Trunk
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: PA
This post is pretty old now, so I think we all know that the trunklid is designed to pop open just enough to get your fingertips under it and lift it open, and it will get harder to lift as the gas struts start to lose their pressure. I've been disappointed with this design since I bought this car. I came from a car that popped the trunklid open fully when hitting the release button (1995 M-B S420), and had a chrome power-retracting trunk handle that stayed clean even in the grimiest road conditions, so one never had to get their hands dirty to open or close the trunklid. I know some cars have a power trunklid available now. Just wish the LS430 had a less plebian design.
Originally Posted by MAC1LSR
This post is pretty old now, so I think we all know that the trunklid is designed to pop open just enough to get your fingertips under it and lift it open, and it will get harder to lift as the gas struts start to lose their pressure. I've been disappointed with this design since I bought this car. I came from a car that popped the trunklid open fully when hitting the release button (1995 M-B S420), and had a chrome power-retracting trunk handle that stayed clean even in the grimiest road conditions, so one never had to get their hands dirty to open or close the trunklid. I know some cars have a power trunklid available now. Just wish the LS430 had a less plebian design.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: AZ
Trunk Struts
My 2001 LS 430 does the same thing. In fact, it sometimes pops open but still hangs on to the trunk lid and I have to push the remote button or pull the switch inside again to get it to let go of the trunk lid. Dealer said the struts were bad and needed new ones at a cost of $400! I will look into getting them replaced somewhere else, as I am a realtor and it gets real irritating when you are putting out numerous open house signs!! 
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 2
From: Tennessee
Originally Posted by Arizonatim
My 2001 LS 430 does the same thing. In fact, it sometimes pops open but still hangs on to the trunk lid and I have to push the remote button or pull the switch inside again to get it to let go of the trunk lid. Dealer said the struts were bad and needed new ones at a cost of $400! I will look into getting them replaced somewhere else, as I am a realtor and it gets real irritating when you are putting out numerous open house signs!!
My '03 trunk definitely isn't what I'd term "heavy." It's no problem to open it with one finger, but it doesn't pop open like the MBs. Heavy is a Volvo 850 T5 trunk. You almost need both hands on that one.
Whether or not they make it pop all the way open, one thing that Lexus definitely should do is to put an external handle/button/unlocker on the trunks like European cars have. It's a major PITA to have to use the key fob or hit the dash switch to unlock the trunk. I don't know how Toyota missed that one.
Whether or not they make it pop all the way open, one thing that Lexus definitely should do is to put an external handle/button/unlocker on the trunks like European cars have. It's a major PITA to have to use the key fob or hit the dash switch to unlock the trunk. I don't know how Toyota missed that one.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: MD
Originally Posted by I6turbo
My '03 trunk definitely isn't what I'd term "heavy." It's no problem to open it with one finger, but it doesn't pop open like the MBs. Heavy is a Volvo 850 T5 trunk. You almost need both hands on that one.
Whether or not they make it pop all the way open, one thing that Lexus definitely should do is to put an external handle/button/unlocker on the trunks like European cars have. It's a major PITA to have to use the key fob or hit the dash switch to unlock the trunk. I don't know how Toyota missed that one.
Whether or not they make it pop all the way open, one thing that Lexus definitely should do is to put an external handle/button/unlocker on the trunks like European cars have. It's a major PITA to have to use the key fob or hit the dash switch to unlock the trunk. I don't know how Toyota missed that one.
Originally Posted by shaloo
My 06 has a button to push to open the trunk from the outside. Don't they all?
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Pembroke Pines, FL
I guess my struts really failed, because I was putting some food in there last Saturday and the thing came down right on my head. It was pretty serious, and an ambulance had to come and take care of me. I now have staples in my head, and am quite uncomfortable.
Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: NY
Whoa, it hit you on the head that hard? Sorry to hear that.. hope you're better now. ..and thank you for letting us know, now I'll go check my struts!
i don't have an LS but have been looking into them for a bit...
can anyone take a photo of the trunk? i'd like to see what kind of springs there are in the LS - if it's anything like the GS, you should be able to move the metal bars under the rear deck lid a notch or two to give the bars more tension and in turn, make the trunk lid easier to lift...
no?
pictures please.
can anyone take a photo of the trunk? i'd like to see what kind of springs there are in the LS - if it's anything like the GS, you should be able to move the metal bars under the rear deck lid a notch or two to give the bars more tension and in turn, make the trunk lid easier to lift...
no?
pictures please.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 833
Likes: 1
From: HI