Panic - tailgate wouldn't close.

Faults and Technical chat for the Volvo XC40
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CaseWhenThen
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Sep 27, 2024 6:46 pm

Post by CaseWhenThen »

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 :D

DADDY KOOL
Posts: 39
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2021 9:07 pm

Post by DADDY KOOL »

Well done ,it's amazing what you can achieve!!!
Chris John
Posts: 544
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:08 pm

Post by Chris John »

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
CaseWhenThen
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Sep 27, 2024 6:46 pm

Post by CaseWhenThen »

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
Chris John
Posts: 544
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:08 pm

Post by Chris John »

CaseWhenThen 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
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 tbh
Volvo XC40 T5 R-Drive Pro. Thunder Grey with lots of extras
ChrisLF
Posts: 1723
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2019 8:21 am
Location: Heart of England

Post by ChrisLF »

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.
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.
Chris John
Posts: 544
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:08 pm

Post by Chris John »

ChrisLF 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.
Tbh they seem to be more hassle than they are worth. Range Rover ones also fail and are over £1k to replace
Volvo XC40 T5 R-Drive Pro. Thunder Grey with lots of extras
CaseWhenThen
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Sep 27, 2024 6:46 pm

Post by CaseWhenThen »

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
ChrisLF
Posts: 1723
Joined: Wed Apr 24, 2019 8:21 am
Location: Heart of England

Post by ChrisLF »

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!!
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.
Jaycee750
Posts: 33
Joined: Sat Oct 05, 2024 7:56 pm

Post by Jaycee750 »

Sounds like a cr@p design to me. Is this same design ie exposed poor quality struts in a wet channel still the case with the latest cars?
Sept 2024 Volvo XC-40 B4 Plus Dark in Cloud Blue
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