When bitterly cold out, does your rear hatch open really slow?

[morphius909]

We've been hit with our first cold snap up here in the Great North.

I notice that when opening the tailgate, it opens real slow...and it only opens up about half way to 3/4 way, the rest I have to push up to fully open.

Is this just simply the effct of the cold temperature on the two tailgate shocks?

 

[gqr1c3boi]

I'm sure your definition of bitterly cold is different than mine, but it was about mid-30s here in Oklahoma and the same thing happened to me. I unlatched it and let it go, thinking it would go all the way up, only to turn around to bump my head on it. So I guess cold weather does have something to do with it.

 

[gptoy96]

I have the same thing happening here too. -26c yesterday morning and the hatch was slow and only opened 3/4, had to push it up the rest of the way so I didn't hit my head.

Same thing happened last year to me too, all went back to normal once it warmed up some. Apparently the cold has an effect on the gas in the shocks, but it's nothing to worry about.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

It's just the hydralic fluid in the support thickens up when it get really cold and is normal.

 

[manhunter]

What you are experiencing is normal - they will do that once you get down in the 30's or below.

 

[CSL]

funny.

We have been in the single digits here, and I noticed the same thing just yesterday. Mine was so weak, that it couldn't even hold the door up...it kept slowing coming back down and resting on my head while I was putting stuff in the back. annoying, but glad it is normal.

 

[MikesToy]

I'm in the Colorado Springs and it's like 7 degrees (feels like -7) and my rear hatch opens all the way up. Now my hood would slowly fall over my head. But it works during spring, summer, and fall. Maybe i need to buy those shock re-enforcements from Wally. haha...

 

[fourwd1]

It's just the hydralic fluid in the support thickens up when it get really cold and is normal.

Exactly.

 

[TC4Rnr]

that applies to any fluid, same reason in your owner's manual recommends thinner engine oil for cold weather. my 3rd gen is very hard to shift while it was sitting outside all day with the temperature in the teens. once it warms up after driving quarter of mile, everything back to normal.

make sure you warm up your engine and drive easily on the first half mile or so. just for the better life of your engine and tranny.