2006 S, question on rear hatch struts.. Help needed.

[deilenberger]

I had the struts replaced under CPO on 11/12 - about 6,000 miles ago (I mostly use my motorcycle.. the Porsche gets very few miles on it.)

 

I recently went to our local county recycling center with some containers of motor oil in the back. You aren't supposed to get out of the car at the recycling center (safety concerns apparently) - so the guys there had to open the hatch. They had trouble finding the button, and when they did they sort of flung the hatch open. It went up about 2/3rds of the way - rear edge about eyeball level for someone standing behind the P!G.  They tried opening it further, but it went back to the 2/3rds height.  They unloaded the oil and then really slammed the hatch closed.

 

When I got home I tried opening it - and it is VERY VERY heavy now.  The tailgate window feels normal, so I'm guessing those struts are OK.

 

Looking at photos of the hatch - it appears most of the assistance in opening the hatch is done with the big spring on the struts.

 

Anyone had one end of a strut come loose?  That's about all I can think of that would cause the hatch to become as heavy as it feels now... if one strut came loose that spring isn't helping to open it.

 

I know people have changed their own struts - how are they fastened at the ends to the hatch and body of the truck?

Edited October 2, 2014 by deilenberger

[wrinkledpants]

Both ends have a cavity that the ball on the hatch fits into.  Same for the body.  My hatch would stay up with one brand new strut, and the other one removed.  Does it not stay up on it's own?  It should be able to open, apply some force to get the hatch moving, and then it should raise itself up on it's own.  

[deilenberger]

Both ends have a cavity that the ball on the hatch fits into.  Same for the body.  My hatch would stay up with one brand new strut, and the other one removed.  Does it not stay up on it's own?  It should be able to open, apply some force to get the hatch moving, and then it should raise itself up on it's own.  

 

No - it won't stay up on it's own now. When it first happened - it stayed about half-way up. The same day it stopped staying half-way up. 

 

The recess for the ball on the strut just pops over the ball on the body/hatch?

[wrinkledpants]

The struts can loose the charge over time, especially when not used.  So, it's not entirely out of the question that they are bad again.  Check out the strut holding up your hood - it's the same connection.  If they became disconnected in the roof - my guess is you'd definitely hear them bouncing around.  They're heavy, and there is plenty of metal in that area to bag against.  They're not easy to get off, and it's pretty easy to tell when you get them on all the way.  So, anyone that knows that "thunk" when they slip into place will know if they've put them on all the way when installing.  

 

My guess - they're shot.  It's not a hard DIY if you don't want to pay someone.  Pop those side panels off, take a few screws out, jam a screwdriver in there and pop them out.  Literally - that's it.  I feel like I could do a set in 30 minutes.  

[deilenberger]

Just figured I'd follow up..the dealer managed to get Porsche to cover these, despite CPO being over..  Took the P!G in, told them I'd wait. About 30 minutes later the service manager came out and told me one had become disconnected. They reconnected it and all was fine.

 

So... yes - it CAN happen. In this case by the dolt at the recycling center trying to open the hatch too far.