T Spirit Hatch Noise

[Cobbler]

Evening all,

Im have a problem and wonder if anyone can help.

When first opening the hatch I get a groaning noise. This only happens on first opening the hatch and by continuing opening you can not make this re occur. However, when left for some time it will re occur but only on first opening. I hvae tried lubricating all hinges and arms etc without success. Any help would be apreciated, im at my wits end. Thanks in advance.

[matty2767]

mine has done this in the past too. when i have taken it back to the dealer they have replaced the struts. it was worse in the summer when it was really hot. it must have made the gas expand and leak out of the unit.

[runboy]

Recently been discussed here:

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=59467

[uumode]

It sounds like a 'metal to metal' groan rather than a damper to me.

I once had the unfortunate luck of owning a long and short side Rover Metro (from new too).

basically one side of the metal panel work/pressing was slightly longer than the other side of the car.

This means that the end of the car is not even (be it a couple of mm) and the rear hatch that was pivoting off it was squarking like a chicken / groaning over rough road surfaces not too dissimilar to the Avensis' open hatch groan.

Dispite numorous visits to the dealer under warranty, them realigning the catch and locks and re-hinging the hatch the problem still persisted.

I think possibly that the structural integrity is suspect somewhere? My Avensis hatch is also not 'rock solid' when in motion, (the odd squeak or hatch movment over rigged or rough surfaces. I can tell I'm driving a hatch. Sitting in my old VW Polo and my Bro's 1 Series BMW you are not aware it's a hatch and they are so structually rigid it could be a booted car.

[Cobbler]

Thank You for your posts. Noise only happens on opening, have managed an inprovement with small amount of grease around piston area of strut in fact have cured one side, now other side has started with same noise will try that side too. Mind you I should have done both sides to start with.

Thanks once again.

[runboy]

When I inspected my struts I notice one is starting to rust around the collar. With the other groaning, it's off to the dealer for a service and ask them to replace under warranty. Rust on a 2 year old car part. Pah.

[Chezza]

Grease the moving metal strut (lightly over the whole thing) about once every 3 months and the noise should disappear.

[runboy]

Mentioned this issue to my dealer when the Avensis was in for its service this week. Problems were:

Groaning noise when hatch lifted

Hatch not lifting fully so I had to push the hatch up the last 6 inches

Rust forming around the collar on one of the struts

No argument from the dealer, 2 new struts on order for a warranty repair.