that go with the 'new' tailgate.
If the original struts worked with the original tailgate, and you changed the tailgate, and then encountered this problem, look at the changed component, not the retained one.

 

[forzaf1]

It's a lounge tailgate and as far as I'm aware there are no differences.

I'll look to purchase some new struts but I don't hold out any hope that it's the problem.

 

[mj2k]

It's a lounge tailgate and as far as I'm aware there are no differences.

I'll look to purchase some new struts but I don't hold out any hope that it's the problem.

No spoiler then, though the lounge has slightly plusher trim if I remember right (I think about 0.5kg plusher according to eper), and given the tailgate only weighs about 8kg without glass, that might be enough of a difference percentage-wise to overload the struts. Or could be there was some subtle change made between series which alters the hinge / strut design enough to unbalance the tailgate, but in both cases getting the struts to match the tailgate should solve the issue (unless the hinges changed too).

 

[Ralf S.]

Struts are a PITA. I've replaced the struts on my Stilo and the new struts (spec'd for a Stilo tailgate) barely hold the tailgate up, especially if the car is on a slight incline (nose pointing up). Go for a better/more expensive or at least branded part. I similarly fitted Marelli struts on the bonnet and that won't come down even in a hurricane.


Ralf S.

 

[forzaf1]

Any recommendations for these stronger struts?

 

[John202020]

I fitted new struts on the Mazda which is quite heavy they are really effective (also to our previous Micra)
Remove the struts, use a kitchen scale if it goes high enough or bathroom scale to read the weight or luggage scale then or simply call SGS engineering ?

Maybe the new talegate is stashed with mysterious square packages or bundles of money

 

[Gina500]

. I similarly fitted Marelli struts on the bonnet and that won't come down even in a hurricane

Struts to the bonnet of a 500?? Could you do some pics and specs on that?

 

[portland_bill]

I've now had a chance to look at the parts listing. Same part number listed for all 500, from start to current.
You are still looking at the struts, yet it was the tailgate you replaced.
Did the original struts hold the original tailgate up? If so, they don't suddenly give up as the tailgate is replaced.
Several sets of replacement struts give the same results. Suggests they are not the problem.
Are the hinges free to move? Or are they twisting as the tailgate is opened, so they are trying to close the tailgate? If the hinges are tight, you'll be stressing the shell.

 

[Ralf S.]

Struts to the bonnet of a 500?? Could you do some pics and specs on that?

Sorry.. I meant on my Stilo. Although now you mention it, someone has recently asked about lifters for a 500 on the forum. I didn't follow the thread but a search might turn it up.


Ralf S.

 

[vexorg]

Temperature affects them too, colder weather means less gas pressure, so less lift from them. But they should still work if all is good.

 

[mj2k]

Sorry.. I meant on my Stilo. Although now you mention it, someone has recently asked about lifters for a 500 on the forum. I didn't follow the thread but a search might turn it up.


Ralf S.

Given how light the bonnet is (you can easily lift it with one hand when it's not on the car) I think the lifters for a 500 bonnet would have to be very lightweight indeed, possibly the spring from a biro would do the job

 

[forzaf1]

UPDATE:

Despite testing all struts and no failure. Started swapping them out for replacements and on the first go, it was fixed.

So the tip I have is, even though the strut is very very difficult to move, doesn't mean it isn't faulty.

 

[portland_bill]

UPDATE:

Despite testing all struts and no failure. Started swapping them out for replacements and on the first go, it was fixed.

So the tip I have is, even though the strut is very very difficult to move, doesn't mean it isn't faulty.

So were they all new, or had you just got lots of used ones?

 

[forzaf1]

I took a strut from another 500 that I have that was 4yrs older and it fixed the problem.