boot pistons not working

[sb18180]

hi all,
iam new to the forum.just brought a 2003 206cc really pleased with it.it come with a fault the boot will not stay up on its own it has to be held up when opened.this does not effect the roof.will i need new boot pistons? and will they be expensive and hard to fit if so?also is that the proper name for them boot pistons? just guessing on the name.
thanks for any input given

[Capncol]

If you can hear the motor running, it might just be low on hydraulic fluid. I would check that first.

[sb18180]

If you can hear the motor running, it might just be low on hydraulic fluid. I would check that first.

thanks for your reply.
its the boot lid that wont stay up(the one you need the key to unlock it and put what small bit of shopping you can fit in lol) and not the roof lid that works fine.they are 2 hydraulic arms that should hold the boot open.
also is there anywhere i can download a hayes manual 206cc on the site?

[sb18180]

i have found a topic on this forum about boot lids will not stay open due to faulty boot struts.will have to order some and get it sorted.

[Capncol]

i have found a topic on this forum about boot lids will not stay open due to faulty boot struts.will have to order some and get it sorted.

Sorry, misunderstood what you meant originally.
They are called "gas struts" Good motor factors can get them. Make sure they are for the 206cc though as the load rating is higher.

If you can't work out how to fit them, come back here, and someone will be able to help.
Just be careful. That boot lid is heavy!

[sb18180]

thx capncol i have seen some for sale new £12.99 each for the 206cc think i will get a pair otherwise i can see my fingers gettin trapped

[Thar]

I had this problem just over 12 months ago. I bought a replacement boot strut from the dealer for £23.99+VAT. There is a guide here that tells you how to replace them.

[sb18180]

nice on thar many thanks got them on order and i will wait till its warmer to fit them.seems like they had a faulty batch of struts but the boots are very heavy.

[GrandadMonkey]

If your originals have lasted 9 years they've done quite well, if they'd been part of a faulty batch they wouldn't have lasted that long.

You'll probably find that only one has failed when you come to replace them but you may as well renew both while you're at it. Then each will be doing its fair share of the work and the new pair should last longer.

[Thar]

I don't think you can appreciate what the struts do until one fails...made me feel like a total weakling!

[delta1]

The parts themselves are not too expensive - maybe £30 to £50 for both sides but it can be a fairly difficult job to do yourself. It took me about 2 hours to get to the point where I could get access to change the struts and it could be easy to damage the trim and clips holding the trim on if you pull the wrong way etc. Personally I think this job could also be very dangerous as you need to support the weight of the boot lid when changing the struts. Don't try this job on your own or you could get hurt (or worse) if you slip or something and the boot lid comes down while you are working inside the boot. The boot is also heavier than some cars due to the roof mechanics. Also, don't try releasing the fitting inside the car with the boot lid down or if there is any pressure left in the strut, the piston could suddenly extend and if you hand is near it, you could get hurt. This job is probably one thats best left to the professionals unless you have lots of experience with what you are doing. I would also say is don't bother just getting one side done to save money. The other side might be getting weak too and then you could have to pay to get that done later and it probably would have been cheaper to get them both done at the same time. Hope all that helps.

[Capncol]

Some good point made there Delta1

[Thar]

I agree that this is not a one man job, but I wouldn't go as far as to say it is one for the professionals. As long as you get someone to help you and follow guidance. it's an easy enough job to do.

[delta1]

Hi Thar, you're probably right there. I made the comments due to the time it took me to gain access to the struts as I didn't know how to get the seats and trim out. It wasn't just the potential dangers of the job.