I've literally just done this job this evening. Never previously touched anything on a car, but the tailgate started creaking a few weeks ago and eventually started refusing to close when it got about 2/3rds of the way down and would go back up.
I found a replacement RHS metal strut online for £100 that seems legit and looks identical to my current one.
There are two spring clips on the existing strut that pop out with the help of a flathead screwdriver, then it just slides out.
De-wiring, or more specifically, getting behind the panelling is a bit trickier. I suspect the plastic panel just pulls off with a bit of force, but by that point I'd already taken off 5 different bits I probably didn't need to.
Once inside it's simply unplug, then plug and play with the new one.
If you find a Volvo dealer happy to do it for free, go for it, but these prices of £600+ are crazy if I can do it for £100 in under an hour.
Now time for a smug beer
Panic - tailgate wouldn't close.
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Well done ,it's amazing what you can achieve!!!
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Can you post the link for where you got it please and did you not consider changing both ?
Volvo XC40 T5 R-Drive Pro. Thunder Grey with lots of extras
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Carlightbulb was the website - wasn't sure it was allowed in here. The left side one is completely silent so thought I'd just try the noisy right one to begin with and it works like a charm now.
Although there wasn't a huge amount of strength in the left one holding it up, so maybe a job for the near future
Although there wasn't a huge amount of strength in the left one holding it up, so maybe a job for the near future
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Thanks. I did a search and found them. Think I’ll give them a go CBA to go through the arguments with my Volvo dealer tbhCaseWhenThen wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 9:33 pm Carlightbulb was the website - wasn't sure it was allowed in here. The left side one is completely silent so thought I'd just try the noisy right one to begin with and it works like a charm now.
Although there wasn't a huge amount of strength in the left one holding it up, so maybe a job for the near future
Volvo XC40 T5 R-Drive Pro. Thunder Grey with lots of extras
Mine are the later ones but as I said they'd started making creaking noises when closing. Only intermittently and not when the car was serviced a couple of days ago but I had them checked.
No problem found but they lubricated them, which I was going to do anyway, and asked me to monitor them.
No problem found but they lubricated them, which I was going to do anyway, and asked me to monitor them.
2023 B4 Plus Dark FWD in Silver Dawn. Tinted Rear Windows. Spare Wheel & Tow Bar dealer fitted.
Gone - 2019 T4 R-Design FWD in Bursting Blue. Winter & Convenience Packs, Power Seat, Front Park Assist, Rear Camera, Spare Wheel & Tow Bar.
Gone - 2019 T4 R-Design FWD in Bursting Blue. Winter & Convenience Packs, Power Seat, Front Park Assist, Rear Camera, Spare Wheel & Tow Bar.
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Tbh they seem to be more hassle than they are worth. Range Rover ones also fail and are over £1k to replaceChrisLF wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 9:59 pm Mine are the later ones but as I said they'd started making creaking noises when closing. Only intermittently and not when the car was serviced a couple of days ago but I had them checked.
No problem found but they lubricated them, which I was going to do anyway, and asked me to monitor them.
Volvo XC40 T5 R-Drive Pro. Thunder Grey with lots of extras
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I tried wd40 in them while I waited for it to arrive but no difference. Mine were on a 2020 version, metal ones. They had been fine but within a month of the creaking starting, it just failed completely
On the latest cars they are standard across the range so you can't avoid having them now.
Of all the cars I've had previously, which were all manual struts, I only ever had them fail once, on a second hand car that was already a few years old, and they were cheap and easy to replace yourself. Progress!!
Of all the cars I've had previously, which were all manual struts, I only ever had them fail once, on a second hand car that was already a few years old, and they were cheap and easy to replace yourself. Progress!!
2023 B4 Plus Dark FWD in Silver Dawn. Tinted Rear Windows. Spare Wheel & Tow Bar dealer fitted.
Gone - 2019 T4 R-Design FWD in Bursting Blue. Winter & Convenience Packs, Power Seat, Front Park Assist, Rear Camera, Spare Wheel & Tow Bar.
Gone - 2019 T4 R-Design FWD in Bursting Blue. Winter & Convenience Packs, Power Seat, Front Park Assist, Rear Camera, Spare Wheel & Tow Bar.