Here's the deal. When I open my wife's 2009 RX350 liftgate by hand it won't pull itself up, I have to PUSH it up, all the way. It's still under warranty so I figured I'd take it to the dealer and have them replace the struts as I didn't think they were working as they should. They told me they aren't made to be opened that way, they are meant to be opened using the power lift and that they are helpers for that. I think it's bs, so is this how it's supposed to be?

Thanks for the help, I'm interested in knowing how other's liftgate functions.

 

In this case, the dealer is right.

 

I'm not buying that , I use the manual open all the time if I don't have a key with me, like when I'm in the garage and want to put something inside. Clean and lube up the strut pistons. If this doesn't help call another dealer and explain the problem and ask what the solution would be to fix. When you first push the rubber button on the lift gate you have to pull up to get it started then it will go up by itself. You can even pull it down and close it as that's what I see them do at the full service car wash.
Jeff

 

Right, I understand that you have to pull it up to halfway or so, then it should pull itself up. Even when it's almost all the way up I still have to push it up. I can always replace them myself if they won't do it, I may do that anyway since getting to the dealer, getting a loaner, etc is a hassle.

 

I'll disagree. Have had my 2004 since new and can honestly say that this is the only way the system in my RX has ever behaved. So, for sake of argument I grabbed my keys and went outside just a few minutes ago. I unlocked my RX and popped the rear hatch manually and opened it half way. Then, I gradually opened the hatch inch-by-inch. At each step along the way I would stop and let go of the hatch. The struts would keep the hatch in place, however, it would not rise above that point on its own. I did this all the way until the hatch was fully opened. At no point did the hatch struts take over and lift the hatch open on its own. They merely maintained the position of the hatch.

Try it.

 

Gonna have to agree with jgr7. On my 2006 400h, I push the rubber button on the hatch, use some force to get the door started upwards and it goes the rest of the way by itself.

One thing I have noticed though, is that with colder weather, the door does not want to go all the way up by itself. I'm guessing the cold weather thickens the oil in the strut leading to this condition (that and the fact that the struts are 6.5 years old (vehicle went on road in March 2005) and have 170 000km of use on them (however many openings and closings 170 000km equates to).

Yours being a 2009, I wouldn't think would do what it's doing. Maybe a second opinion at another Lexus or Toyota dealer? Maybe compare to another RX on dealer lot while you're there, or see how it works on a Highlander?

I suppose the other alternative is that RX330inFL is working correctly, and ours are not (worn out)?

 

Perhaps we are arguing over semantics. Hard part about diagnostics online. Yes, if you give the hatch enough thrust you will overcome the pneumatics of the strut. However, it is your actions and not the actions of the struts doing the work. The struts are not pushing the hatch open, rather, they are slowing down the upwards momentum.

Like I said in my previous post, try what I did. Do the struts open the hatch on their own? I think that is what we are tripping over. Do not believe that is how they are designed to work. If you open the hatch 3/4 of the way and stop, then use one finger to provide a small amount of additional movement upwards the hatch will not continue to open on its own if you stop providing lift.

Can I reproduce this on another vehicle? Yes. Made a call and did a video chat with my sister who has a 2006 RX330. Had her take her laptop out to the garage and I walked her through the same procedure I did. Her hatch behaves the same way as mine.

Yes, the cold will have an affect on how these struts work. Something covered in a previous thread. The URL is below. However, for MD I think it is still warm enough that this should not come into play as it might for someone further north and/or much colder. Perhaps not working optimally but still within spec. I also do not think the struts have worn out.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...-supports.html

FWIW, I routinely clean all three struts, includes the engine bay, and lubricate with a silicone spray. The engine bay strut was replaced by the dealer under warranty at around 40K miles.

Guess we will have to agree to disagree on this. Few things would give me more satisfaction than being able to say the dealer was wrong. Just not seeing anything in the OP that convinces me that these are not working as they are intended.

 

We're not really arguing or disagreeing here, just stating our observations.

I understand what you're saying, but I can unlatch my rear hatch and start to pull up on the hatch and without flinging it upward with all my strength, the hatch will open fully by itself once I start the initial upward motion (this is without the power assist)

When the strut is closed (compressed) is it not inherently trying to open (uncompress) and this helps move the hatch upwards? The speed of the strut uncompressing is controlled by the hydraulic fluid and how fast it flows (just like a wheel strut) and this prevents the hatch from flying open uncontrollably?

***edit*** apparently there is gas involoved as well - the gas provides the energy to force the strut open and the hydraulic fluid controls the force of the opening

http://www.explainthatstuff.com/gassprings.html so it would appear that the struts are forcing (or at least helping) to open the hatch ***end edit***

I'm just trying to compare the rear hatch struts to the front hood strut. When you open your hood, does it stop wherever you hold it, or does it want to fully open? IIRC, my hood is the same as the back - once I unlatch it and start the upward motion, it will open fully by itself, but I'll have to go and phsyically try this, as I can't really recall.

 

Of course, the Owner's Manual is of no help here either.

 

Ok I just went and opened mine, I lift it very easy to about half way open and then it opens the rest of the way by itself. I did the inch at a time like you and when just past half it opens by itself in a slow controlled manner.
Mine is an 08 and its 45deg F inside my garage.

 

Perhaps they made a change in the move to the RX350.

 

They might have changed strut mfg. or something. Any way here is a link to a place for lift struts at a good price if any one needs to replace them.
http://www.autopartsbylou.com/
Jeff

 

Lol...just to muddy the waters even more...if I unlatch mine and open it, it continues up by itself till fully open. But, it I stop it at any time in it opening motion, it just stays where I stopped it.

Then, the more I played with it, it seems like the points it stopped were almost like preconfigured stop points for the electric motor...hard to explain, but look at your electric motor arm each time the door stops and it seems like the arm is catching on something...open the door a bit more...the arm moves a bit then stops again.

So mine opens fully on it's own but I can also stop it at any point in it's travel and it will hold there.
Maybe I can do a video...

 

That might help the original poster as well if you do one that shows you opening the hatch as he might.

 

wow, didn't expect this much of a response, a pleasant surprise! Looks like I'm not alone. I guess if the thing isn't falling down I'll leave it be or I may just order some replacement struts. I don't wanna replace them and find out they don't work any better than the ones that are in there so I'll probably just let them be for now. Thanks for the info guys, very helpful!