My 2009 ford focus hatchback's bootlid has popped out of place a bit due to me messing with the boot struts. I recently replaced my boot struts and they worked fine until I bought a kit off ebay that allowed the boot to pop open completely via the key fob. As I closed the boot I heard a loud pop and noticed that the boot catch caught on the plastic trim near the boot latch.

The boot could still close however so I wasn't too concerned and maybe thought that they had knocked the boot lock mechanism slightly out of place. But while getting the ice off the car this morning I noticed that the boot didn't look quite right. It looked as if it was open slightly but it was locked and wouldn't budge. I then noticed near the spoiler there was definitely a bigger gap than usual. 

What I think has happened is what I put around the struts has pushed something out of place. The struts them selves are fine and I have even tried putting the original ones back on but still the same issue. Quite worried I might have to do some big job in case I've bent the hinges of the boot but I'm just not too sure. If anyone on here can give me their thoughts on what I could do or look for then that would be great.

14 minutes ago, Lochlan said:

...and they worked fine until I bought a kit off ebay that allowed the boot to pop open completely via the key fob.

 

'Emerald' by any chance?

They weren't emerald but the springs didn't work too well with the new struts (they were slightly different as in they didn't compress all the way down to the cylinder like the ford ones did) So i put some washers in front of the spring to compress the spring and then i heard the pop. So what i'm trying to say is due to my incompetence i've knocked my boot out of alignment. And just want to know what has either been bent of moved out of place.

Just had a look at the hinges to see if maybe it had ridden up where the bolts are it it looks like they haven't moved. Wondering if its the mounting point for the struts near the taillights that has moved but that doesn't look like it has either.

I’d say the hinges have gotten distorted/bent  in some way, maybe if the struts locked up or became fully compressed before the tailgate was fully closed. 
 

How to reverse that I’m not sure, I’m thinking you’d need to hold the hinges and bend them inwards to bring the tailgate closer to the rear aperture which then aligns the latch with striker and the gaps to rear body sides. The gap for top edge to rear of the roof will also come closer from that, the gaps are always a compromise at the best of times.
 

Id not try unbolting anything as there’s a lot more weight in the panel than you think and the whole tailgate can drop out of position making things worse. 
 

Could be worth a trip to a decent body shop for bit of expert help

I did go see someone yesterday and they said to try and loosen the hinges a bit and adjust them yourself. I had a go myself with someone pushing the boot up and it seems to have made a difference with it not sticking out as much but still a gap at the top and still not being flush with the sides of the car. I'll have a go with trying to bend the hinges as thats probably a good shout.

Haven't bent them yet, only loosened the bolts on the hinges and pushed the boot up, posting in case anyone wants to compare their hinges with mine. The difference is probably hardly noticeable but thought i'd post anyway. The scratched bolts are due to loosening and tightening a couple times.