This tailgate has to go!

[Argos69]

Dear fellow Citroen sufferers,

I have posted several times in the past few years, about my trials with my stupid electric tailgate. I have always managed to get to a stage where I'm ok to continue, but enough is enough! It has to go!

I have read (somewhere) about someone successfully changing it to a normal manual lift system without difficulty and whilst retaining the electric lock and latch. But I can't find this anywhere. I've also heard the "it can't be done. This is different. That is different etc" arguments too.

It has recently taken to dropping like a stone, randomly whilst up. It drops so hard the trim comes away inside the tailgate! This morning it hit my Wife on the shoulder, but a hit on the head or face would be pretty serious.

I've done all the resets I can think of. The battery is excellent. I've disabled the oversensitive "economy mode" too.

Does any knowledgeable person know which manual struts will actually fit the tailgate, which presently has the electric ones in use?

I will then throw the entire electric tailgate mechanism in the bin, where it belongs.

Much thanks in advance for any help

[the-termin8r]

If this is for an X7 then it's doable. The guy that runs the Comfortable Car Club channel converted his one to a regular one. See here and here.

[Argos69]

Ah Rob, that's excellent! Thank you!
Yes, it's an X7, my only concern was getting the right struts, as I'd heard scaremongering about the ball connectors being an odd size. (or maybe that is true on some vehicles?).
That chap's videos seem really entertaining. He's happy to share his mistakes as much as his successes.

[the-termin8r]

Unfortunately I can't speak to the struts needed as I own the saloon. I presume the mountings are the same between the electric ones and regular ones. It's a good channel, just a shame he got rid of his X7 in favour of a DS3 recently.

[mickthemaverick]

Any good?: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/253646437688

[Argos69]

Hi Mick, "yes!" that looks good, but the delivery and import duties to France double the price and put them at a similar cost to the Am@zon offerings over here. At least this way if they don't fit I can return them for a refund.

I shall get purchase approval from "the boss", then order a pair. I'll update on the success / failure of my modification once it's done.

Once again, thank you both!

[the-termin8r]

You can try looking on EuroFrance24 or AutoDoc.