Rav4 rear door doesn't open to 90 degrees

[George Walrus]

Hello Everyone,
I've just picked up my first Rav4. It's old (2007) and a bit knocked about here and there, but I love it already. Feels great to drive, really nice and comfy. Fab details inside. However one slight gripe I've got is the rear door, as in the 'boot' door. It only opens to about 45-50º, certainly not all the way to 90º which I imagine it should. I don't want to force it and it really feels as though that's as much as it will open but I can't think that's right as it would make getting something like a table into it impossible if you had the seats down and were transporting a large item.

Anyone else had this?

George

[FROSTYBALLS]

Moved to the Rav4 forum.

As far as I'm aware the restricted opening is to prevent the rear lights being obscured when the door is open. 

Other members have fitted extended rear door straps - eg:

 

[Cyker]

I wonder if there is such a thing to allow the Yaris Mk4's rear doors to open wider...!

[Rosgoe]

15 minutes ago, Cyker said:

I wonder if there is such a thing to allow the Yaris Mk4's rear doors to open wider...!

Funny you say that I’ve just had a aygo X as a courtesy car and I couldn’t believe how little the rear doors opened the corolla is bad enough.

[Cyker]

Yeah, I don't get it. People actually struggle to get in and out of the rear seats because of it, and my friends have said getting in and out is almost as awkward as it was in my 3-door Yaris!!   (Mostly jokingly tho'  )

 

[Markyswan]

Mine don't open as far as I would like and the kids try to force them getting in and out sometimes. 

[Derek.w]

Same problem on the Yaris mark4.

I fitted a hard rubber spacer to the B pillar so extending the door link.

It worked for me its was a hard rubber washer of around 4 or 5 mm just what I had lying around.

[Cyker]

Has that made it easier to get in and out of the back?

Be interested in what you did if it did!!

[anchorman]

8 minutes ago, Cyker said:

Has that made it easier to get in and out of the back?

Be interested in what you did if it did!!

I’ve investigated this.   I took the check strap off and the door opens much wider before there’s any risk of it fouling the front door.   I can only assume that a longer check strap will foul the window runner inside the door but as the Yaris will go when the Cross comes I’ve not been there yet.  Derek’s solution may be best in the interim but the anchor plate must be fully supported and the bolt must be tight as there’s a hell of a lot of load on it.   

[Derek.w]

Have taken some pictures today of door strap modifcation.

 

[Derek.w]

anchorman

Its worked like that for nearly two year thats the age of the car and its a lot less stress than someone forcing the door back beyond its opening limit as was my case before the modifcation.

I checked when I caried out the modifcation its not fouling the inside when its closed or the other door when its open.