Should the boot lid pop-up when opened on my Vantage coupe?

[PhilSm]

...because it doesn't. It clicks open, but hardly lifts at all, meaning I have to use finger tips / nails to lift it. It feels wrong, but wondered if they are all like this?

In checking this, I noticed that there are two stoppers (for want of the correct terminology) at each bottom corner of the tailgate that rest on the bodywork, one of which is spring loaded, the other is either just a stop or is stuck in).

Here is the right hand one, with sprung loaded "piston":

|http://thumbsnap.com/JJSkEmLZ[/url]

...and here is the stopper / stuck one on the left:

[url]

Should they both be sprung? If so, any tips of unsticking my stuck one?

Thanks in advance,
Phil.

[Jockman]

Phil my DB9 coupe boot does not spring open either.

Not sure if it's meant to ???

[GoldenDrummer]

Hey Phil,

the hatch my 2006 V8V doesn't spring open either - would be nice if it did, I keep bending my nails trying to open it! Both sides of mine have the sprung piston in place and working, I tried a bit of WD40 to see if I could get the bootlid to spring open but no joy. You might want to try a bit of WD40 in yours, see if it will loosen - if not, perhaps the spring has broken.

That's probably about the cheapest repair on an Aston, look on the bright side

Martin

[brakedwell]

New "stoppers" only cost about £3 and they simply screw into a hole in the hatch. It is not unusual for the spring loaded plunger to fall out.

[mjk1]

The spring loaded piston has slid up inside the rubber stopper. If you unscrew the stopper (marking the position first so that you know where to reassemble it to) you will be able to slide the sprung piston back out of the rubber stopper. The boot lid still won't fully open on it's own though. It will open about half an inch for you to do the rest.

Edited by mjk1 on Saturday 27th August 22:15

[Jockman]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I think what OP and I are asking is...should the boot open automatically with the fob anyway ??

Mine never has, though I have no probs opening the boot manually

[PhilSm]

Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like both need to be working, and they just unscrew, so I now know what to do to try and resolve.

I don't expect the Tailgate to open much - half an inch would be a luxury (not often that's a phrase to be happy with!), but at the moment, it hardly moves at all.

Jockman, both the key fob and the interior switch unlock the tailgate, so no issue there.

Thanks,
Phil.

[Retman]

Might be misunderstanding you Jockman, but mine takes a double click of the tailgate button on the fob to release the tailgate about half an inch. Guess the double click means it can't be opened accidentally.

[Jockman]

Retman said:

Might be misunderstanding you Jockman, but mine takes a double click of the tailgate button on the fob to release the tailgate about half an inch. Guess the double click means it can't be opened accidentally.

Damn, thought that was going to be a top tip - it certainly makes sense.

Alas, on the first firm click on the fob you hear my boot opening but you have to lift it manually.

Nothing changes by pressing the fob any more

[PhilSm]

Problem resolved - there is a retaining cap on the back of plunger (hidden in the tailgate when fitted) which had popped off. It just needed clipping back on and a squeeze with the pliers to hold it and it's now working again.

I'm still not getting my full half inch of air, but certainly better than before.

Thanks again for your help,
Phil.

[KarlFranz]

On my Esprit, releasing the boot lid, causes it to rise to its full opening. Why can't they make the gas shocks on the Vantage tailgate do the same?

[Steve*B]

KarlFranz said:

On my Esprit, releasing the boot lid, causes it to rise to its full opening. Why can't they make the gas shocks on the Vantage tailgate do the same?

Probably weight.

[alanweston]

this topic prompted me to have a look at mine. A quick fiddle later and hey presto another half inch. Basically unscrewed the black things a few turns and now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JICeQBHe8Is

result!

[KarlFranz]

Steve*B said:

Probably weight.

I doubt the Vantage boot lid weighs much more—especially compared to the Esprit models that have the wing mounted on the lid rather than the body.

[matg]

alanweston said:

this topic prompted me to have a look at mine. A quick fiddle later and hey presto another half inch. Basically unscrewed the black things a few turns and now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JICeQBHe8Is

result!

Indeed. Tip, turn phone 90 degrees when doing videos

[Murph7355]

I was told the small auto-opening was to prevent accidents when headroom is tight. Not wholly convincing but there is some logic.

Doesn't the plunger work the various switches for the boot?