Is your trunk heavy and does it pop open when released?
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 363
Likes: 9
From: CA
What kills the struts more?
The number of times it is used over the years?
Or just the age and climate conditions it is subjected to?
I hardly open the hood on my car, but the trunk is open far more frequently.
I can't say either is in a terribly bad state in my 2005 with less than 120K miles.
The number of times it is used over the years?
Or just the age and climate conditions it is subjected to?
I hardly open the hood on my car, but the trunk is open far more frequently.
I can't say either is in a terribly bad state in my 2005 with less than 120K miles.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,564
Likes: 389
From: PA
What kills the struts more?
The number of times it is used over the years?
Or just the age and climate conditions it is subjected to?
I hardly open the hood on my car, but the trunk is open far more frequently.
I can't say either is in a terribly bad state in my 2005 with less than 120K miles.
The number of times it is used over the years?
Or just the age and climate conditions it is subjected to?
I hardly open the hood on my car, but the trunk is open far more frequently.
I can't say either is in a terribly bad state in my 2005 with less than 120K miles.
Driver
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 83
Likes: 6
From: Il
slamming trunk
I've changed struts on hood and trunk, Both stay open strong now. My issue is it is a heavy trunk and for some reason my wife, kids , everyone, slams my trunk instead of gently lowering it and letting self closer shut it the final inch. No one else has this issue i've heard of. What is the secret ? I have tried don't slam it and it doesn't work
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 594
Likes: 37
From: Kentucky
I find out that without the struts installed, the trunk lid seems lighter to open and lift up. Not sure if that means my struts are bad or what... I may get a different brands just for comparison, or I may go to Lexus dealer and see if they have an LS430 that I can compare mine with.
Lead Lap
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,680
Likes: 302
Soft Touch Trunk Lock
Although there is plenty of mention of the trunk lift replacements there isn’t any reference to what might happen to the trunk lock mechanism if there is consistent slamming of the trunk lid. I’m sure replacement cost for the soft touch is way up there. Maybe not as labor intensive as the door soft touch but still pricey.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,489
Likes: 107
From: AZ
I find out that without the struts installed, the trunk lid seems lighter to open and lift up. Not sure if that means my struts are bad or what... I may get a different brands just for comparison, or I may go to Lexus dealer and see if they have an LS430 that I can compare mine with.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,564
Likes: 389
From: PA
I've changed struts on hood and trunk, Both stay open strong now. My issue is it is a heavy trunk and for some reason my wife, kids , everyone, slams my trunk instead of gently lowering it and letting self closer shut it the final inch. No one else has this issue i've heard of. What is the secret ? I have tried don't slam it and it doesn't work
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 341
Likes: 10
From: GA
Well shoot. I just received my new struts. I didn't realize til reading this thread the lid was not supposed to open fully upon release. That annoys me a lot. Now I wonder if I should even bother putting them on.
On the Kia Optima forum guys were using bungie cords to make the trunk pop open all the way. That's what I want.
On the Kia Optima forum guys were using bungie cords to make the trunk pop open all the way. That's what I want.
Last edited by Dubbayoo; Apr 25, 2019 at 06:53 PM.
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Pole Position
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,085
Likes: 401
From: Nor CA
May as well leave the new ones installed.... They are made to keep the lid open not swing it open.....
As for "trunk slamming", when it was the wife's daily she routinely slammed the trunk and one of the tail light leads worked loose and would engage the warning system that a tail light was out; a few fist bumps on the open lid and the warning light goes away. Now that it is my daily I make sure to lower the lid gently and allow the closing motor to finish the close process; no more warning messages.....
As for "trunk slamming", when it was the wife's daily she routinely slammed the trunk and one of the tail light leads worked loose and would engage the warning system that a tail light was out; a few fist bumps on the open lid and the warning light goes away. Now that it is my daily I make sure to lower the lid gently and allow the closing motor to finish the close process; no more warning messages.....
Driver
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 69
Likes: 7
From: New Hampshire
I prefer it that way. Lets me run up with groceries when it's snowing, sleeting or raining hard without all that getting in the trunk.
Advanced
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 647
Likes: 258
From: Ct
I think it’s a major problem personally. I have brand new trunk struts and the lid still slams shut HARD if you just let it fall.
And if someone else ever opens my trunk I always have to tell them to close it gently and they look at me like I’m crazy.
And if someone else ever opens my trunk I always have to tell them to close it gently and they look at me like I’m crazy.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,564
Likes: 389
From: PA
This is like a mpg thread, lease v. buy, top tier or not, etc. lol
Isn't it like golf? Maybe the first time you swing a club, you think you have to kill it, for the ball to go far. Then, you start to realize that's not how to drive the ball far, it has to do with contact, and mechanics.
This thread sometimes makes it sound like it's not possible for a human to gently close the trunk and let the pull down do its job
Me? I like the hinges as it frees up space. My BMW also has struts, and it also would be considered heavy. But there are no arms and no mechanism, it's the expensive way to do things. Most current cars went back to the old way which is to have arms and a cheap spring. Even a brand new premium Subaru, not just BMW and Lexus or Mercedes. Cost cutting is rampant, look at rear brakes on cars nowadays, even costing $130k.
Isn't it like golf? Maybe the first time you swing a club, you think you have to kill it, for the ball to go far. Then, you start to realize that's not how to drive the ball far, it has to do with contact, and mechanics.
This thread sometimes makes it sound like it's not possible for a human to gently close the trunk and let the pull down do its job
Me? I like the hinges as it frees up space. My BMW also has struts, and it also would be considered heavy. But there are no arms and no mechanism, it's the expensive way to do things. Most current cars went back to the old way which is to have arms and a cheap spring. Even a brand new premium Subaru, not just BMW and Lexus or Mercedes. Cost cutting is rampant, look at rear brakes on cars nowadays, even costing $130k.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,564
Likes: 389
From: PA
The design was to eliminate arms, and increase space. How is that poor design? BMW did it too before cost cutting. Compare the size of the LS430 trunk, to the next gen LS, and the current gen LS. Also, compare it to the current gen S550, and A8L. Me? I love the extra 4.x cu. ft. of trunk space. Sometimes I get carried away and find so many things cannot fit in the LS trunk, it's not "that" big. But it's bigger than almost all sedans. I think arms attached to the deck look uber cheap. But it saves the car mfg. at least $30. Retail? $170.
You wanna see cheap look at the next gen Subaru Outback and how they do the trunk.
You wanna see cheap look at the next gen Subaru Outback and how they do the trunk.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 341
Likes: 10
From: GA