Closing the hatch

[aforkosh]

Having driven my Prius for over 1.5 years and 20,000 miles, I was surprised to discover something new (to me) and useful. Many, or most, of you may already realize this, but I figured I pass along this discovery to those still in the dark.

As a preface, prior to the Prius, I owned a 1982 Tercel hatchback. On that car, the licencse plate lights were on each side of the rear plate and the housing for the right one provided a firm handle for closing the hatch. When I got the Prius, I discovered the inside handhold, but found that I usually did not generate sufficient force using it to firmly close the hatch. My technique evolved to thrusting the hatch down using the handhold and then firmly guiding the hatch down with my hand at the base of main window just above the spoiler. I have never really liked that, as I occaisionally would put a bit of pressure on the spoiler and could feel a little bit of flex there.

I have now discovered a much better point for secondary pressure: the Toyota emblem between the licence plate and the slit window. I find that by pushing against the emblem, not really down, but in, the hatch closes firmly. In fact, unless I hold back a bit, I end up slamming it into the lock.

[baxsie]

LOL, it took me two days and a picture in the owners manual to even find the inside handle. But once I found it, (like you) I started using the emblem to finish the closure so it does not scratch the paint.

[fortheanimals]

i use the license plate area.. particularly when my prius has just had a cleaning and is spotless 8)

[Tideland Prius]

Hmm, I don't know about you guys, but I've noticed that my hatch is easier to close and doesn't feel as heavy as before. Heck, when I close it now, it's a hard slam rather than a good closing thud before. Has anyone else experienced this? Is there something wrong with the gas struts?

[Old n Bold]

Yeah. I found a pretty bad way to close the hatch.

I was coming around the passenger side. My wife had just unloaded the rear end and the hatch was up. I reached up with my hand on the side of the hatch and gave it a good slam down. I didn't look up or realize that there was still a lot of hatch between my hand and the bottom of the hatch. The pointy corner bottom right hit me in the head.

My wife came around the other side and is was bleeding like hell all over the place. Popped me right in the front center of the scalp.

Now I stand behind and look up when I slam it down.

Bye the way, very little sympathy from the wife.

[jayman]

My hatch used to need a good hard slam or it wouldn't latch properly.

When I had the car down in Rochester MN I stopped by a local Wal Mart and picked up a can of white lithium grease on sale. I gave the latch a liberal spray and opened/closed the hatch a few times.

It's now MUCH easier to close. The latch must have been dry and stiff.

[baxsie]

The lift struts in my 2000 Sienna are now pretty weak. I talked to the dealer about replacements, but they were really expensive.

Anyone have a good lift strut source?

[kenoarto]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(baxsie @ Aug 16 2005, 12:26 AM) [snapback]117062[/snapback]</div>

The lift struts in my 2000 Sienna are now pretty weak. I talked to the dealer about replacements, but they were really expensive.
Anyone have a good lift strut source?
[/b]

My struts have gotten a bit to firm. Any ideas to make closing easier? Any twisting/screw adjustments like a normal house storm door? Should I just spray it with something? What kind of lube? Silicone? Grease? Kerosene?

[Godiva]

I find the inside hand hold is usually sufficient to close it. However I did purchase a handle thing for my license plate frame. It attaches to the frame on the bottom and provides a little handle to finish the closure without using the spoiler, emblem or any other painted portion of the car.

license plate handle

[kdk84]

i usually pull it down with the built in handle and then finish it off with a hand on the rear spolier (no flex noticed)... seems to work fine.