Stiff boot struts

[slender]

Just tried to open the boot of my fathers new Superb and found it quite hard to do. The boot initially opens but does not raise. Fine. Start to manually push it up and their is no assistance whatsoever. Whenever you stop pushing it stops - it does not lower, it does not raise.

Is this the norm?

[dsemuk]

Sounds like one or both of the gas pressure struts are duff Trip to your dealer for them to sort it.

[Lummox]

Have a word with your dealer ref modded hinges.

[slender]

Thanks, folks, this is what I suspected.

[WierdNatox]

i had this problem but a bit of wd40 seemed to do the trick

[Kentish]

Mine had this as well, but WD40 soon wore away. However 3in1 oil being slightly thicker has served much better and still ,after quite a while, the boot opens smoothly and without assistance being needed.

[Lummox]

But like I said if you car is in warranty have a word with your dealer, there are modded hinges with modded pivot bushes that dont corrode up.

Been out for years on A6/Passat, Skoda now have them.

[Kentish]

Originally Posted by Ross Clarke

But like I said if you car is in warranty have a word with your dealer, there are modded hinges with modded pivot bushes that dont corrode up.

Been out for years on A6/Passat, Skoda now have them.

But do they need painting ? Mine are painted, but I have seen A6 hinges all shiny and bright.

[Lummox]

I think they do normally require painting the same as the A6/Passat ones. When im back at work i'll dig the paperwork out and let you know.

[Kentish]

Had to oil mine again, but a lot better than they ever were.

[atsu]

I just test drove a Superb for a 24hr period. It was a 1.9TDI 130 Comfort, 54 model with only 1800 miles on the clock. The boot mechanism was so stiff it was unreal. I didnt realise it's a common fault - I have now ordered a Superb, I will keep an eye out for this.

It also had a offside rear door problem, it wouldn't open from the inside. I thought it was the child lock but it wasn't.. A bit worrrying.

[ajh12345]

Hi All, The boot on my Superb became incredibly stiff over the period last winter. Have a word with your local motorshop to get hold of some "dry lube". This will be PTFE based and should not pick up as much dirt as oiling the various hinges and sliders!

[Kentish]

Originally Posted by ajh12345

Hi All, The boot on my Superb became incredibly stiff over the period last winter. Have a word with your local motorshop to get hold of some "dry lube". This will be PTFE based and should not pick up as much dirt as oiling the various hinges and sliders!

If its only dry lube, I suggest a bike lube, Finish Line dry chain lube. Can get it at Halfords, and has a little pipe in the end of the bottle to direct application. Had I realised it was a dry lube they used, I would have done mine already with it as I have 2 bottles of Finish Line dry in the garage (I never liked it on a bike chain, but still very good lube)

Note: the Finish Line dry lube is the red topped one (not green), and works a treat. Its in a solution, but that dries rapidly leaving the white lubricant behind which contains Teflon.
Having had my dealer lube my struts up a while ago and enjoying easy opening, it was starting to stiffen up. When the Finish Line dry was worked into the pivot points, I was very suprised whan I saw the dry lube carrying solution coming out rust coloured...not a good sign. Anyway, 10 mins of application and working of the boot lid cured all problems, to a point where now the boot goes fully upright and literally bounces off its stops at full opening.