Closing Rear Hatch

[adavid]

How do you guys close the rear hatch on your Sport? My hatch has a little strap that hangs from the inside which is useless. If I give it a tug, you can't use it to close the hatch the entire way, so that I have to reach up over the top on the outside to slam close. In fact, it takes quite alot of force. It also usually gets my hand all dirty and wet. My old Murano and current Odyssey, both have integrated handles in the moulding of the hatch , which work great.

The crazy thing is that I just opened up the '08 Highlander brochure, and on the 8th page there is a view of a beige interior looking back. On the hatch I can very clearly see an integrated handle and no wimpy strap. The picture is of the "grade" interior, so this is the base model. Why doesn't my Sport have this?

Also, do you guys find that you have to close the rear glass forcefully for it to lock? Better yet, I feel that all of the doors take excessive force to close...at least significantly more than my Odyssey or Murano.

Thanks!
Andy

[summerwind]

My Limited has the power rear door so I just push the button on the hatch and it closes itself..

As the power rear door is an option on a Sport, if it becomes too much of a pain to close the hatch you might see what it would cost to add this feature.

The PB Power rear door option was $400 list so you probably are talking a few bucks for adding it but you might get your dealer to sell you the parts at dealer cost as part of customer goodwill

As this was an option on a Sport and Limited, I am assuming that the wiring is in place to install this option after delivery. If you have to remove panels and string wire it could get pricey real quick

[lucky777]

I had troubles in the beginning when closing the hatch manually. I found an easy way to close it now. I'm tall enough to pull the hatch down by the edge, and 2/3 of the way I switch force from pulling down to pressing down. Try it few times and find a point where pressing down closes the hatch easily. I do it with one hand and really wander why would anyone spend $$$ for power hatch.

[mwfromva]

Don't have a problem closing it...6'2", 225lbs - I can handle it.