This just happened out of the blue.

Went to grab the groceries form the boot and for some reason it was quite heavy. There was no power assisted lifting at all and the boot wouldn't stay up, which meant i had to hold it up while taking out the food with other hand.

 

i noticed the left black hinge, was leaking something, and i have no idea what i should next. Other than take it to the local mechanic.

 

Any ideas or info as to what caused it?

 

Thanks

Sounds like one of the boot struts developed a leak and dumped the oil/gas mixture.

Replacing both gas struts should solve the problem.

if by Hinge do you mean this   

https://www.cartech-one.co.uk/en/product/938184-2x-gas-spring-boot?gclid=Cj0KCQjw0a7YBRDnARIsAJgsF3MK9_g1ElUR9eZTNVVuN6ehU-vD0Xr6Uh-XEZYqwPJo6nRmgUvabREaAuWXEALw_wcB

if so they are so easy to fit , and can save yourself  a lot of £££

13 hours ago, JW1982 said:

Sounds like one of the boot struts developed a leak and dumped the oil/gas mixture.

Replacing both gas struts should solve the problem.

Great, I have a name for them now.

12 hours ago, Tasape said:

if by Hinge do you mean this   

https://www.cartech-one.co.uk/en/product/938184-2x-gas-spring-boot?gclid=Cj0KCQjw0a7YBRDnARIsAJgsF3MK9_g1ElUR9eZTNVVuN6ehU-vD0Xr6Uh-XEZYqwPJo6nRmgUvabREaAuWXEALw_wcB

if so they are so easy to fit , and can save yourself  a lot of £££

yep, those thingies. I'll have a gander at you-tube tutorials before i do anything. I'll be ordering my self a set of those.

 

Replace the faulty one or both?

Both. The other one will have been put under extra pressure so safer to do both 

They usually come in pairs so replace both.

 

You can get them cheaper on eBay

Here is a seller I used for mine a few month back.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOR-FORD-FOCUS-MK2-HATCHBACK-2004-10-REAR-TAILGATE-BOOT-TRUNK-GAS-STRUTS-SUPPORT/222222993920?fits=Model%3AFocus|Plat_Gen%3AMK+II&epid=5006251908&hash=item33bd85ca00:g:waMAAOSw65FXtW-8

 

It's a 5 second job to change.

 

Prop the boot open (I used a length of 4x2)

Use a small flat bade screwdriver to pop the metal clips on each end of the strut and remove it.

Line the socket on the new strut up with the ball on the boot/body and give it a whack with your hand

Do the same with the other side and you're done

2 minutes ago, Ferrit said:

They usually come in pairs so replace both.

 

You can get them cheaper on eBay

Here is a seller I used for mine a few month back.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOR-FORD-FOCUS-MK2-HATCHBACK-2004-10-REAR-TAILGATE-BOOT-TRUNK-GAS-STRUTS-SUPPORT/222222993920?fits=Model%3AFocus|Plat_Gen%3AMK+II&epid=5006251908&hash=item33bd85ca00:g:waMAAOSw65FXtW-8

 

It's a 5 second job to change.

 

Prop the boot open (I used a length of 4x2)

Use a small flat bade screwdriver to pop the metal clips on each end of the strut and remove it.

Line the socket on the new strut up with the ball on the boot/body and give it a whack with your hand

Do the same with the other side and you're done

Will definitely do that.

 

Thanks a bunch.

to be honest, if you can, get a 2nd person to hold the boot whilst you do it. Sods law with propping it open is you might accidentally knock the prob when a screwdriver slips or something and if that boot lids comes down on your head or you hand it might make you yelp a bit. 

1 hour ago, isetta said:

to be honest, if you can, get a 2nd person to hold the boot whilst you do it. Sods law with propping it open is you might accidentally knock the prob when a screwdriver slips or something and if that boot lids comes down on your head or you hand it might make you yelp a bit. 

Well, I'll definitely be doing that now!

 

Thanks!