I don't have anything to compare it to, but I suspect the struts on my trunk lid are weak, as it takes quite a bit of oomph to get the lid up, but the struts hold it upright well enough. Are aftermarket struts OK to use, or should I get OE? Any specific brand recommended? Are these easy to replace on my own? Thanks.

 

the trunk/boot struts on xk8/r are a dead loss..pushing fob or boot release it goes up about half an inch and you need to be Charles Atlas to lift it up..this is normal..dont waste. money or time on this

 

On all my recent Jaguars, the luggage compartment lid releases on the button or the switch and opens by about an inch. It can then be lifted easily with the assistance of the struts and stays fully open.

It takes little effort to overcome the strut support to close the lid.

This is what I take as 'normal' behaviour.

Replacement is straightforward. No reason aftermarket struts should be any less quality than OE Jaguar as they are a 'bought in' component.

1. support the lid in the open position (it's surprisingly heavy when not supported by the struts). A piece of timber is adequate or an assistant to hold it open.

2. release the upper retaining clip and pull the strut off the pivot. The spring clip can be pushed up with a small screwdriver to release it.



3. release the lower retaining clip, pull the strut off the pivot and remove it.



4. fit new strut to lower pivot and secure with retaining clip.
5. extend the strut and attach to the top pivot. Secure with the clip.

6. repeat for the second strut.

7. remove the temporary support

Graham

 

Our S-Type's trunk lid pops fully open when you press the trunk release button....

Our XK8's trunk lid only opens about half an inch when you press the trunk release button....

As others have said, this appears to be normal behavior for the XK series....

 

Like everyone else, mine only opens about 1 inch. It will hold its position (open) at anything past about a 20 degree angle.

 

Thanks for the comments. As my trunk lid will come crashing down once I start to close it and will not hold open in any position other than fully up it would appear that replacement struts are in order.

 

I replaced mine about a year ago. The instructions from GGG are right on.

Go to eBay and search for the part number. You'll find all sorts of people selling these items.

 

I did replace the struts and it makes a world of difference - once you start to lift the lid the struts take over and on their own lift the lid all the way up. And when closing the lid it just doesn't crash down - now you have to use the pull strap to get it started and pull the lid down until it reaches about 1/5 open, then it gently but firmly drops the rest of the way and closes. Perfect! Thanks to all for the help.

 

Thanks for confirming the replacement struts solved the issue.

I've amended your thread title to add 'RESOLVED' as a help for anyone searching for advice on the same issue in future.

Graham

 

One preventative maintenance item that may help some that experience increased effort on lifting the trunk lid is to occasionally spray the extension arm of the struts with a silicon lubricant that allows it to retract more easily. I have found on all our vehicles (but especially on big liftgate struts of our Enclave and Pacifica) that dust and little particles of dirt that accumulate over time greatly affect the ability of the "arm" to freely extend. And with a little wiping off of the area followed by a spritz of silicon, its performance is greatly improved. I prefer silicon based products to something like WD-40 because the WD-40 gets stickly and actually attracts dust particles as it ages. A good "dry" silicon is less prone to this.

 

Good tip tberg. Sounds like sound advice for the hood (bonnet) struts as well.