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Hatch won't latch without slamming

Discussion in 'Prius v Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Mason5882, Mar 29, 2015.

  1. Mason5882

    Mason5882 Junior Member

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    All,

    I have a 2012 Prius v and need to slam the hatch really hard to get it to latch. I previously had a problem with the weather stripping coming loose but it reattached just fine with some 3M adhesive. My hope was that would solve the problem but it did not. Also, I used some WD-40 inside the latch mechanism, but it did not seem to fix things either. Anyone else experience this or have suggestions?

    Thanks!
     
  2. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    I'd still be looking for an obstruction or cock-eyed weather strip. The latch itself should be adjustable. I'm pretty sure that WD40 is not the ideal lube, it seems like that should have grease.

    Also, make very sure the hatch itself is not cock-eyed, look closely at the clearance all around when closed. I've noted that mine sometimes balks at latching when the car chassis is torqued on an uneven surface.
     
  3. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Mine does not always close completely on an easy push but does complete when just pushed a little more without slamming. I thought it was air pressure with all the other doors closed.
     
  4. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    I have the same behavior but attribute it to resistance from the struts that hold the hatch up If I push weakly, they seem to slow down the hatch so it doesn't overcome the resistance of the weatherstripping. It must compress the weatherstripping for the seal to be effective.

    I'll take that behavior because the corner edge of the hatch is sharp, just ask my head. I want that hatch held up.

    My solution? Push harder and hold the push further down towards the ground.
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    A lot of times doors/hatches have rubber stops in the frame, and they're adjustable, ie: you can adjust their projection by screwing them in or out a bit.
     
  6. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Same problem here. I guess I'm not a complainer as I never brought it up when I brought it in for service. There have been several occasions when I came back to the car with the door ajar light on!

    MT2L03 ?
     
  7. MGOBLUEV

    MGOBLUEV Junior Member

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    I have the same issue for several periods since purchasing the vehicle three years ago. The latest started about two weeks ago.

    1. Needs to be slammed to shut.
    2. When opening the hatch I hear a thud which I attribute to overcoming resistance.

    I would not have expected this after the warm weather moved in. What adjustments can we make to improve the perfodmance of the latch? I sprayed with Tri-Flow, but it didn't help. I have experienced similar issues:

    Note: Do not use WD 40 for lubrication, it is a particle removal.
     
  8. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Still just living with it I'm afraid. Ours still has less than 5k miles so I guess it's not so much a pain because of low usage.
     
  9. Priusguy78213

    Priusguy78213 Junior Member

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    My hatchback seemed to take a bit more effort to close than I thought it should also; I just lubed the 2 supports with some of this. MUCH smoother. Did the doors as well. Waterproof and won't get all gummy. Give it a try.

     
  10. sfv41901

    sfv41901 Masta S

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    I think ur problem is coming from the 3m adhesive that u are using.

    The weather strip is suppose to for snugly without any aid.....adding the adhesive is creating the seal to be more bulky that what is intended.......this will not allow the hatch or doors to close properly.

    Try removing the added adhesive & make sure that the weather striping is seated corectly along the pintch weld seams.

    VS980 4G ?
     
  11. priusplus_fr

    priusplus_fr Junior Member

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    I got the same issue. I noticed that happened after the trunk weatherstrips somehow got loose after a hot day.
    I asked a garage to fix the weatherstrips (I should have changed them). They put some glue.
    Still got the problem and need to slam the trunk to close it. But when I close the trunk, i can hear a little noise like a little piece of something that might have been broken.
    So actually my two options are:

    1°) Replace the weatherstrips (but they dont look really old and used.... so i am wondering if that's really the issue here) without being sure that it is the fix.
    or
    2°) or replace the lock which is a more expensive option, without being sure that it will solve the problem either.

    I am a bit lost....

    I found on youtube that these rear hatch door system are similar to other toyota cars (such as 4runner, sequoia, highlander....) so looking for clues in these videos what might help.
     
    ColoPriusV likes this.
  12. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Ours got into a bad rear ender. Mother backed into a building doorway at what seemed like significant velocity, $14k to $15k repair. There seems to be something rattling inside the hatch lid. In our case at least I’m guessing opening/removing the interior hatch card and fishing it out is in order...
     
  13. priusplus_fr

    priusplus_fr Junior Member

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    Ok today. I had a closer look. I haven't find any fix but I'd like to share my findings.

    * First of all, i found what was making that noise, it was one of the license plate light which was not fixed correctly.

    * I have tried to realign the actuator (unscrewing the 3 - 10mm bolts) with the striker (removing plastic and panels and unscrewing the two screws).
    Then I have tried to adjust the striker.
    For one second, I thought I'd would have fixed the problem but no...

    * Then I look inside the actuator, it seems when i put my screwdriver, to simulate the striker getting it: it won't complete a kind of 3 level sequences to block the lock.
    I don't know what would be the normal sequence ...going to level 3 or level 2.
    When i put the screwdriver, it would block at the 2nd step. I have to bend the screwdriver or force really hard to go the 3rd step.
    At level 2, there is a little margin to go back and forth. I think that would why my trunk won't close since it's blocked there.

    Then I noticed a piece of rubber inside the actuator mecanism(not sure it was there before or installed by the previous owner).
    It might be a kind of rubber "stop" for the striker and that would explain why i can't go fully to step 3.

    I thought that would be the fix by removing it.... but previously I have tried and my trunk would not close either.

    I am missing something but I don't know what!

    I will next explore the weatherstrips issue.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  14. priusplus_fr

    priusplus_fr Junior Member

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    It looks like I have fixed the problem. Will see how long the problem is fixed. By looking at how the weatherstrips were inserted, I noticed that the weatherstrips were not correctly placed.

    On one side, the external side of weatherstrips were placed under the plastic that is along the rear light. On the other side, they were placed above the plastic.

    I used a screwdriver to make the two sides similar so I have tried by inserting the weatherstrips just both side under the plastic. And it seems to work.

    By looking at pictures found on the internet, it seems that normally, they should be set above that plastic.
    If somehow problem is coming back, I would try this way. But now, that looks okay.

    I'll try to send pictures.

    Now, i don't need to slam the trunk hard. Just need to close it normally. If it's too light, it won't close but like the other doors.
     
  15. priusplus_fr

    priusplus_fr Junior Member

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    Here are some pictures.
    As you can see the weatherstrip is put under the grey plastic
    IMG_0119.JPG

    Then it gets out here:

    IMG_0123.JPG

    At the bottom:
    IMG_0121.JPG
     
    ColoPriusV likes this.
  16. PriusV13

    PriusV13 New Member

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    I have noticed that if I almost close the trunk, pause with enough room for a second push, then fully close it, it works every time.
     
  17. ColoPriusV

    ColoPriusV Member

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    Thank you PriusPlus_FR ... PERFECT solution!!! My new-to-me 2012 Prius V had the same exact problem, and now it's fixed! I used a nylon tire iron (used by cyclists to remove clincher tires without marring or scratching rims) to gently push the weatherstrip on the left side under the light and the rear bumper skirt. The rear hatch now closes and opens perfectly with minimal effort.
     
    #17 ColoPriusV, Jul 1, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2020