I have a 2001 S-type and a 97 XJ6. When you push the trunk release for the S-type, the gas struts are strong enough to lift the lid - automagicaly. This is convenient if you have your hands full. Just wondering if the 97's struts are worn out? They never did lift the lid by themselves? Replacement / aftermarket struts can be bought to do what I'm asking?

 

I've often wondered this too.

 

I don't think struts mainly have anything to do with the power trunk release or it's the way they're designed by , it sucks to defer this cool feature .
I had X300 and it never fully opened the trunk just as my dad's Cadillac .My XJ40 also just pops up a few centimeters when you press the button inside the g- box (glove box not to mix it up with the game console lol )

 

I know that the X300's struts aren't worn out, and to the best of my knowledge, you cannot replace the struts with a pair that will fully open the lid without any outside force (you lifting the lid).

 

Bummer - I was hoping for an aftermarket super-pressurized set of struts.

 

The stype uses spring not gas strut, what youde need to do is find gas struts of the same ooperating range but with higher lifting capacity. Like my tread mill upstairs has a 150# single gas strut and i cant compress it by hand