Yes, I was determined to figure it out! When I woke up this morning I thought about the possibility of an incorrect installation. I thought I was careful when I originally installed them but apparently that was not the case. Very happy now that everything is working as it should - can't beat that for $45 and less than an hour's worth of effort!

 

I am sorry to bring back an old post, but I just had this immediately open then close on the power rear hatch door in the last 2 weeks since the outside temp was below 60-40 degree. Reading thru. all the rear hatch post problems in this forum, I think you are right about its might be temperature related. I do not think my struts are the problem because if I use the pad button at the rear hatch to open and lift the hatch up by myself. The hatch will stay up for as long as I leave it . I have never had this malfunction before since I own it new. For now I just use the rear pad button and wait until spring come around when the temp. about 60 deg and try it again with the power button on the key pad and the dash button.

 

stuffed struts will allow the door to open a small way, then close. Also sticky rubber seals will do this. Wipe the seals down with a silicon spray.

 

Gas charged struts lose SOME of their function in colder temperature. I just replaced hood struts on wife's RX350 at only 54 000 miles as they won't hold hood up, unless pumped few times. It happened to be exactly when temperatures fell down to freezing. As you have sensor on tale gate, small strut function loss will trip sensor as now motor has to fight against "heavier" gate. I feel, they clearly under powered struts for rather very heavy hood and tailgate.

 

Does your tail gate struts fail yet ?, my wife's 2009 RX350 only has about 52k miles like your with low miles. I had replaced the hood struts couples of time before on my BMW but that has nearly 150k miles. I was kinda disappointed that they fail already on these Lexus's struts. My Hood struts still working fine for now though. Did you replace those struts with OEM parts ?. Thanks for the infor and Happy Newyear to you.

 

I have the same problem with my RX 400h 2006 in Greece with temperatures about 30 degrees Celsius. When I try to open the power back door either with remote key or with the button inside the car the result is that the tries to open for about 2 or 3 centimeters and then closes again. All other operations of the door work excellent. I put lithium grease on the struts (spray) but no result. The condition of the struts is excellent. Is there any idea (something like resetting/initialize the door) ?

 

try wiping the rubber seals around the door with a silicon spray. The rubber can get sticky and give the problem you are having.

 

My issue is a little different. My hatch door has that starting/stopping problem, but only intermittently. I replaced the struts, so that shouldn't be an issue. Sometimes it works fine and sometimes it won't open or close. I just got back from a shopping trip to wo stores and it worked fine the first few times I opened and closed it but opening it to load from the last store it wouldn't close. I got home and it opened, but again it wouldn't close. What is going on?

 

When people have asked a question regarding something going on with their vehicle that they have not experienced previously and are simply looking for assistance or guidance. One of the rudest things a person can do is tell them it’s been discussed to death.
Don’t be that person to be harsh as this person has not experienced it in the past and seems new to them.
remember, I’m sure there are times you look for guidance on something and the last thing you need is to run into an arrogant know it all that diminishes what you want to know.
be nice people !

 

"jakenbake" hasn't been online on this forum since 2016... But I have to agree with him, the more clutter on the forum, the more good answers get buried by meaningless posts. Use the search function, people!