Hatchback Hydraulic Arm, Shot.

[chrissa1]

The boot/hatchback on my 10 year old Vauxhall Astra, is not working. It won't lift up without great effort and, won't stay open.

Is it an expensive job to put right?

[tonyav]

No, chrissa. Easy to change as a DIY job.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/230512151458?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&;hlpht=true&lpid=122&;chn=ps&googleloc=1007192&poi=&;campaignid=207297426&device=c&adgroupid=13585920426&rlsatarget=aud-133395220866%3Apla-131843274546&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&;ff14=122&ul_noapp=true

[chrissa1]

Riiiiiiiight. Got to find a big stick and work out how it works then. Thanks, t. ;)

[chrissa1]

The big stick is to prop the tailgate open. Lol.

[tonyav]

Yep a big stick or someone to hold it up.

[Baldric]

Buy a broomstick ;o)

[chrissa1]

Cheek, Baldric. :)

I think I'll go to a garage and get it fixed.

[Iggle Piggle]

buy a gas strut off Ebay or if you want to pay over the odds, the Vauxhall dealership.
The old strut pops off if you lift the little black clips away from the body of the strut at either end while pulling the strut gently.
Someone needs to hold the boot open fully while this is done.
The boot is surprisingly heavy with no gas strut help so be warned !
Gas struts are around £10 to 14 for the pair on Ebay (false economy to do one only, the other will be on it's way out)

[chrissa1]

Really, igglepiggle? I think I'll give that a try. Thanks very much.

[Iggle Piggle]

I'm sure if you get the struts and pop into most small garages / tyre fitters etc, they would swap the struts over for loose change, I certainly would.
You just need two people and a small flat screwdriver to lift the clips.

[bhg481]

Make sure you buy the right ones. I had the same problem on a Vauxhall Cavalier many years ago; I got replacements and fitted them and the boot lid wouldn't stay up. I then discovered that my model, the CD, was the only one fitted with a rear wiper and so had more powerful struts than all the other variants.

[tonyav]

It's the same with hatch struts if the car has a boot spoiler fitted, bhg.

[bhg481]

The real irony in my case is that I'd bought the struts from a Vauxhall dealer (long before the days of internet).

[TonyV]

You might even get a pair at a local breakers and they my even fit them for you then you check they are ok

[tonyav]

Yes, I would have thought that the partsman would have knew, bhg.

[Electrochem]

The important thing with gas struts is not to put oil on them, as doing so will attract grit and dust. Simply wipe them clean with a dry cloth.

This is is good place to look for advice:

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/car-boot-tailgate

[chrissa1]

That was really helpful. I'm going to do it. Thanks, Electrochem.