C5x7 electric tailgate

[deckoil]

Hi, I've read the post about repairing the electrical tailgate. Thought I'd posted in it but maybe it's too old.

I'd rather just replace the struts with normal, non electrical replacements. Mine is a 2012. Estate.

Anyone know if this is possible? Where to source etc.

Door button still working. Just the struts aren't, so simple struts would be fine.

Thanks.

[Clogzz]

Garages know mobile strut replacers.
My 2002 C5 had leaking struts that weren’t holding up the lid by cold weather.
A strut man came and replaced them.
They don’t lift quite as high as the originals, so needed to watch our heads until we got used to the reduced lift.

[c16rkc]

There seem to be lots of sellers of the standard struts, for example these:

https://www.strutsdepot.com/product/611 ... NIQAvD_BwE

They are so cheap that my suggestion is buy some and try them out; but the fitment might be different from the electrical ones...

[deckoil]

Thanks, the tailgate is really heavy because of the electric strut workings. Anyone know if you can just remove this without other implications. I think the door would be too heavy for normal struts if I leave it in place.

[deckoil]

I bought two manual replacements which seems to be working fine. They're strong enough even with the weight of all the electrical on the door. Still, I might remove it as it's now superfluous.

[gohunter]

Hi deckoil,

I have a similar issue. C5 X7 Tourer Exclusive with the "pain in the neck" electric tailgate. My wife uses a wheelchair which folds down nicely, but the handles sometime just touch the tailgate as it closes and hey presto, the darned thing opens up a foot or so, then can only be closed by using a LOT of force to close it. Hitting the red button on the tailgate, or the keyfob button simply gives 2 bleeps and it doesn't move. How did you get on with removing the electric struts? Did you manage it? To be honest, I thought of simply removing the dedicated 30A fuse for the tailgate and hacking through the cables to get rid of the heavy electric struts, but that doesn't really sound like the best idea! Do you have to remove the whole inside trim from the tailgate to get to where you can disconnect them safely? I just had a look, but as it's winter here, the daylight isn't brilliant and with everything being black, it really doesn't help when trying to see inside the access panels on either side of the tailgate. I already bought the standard gas struts, which were cheap enough, but I think I'll need to wait for a sunny day to do this as I don't have a garage.

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.