liftgate won't stay up

[prettybluewoody]

When I open the liftgate, the hydraulics no longer keep it open: it just slowly drops back down. My baby's an '03 LE; this started a couple months ago, and I figured it was probably just the colder winter weather affecting it. Well, the weather's warmed up, but the liftgate is still slowly dropping shut. Any suggestions? Anybody else get this, and what did you do to fix it? Thanks!

[Mean Green]

You aren't the first to have this problem. You are going to have to replace the struts. If you don't want to buy new you can check out a salvage yard.

[tpscruiser]

Yep, time for new gas struts. Dealer, Pep Boys, Auto Zone, should be able to get them for you if not in stock. I got 5 years out of the ones on the 2003 and 6 years out of the 2002 struts. BTW- I wouldn't bother with the salvage yard ones, you don't know how old they are and you could be back in the same boat as you are now in a couple of months.

[prettybluewoody]

Dang, that's what I was afraid of..... why does it seem like NOTHING is ever fixable without large doses of money?!? Where oh where are the cheap-and-easy fixes?!? (Or am I merely going senile, and fantasizing about good old days that never were! Wait a minute, don't answer that.....)

New ones it is; I think you're right about not knowing how much life is left in used ones. And, like you said about your own, I've gotten five-plus years out of 'em, so it's sorta expected. Sigh.

[cleverklutz]

I don't think those struts should be expensive. Check out a few of your local parts stores, they should be fairly generic and they should be able to find out the length. I can't remember for sure but the last time they were replaced on my folks Caravan I think they were $20-30. I think they're very straight forward to install too, should be easy to do yourself.

Ben

[1wedwudy]

Got mine at Advanced Auto Parts. Seems like they were less than $20 each. Not to hard to install, just be sure you have a helper. That lift gate gets heavy if you try to hold it up yourself.

[prettybluewoody]

(Hiya, Frank --- the lock pins look good, thanks!

Yeah, I noticed the liftgate is kinda heavy....... right about the time it bonked me on the head as it silently came down! Nearest auto place is a Pep Boys, I'll give them a try for the struts; and I've got a long-suffering friend for the free labor..... and boy, is HE gonna be surprised to find out he's volunteered --- again!

[slayerdarkcross]

heh My hatchback mustang would do that in the cold. Lots of unexpected hits happened >.>

[Johns Steel Blue]

Originally Posted by prettybluewoody

Dang, that's what I was afraid of..... why does it seem like NOTHING is ever fixable without large doses of money?!? Where oh where are the cheap-and-easy fixes?!? (Or am I merely going senile, and fantasizing about good old days that never were! Wait a minute, don't answer that.....)

New ones it is; I think you're right about not knowing how much life is left in used ones. And, like you said about your own, I've gotten five-plus years out of 'em, so it's sorta expected. Sigh.

Here's a place to try...


PT Cruiser Struts

[bobs turbo pt]

let us know how much you get them for