Posted already on another forum but haven’t had any answers - hoping someone here can help.

I’ve recently purchased a 2009 (2010 facelift model) Range Rover Sport.

I’ve noticed that the tailgate is extremely heavy when opening - even the glass section is heavy - meaning I’ll need to replace the gas struts.

This got me thinking that perhaps the worn out struts are limiting the tailgate opening functionality more than just making it heavy.

Is the tailgate opening button on the key fob supposed to fully open the tailgate, or just unlock it? Mine just unlocks the tailgate which then needs to be manually lifted (with a good deal of strength). Same goes for the main button on the tailgate itself.

The handbook says (regarding the key fob button) “press to unlock, disarm and open the tailgate”. This sounds as though the button should fully open the tailgate.

If anyone knows the normal functionality it would be much appreciated.

I think the powered opening only came in once the single piece tailgate was adopted. If yours has the opening glass wndow section then it won't be powered. Easy to see if it should be - the powered struts have a wire going to them as they power up and down.

The tailgate is very heavy once the struts start to go. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Ok thank you. It’s not powered but I thought that the gas struts themselves may be enough to open the tailgate. My previous car did this (VW CC).

I had hoped (although optimistically) that the tailgate was supposed to pop open when unlocked by the fob or by the main button on tailgate. I was slightly confused by the wording in the handbook.

Thanks for the help!

Is there anyway to retrofit the powered struts?

Vermont_Jack wrote:

Ok thank you. It’s not powered but I thought that the gas struts themselves may be enough to open the tailgate. My previous car did this (VW CC).

I had hoped (although optimistically) that the tailgate was supposed to pop open when unlocked by the fob or by the main button on tailgate. I was slightly confused by the wording in the handbook.

Thanks for the help!

I have a 2010 facelift and the fob just pops the lock, it's easy to open though with little effort, once I move mine a couple of feet it raises on its own, suggest your struts are a bit feeble..

Quote:

I have a 2010 facelift and the fob just pops the lock, it's easy to open though with little effort, once I move mine a couple of feet it raises on its own, suggest your struts are a bit feeble.. Smile

mgrover wrote:

Is there anyway to retrofit the powered struts?