Closing the hatch

LOL, it took me two days and a picture in the owners manual to even find the inside handle. But once I found it, (like you) I started using the emblem to finish the closure so it does not scratch the paint.

 

i use the license plate area.. particularly when my prius has just had a cleaning and is spotless 8)

 

Yeah. I found a pretty bad way to close the hatch.

I was coming around the passenger side. My wife had just unloaded the rear end and the hatch was up. I reached up with my hand on the side of the hatch and gave it a good slam down. I didn't look up or realize that there was still a lot of hatch between my hand and the bottom of the hatch. The pointy corner bottom right hit me in the head.

My wife came around the other side and is was bleeding like hell all over the place. Popped me right in the front center of the scalp.

Now I stand behind and look up when I slam it down.

Bye the way, very little sympathy from the wife.

 

My hatch used to need a good hard slam or it wouldn't latch properly.

When I had the car down in Rochester MN I stopped by a local Wal Mart and picked up a can of white lithium grease on sale. I gave the latch a liberal spray and opened/closed the hatch a few times.

It's now MUCH easier to close. The latch must have been dry and stiff.

 

The lift struts in my 2000 Sienna are now pretty weak. I talked to the dealer about replacements, but they were really expensive.

Anyone have a good lift strut source?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(baxsie @ Aug 16 2005, 12:26 AM) [snapback]117062[/snapback]</div>

My struts have gotten a bit to firm. Any ideas to make closing easier? Any twisting/screw adjustments like a normal house storm door? Should I just spray it with something? What kind of lube? Silicone? Grease? Kerosene?

 

I find the inside hand hold is usually sufficient to close it. However I did purchase a handle thing for my license plate frame. It attaches to the frame on the bottom and provides a little handle to finish the closure without using the spoiler, emblem or any other painted portion of the car.

license plate handle

 

i usually pull it down with the built in handle and then finish it off with a hand on the rear spolier (no flex noticed)... seems to work fine.

 

what?? no one uses the rear spoiler as a giant handle to close the hatch?

is it because people are nice to the rear spoiler? and
dont want to damage it?
or is it because of the shortage of touring models??

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Jun 22 2007, 12:38 AM) [snapback]466201[/snapback]</div>

I have a license plate handle but I mounted mine on the top with the license bolts. Won't the bolts on the bottom of the plate scratch the paint?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom 6850 @ Jun 22 2007, 02:44 PM) [snapback]466501[/snapback]</div>

I only have holes in the top of the license plate frame. So I used the holes in the bottom of the license plate to mount the handle to the plate. That holds the handle and the frame goes over the lot. I used shallow bolts and bolted from back to front. I then put pad protectors on the heads of the bolts to protect the paint. I don't think I really needed to do that. Whatever...the license is going to cover those spots.

 

I use the license plate as my hand placement after I pull down from the inside. When at Toyota, they told us to use the spoiler or else it would throw the hatch out of alignment. But I don't like fingerprints on my paint!!

 

i just mentioned the spoiler to rub it in that i have a touring model, heh

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(baxsie @ Aug 6 2005, 12:10 AM) [snapback]113935[/snapback]</div>

There's an inside handle? I've grabbed the spoiler but I don't like the give. The emblem works well.

 

I find that with just the right snap of the arm down and then away from the car, I can close the rear hatch using just the inside handle - no need to worry about emblems, spoilers or incriminating fingerprints.

You must practice your ninja hatch skills. I'll try to get a little video clip to post.

 

I also use the inside handle to get the hatch started, then switch to the Toyota emblem.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(8AA @ Jun 23 2007, 04:03 AM) [snapback]466807[/snapback]</div>

Ditto