Using the handle on the liftgate itself requires you to manually lift it all the way up, which is counter intuitive from my wife's 2018 RAV4 (which we happened to purchase before our 2009 HL). If you don't lift the liftgate all the way up, it will slowly lower itself, DAMHIKT.



As far as your stuttering problem as it lowers, I would wait for others to chime in first, but it could be a problem with the struts. Perhaps one is impeding the closing of the liftgate causing the stuttering you describe. It could also be the hinge problem that there is a TSB about. I am not sure if your HL is still under warranty for the issue, if not and that is the issue, it could be an expensive fix because they have to replace the entire liftgate as well as the hinges, is my understanding. I would start with the easiest to look at parts first, perhaps disconnect one strut then the other and have the auto open open the liftgate, you may have to provide some assistance as I believe the struts do provide help, but if there is still stuttering while lifting the liftgate, then the problem may lie in the opener, disconnecting that and lifting the liftgate entirely manually should indicate if the problem is indeed the hinges because the stuttering should be there while lifting manually.


Please keep the group updated with what you find.



Paul


PS After re-reading what you wrote, something is definitely keeping the liftgate from opening fully, triggering the system to close because it thinks it is hitting something. This kind of more than re-inforces my hypothesis that it may be one or more of the struts. It may even be that a PO installed the wrong ones (assuming you are not the OO [Original Owner]).

 

Thanks Paul. Disconnecting the opener and testing the struts is such a simple thing, I wish I had thought of that. I will test in the morning.



I also found this thread https://www.toyotanation.com/forum/...der-2nd-generation-2008-2013/440281-rear-door-won-t-stay-open-power-manual.html


Describes perfectly my trouble. I will update with my findings.



Thanks again!

 

Thanks Paul. Disconnecting the opener and testing the struts is such a simple thing, I wish I had thought of that. I will test in the morning.



I also found this thread https://www.toyotanation.com/forum/...der-2nd-generation-2008-2013/440281-rear-door-won-t-stay-open-power-manual.html


Describes perfectly my trouble. I will update with my findings.



Thanks again!

I have to thank my dad for that. He advised me to always start the troubleshooting process with the simplest issue first, then go to the next remaining simplest, etc. It has mostly served me well.


Paul

 

Check the struts for sure. Check the strut mounting locations as well. Mine were very dry with a little bit of corrosion which prevented my hatch from fully opening. A little grease on each ball and socket fitting totally solved that. Also each strut mount is secured with 2 bolts. Make sure all 8 bolts are tight. If they are just a little loose they will hinder hatch movement.

 

Struts were the problem! Thanks for talking me down here hehe. I am sometimes too quick to assume the problem is the worst case scenario.


Aftermarket from O'reily's set me straight. Thanks again for the advice

 

Tailgate lift gas cylinders less than $20 each at Rock Auto (made by Monroe). Hope folks are not paying over $100 each from dealer.


I was having some issue with mine. Purchased a can of the aerosol spray white lithium grease and sprayed all joints including hinges. Operates a smoother now.


Will order a set of new cylinders from RockAuto next time I place an order. They are lower $ than local jobbers for wipers, filters etc.


PS- Not sure why they could not put cylinders on the hood. I would think on a $40K vehicle they could have spent the money on this.

 

PS- Not sure why they could not put cylinders on the hood. I would think on a $40K vehicle they could have spent the money on this.

Amen!!!!:thewave:

 

One thing I noticed yesterday was that the gas cylinders on my wife's 2018 RAV4 liftgate appear to be beefier than the ones on the second gen HL liftgates. I doubt her liftgate is heavier than my HL liftgate, but I guess it is possible. Has anyone found beefier ones that fit (both length and fit within the clearances the OEM have to fit in)?

 

The struts on the Rav4 are completely different than the Highlander. The Rav4 uses electric power struts. It's tyranny reason it opens and closes so slow. Also if you open or close it manually it's hard to do and you can hear the power mechanism. The Highlander uses a separate motor to supplement the gas struts. It's the reason the liftgate opens as easy and as fast as it does. The struts in the Rav4 power liftgate don't have gas in them if I remember right. Of course the le and some xle models do use gas struts, but they don't have the power function.

 

I am sooooo glad I found this thread. Mine started doing the exact same thing last night and I freaked out. I'm a single mom of 2 girls and my stepdad didn't raise no fool. I did all the legwork for him thanks to ya'll lol. Ordered the struts and am excited to have it fixed within a few days!!!