My trunk never opened by itself since day 1, and I got the car the same month that it was manufactured (took delivery the day the truck showed up), so it was as fresh as it could be. It was the first time I had to push a trunk open, rather than lifting itself, but I chalked it off as 'nature of the beast'.

I had to wait until the trunk hit my back (last week) so dealer didn't give me any grief about replacing the struts, and they finally did that today. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!!! Now the trunk lifts by itself (yeeeehaaaa!).

Oh, and saw quite a few other SC430s, and the headlamp washers were all like they're now on my car: not perfectly flush all around. I won't attempt to make them fit perfectly anymore. No need to be that ****; looks like new. Later gang.

 

ELP_JC,

Was it covered under warranty? It's been so long that I forgot if mine went up all the way. When I hit the trunk button on my remote, I hear a beep and the trunk just opens a tiny crack and I end up pushing the darn thing all the way up. Lately, it seems like the trunk wants to come back down again by itself.

So you're saying that when you hit the trunk remote button or push the trunk inside the cabin, the trunk will rise up and all the way up by itself and not halfway, right? Just to clarify. thanks again.

If so, I hope my warranty is still good for an '03.

 

umm, interesting. maybe just me, but when i pop my trunk it definitely doesn't go up itself. i have to lift it up

same with my friend's

 

when I hit the trunk release on my 06 it does not go up on it's own. it just cracks open, then I stick my fingers inbetween the 1 inch crack and swing it up.

 

Sorry for the confusion. No, the trunk doesn't go up the moment I hit either remote or trunk button... and it's not supposed to. But after I lift it like a third of the way, it goes up by itself; just like the hood.
Again, it never did go up one iota by itself when new; I always had to push it all the way up myself.
And yes, it was covered under warranty; car is only 3 years old.

Teeman, that's exactly what my trunk started feeling like recently, and one day just fell on my back (ouch!). If I were you, I'd make the attempt to get them replaced now before they completely fail. Tell them you're the 'suit happy' kind, and I bet they'll listen . Take care.

 

ah icic, thanks for clarifying, jc. you got me in panic mode, almost bringing my car to dealership right the way

 

Well, I finally took my car to the dealership for them to look at the trunk struts.

The trunk has gotten worse and has failed to stay upright when fully engaged at the top when opened. Any vibration in the vehicle will cause the truck to slowly come down due to the heavy trunk lid and "shot" struts.

I was still under warranty and the dealership replaced the "shot" struts w/ new ones.

No charge out the door and waited about 45 minutes. It's like night and day now that I can confidently lift the trunk lid w/out worrying and being aggravated about it banging on my head all the time.

 

You just need to quit getting in your trunk all the time or you will wear the new ones out

 

My dealer has denied me numerous times no matter how much I seem to complain. Do you think I should go over the dealerships head and contact Lexus? Otherwise how should I really go about getting them to cover mine? The car has 35K on it and the trunk will not stay up at all. It is extremely annoying and embrassing when I have to have someone hold the trunk up on the so called "luxury" car...

 

Go to Home Depot and have a piece of lumber cut to fit that will hold your trunk open. Then take it to the Lexus Dealer and park infront of the front door and open your trunk using the wood to keep it open. Go in and have a coke and have them show you some of the new cars, all the time leaving your trunk prop'ed open. It might get someones attention

 

BoostAddct,

Try calling around for another Lex dealership in your area. They should and will replace the faulty struts if the car is still under warranty.

Ask them if they have the parts in stock to save you the trouble of making several trips. Then, schedule your car w/ them to replace the trunk struts. This should take about 40-60 minutes for them to do.

I've had serveral things replaced under warranty and no problem dealing w/ the service dept. people.

Let us know what you do....thanks...teeman3

 

well, my 02 is not working either..hit by head the other day...ouch !

how much is it to replace,if dealer bought? may be able to find these struts on the 'net...

don't some people recharge these things ?

james R
02 sc430

 

Well, I just sent my '03 SC 430 in to the dealer today since the trunk wasn't staying open even though I raised it all the way to the top.

The dealership fixed the issue, and now the trunk lifts up itself when you open it about halfway. Huge improvement.

So, for those of you with this issue of weak or faulty trunk struts, definitely send it in for rework under warranty.

 

So it looks like the '02 and '03 are having this trunk strut issue.
Anyone here w/ an '04/'05 possibly having any "weakening" in their trunk struts.

Given the timespan, based on the responses so far, is it possible that for the '02/'03, their trunk struts will eventually go out after 3 years.

And for the '04/'05 folks, you may experience this in the latter part of '07 and '08?

thanks..teeman3

 

well for sure i hope i dont' see problems on my trunk lid NOW, that would suck since it's only 2 yrs. but it could definitely be a problem on the weight of the trunk lid