Boot lid not closing smoothly for years issue SOLVED

Sylvester

Sylvester

Member
Since I've had my A2, it's been over 4 years, the boot had never closed smoothly, it always needed a firm slam. As I've had to sort other things out in the mean time, it was never pritoty and after a while I just learnt to live with it.

Fast forward to couple of weeks ago, I'd dediced it's time to sort this out, along with other minor things, so I'd ordered the recommended boot struts, as I thought they were the main issue.
I'd greased and cleaned the latch, it'd been working fine, but definitely smoother now. After following @mtl's YouTube tutorial the struts swap went good, those small clips can be a handful to put on though. The boots struts actually so strong now, they shake the car a tad when fully opened, I hope that settles over time. The boot still didn't close nicely though, actually got much worse, at some point didn't even want to shut at all.

After checking the forum and trying to adjust the bumper stops to no avil, swapping the old struts back again also didn't work, I've put the new ones back on and started to think why it still doesn't work. Then it hit me.

I saw marks on the catching latch, which means the boot latch has been hitting it for a long time, so could it'd have pushed it out of alignment?
20230728_182444.jpg

Pushing down the flap door, also cleaned behind that, I saw 1 bolt on each side, which turned out to be holding the catching latch. I loosed both sides, access is very limited with rear panel in place but doable, carefully pulling them up by ~0.5cm (5mm), right side a bit less just in case, then tightening the bolts again, I then gently closed the boot... It locked so smoothly, I almost started clapping🥹 Literally what I see on new cars!

Upon checking the right side was a tiny bit lose compered to left one, I've aligned that side as equal up as I could, then closed the boot again, and it felt like squashing butter with my fingers...Both sides sit nice and solid on the seals now.
No more force closes with many tries, or worries I might damaged something behind the panel with the strong pushes, hopefully all is good there, just smooth and solid close. I know it'd have been a shorter story, but it literally made my day. Cheers.
 
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Great that you have solved this closing issue. I need to tackle the same problem on mine, when I will have time.
Sylvester said:
After following @mtl's YouTube tutorial the struts swap went good, those small clips can be a handful to put on though. The boots struts actually so strong now, they shake the car a tad when fully opened, I hope that settles over time.
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I just wanted to comment on this. Either you bought the wrong boot struts or they are of low quality or DOA.
Check my video again and you will see that new boot struts on my car stop the boot really slowly without any force or shaking.
If the shaking is really strong it could damage the part of the aluminium where the struts are connected to the chassis. If I would be in your situation I would replace them with new ones that work as expected, especially since they are really cheap, which I would not say the same about potencial alu cracking...
 
mtl said:
Great that you have solved this closing issue. I need to tackle the same problem on mine, when I will have time.

I just wanted to comment on this. Either you bought the wrong boot struts or they are of low quality or DOA.
Check my video again and you will see that new boot struts on my car stop the boot really slowly without any force or shaking.
If the shaking is really strong it could damage the part of the aluminium where the struts are connected to the chassis. If I would be in your situation I would replace them with new ones that work as expected, especially since they are really cheap, which I would not say the same about potencial alu cracking...
Click to expand...
Thanks for that, I've already contacted the seller, in the meantime I'll hold the boot when going up, but fortunately the closing is still silky-smooth 👍
 
Echoing @mtl ’s comment - OE or quality pattern struts such as Stabilus should slow the rate of ascent as the boot lid opens to its fullest extent.

I have to congratulate you on what undoubtedly sounds like one of those ridiculously simple jobs - when you know why & how - that gives so much pleasure every time you interact with that part of the car it’s almost silly - but then I’m always struck by how little effort the bootlid takes to open and close on Audrey; my wife (a serial and hopelessly far gone slammer) has picked up a number of reprimands for heavy-handedness in this area!
 
Stabilus probably supplies OEM struts. Or at least the OEM struts on my Cabriolet from 92 were made by Stabilus 👍
 
Sylvester said:
Since I've had my A2, it's been over 4 years, the boot had never closed smoothly, it always needed a firm slam. As I've had to sort other things out in the mean time, it was never pritoty and after a while I just learnt to live with it.

Fast forward to couple of weeks ago, I'd dediced it's time to sort this out, along with other minor things, so I'd ordered the recommended boot struts, as I thought they were the main issue.
I'd greased and cleaned the latch, it'd been working fine, but definitely smoother now. After following @mtl's YouTube tutorial the struts swap went good, those small clips can be a handful to put on though. The boots struts actually so strong now, they shake the car a tad when fully opened, I hope that settles over time. The boot still didn't close nicely though, actually got much worse, at some point didn't even want to shut at all.

After checking the forum and trying to adjust the bumper stops to no avil, swapping the old struts back again also didn't work, I've put the new ones back on and started to think why it still doesn't work. Then it hit me.

I saw marks on the catching latch, which means the boot latch has been hitting it for a long time, so could it'd have pushed it out of alignment?
View attachment 111113
Pushing down the flap door, also cleaned behind that, I saw 1 bolt on each side, which turned out to be holding the catching latch. I loosed both sides, access is very limited with rear panel in place but doable, carefully pulling them up by ~0.5cm (5mm), right side a bit less just in case, then tightening the bolts again, I then gently closed the boot... It locked so smoothly, I almost started clapping🥹 Literally what I see on new cars!

Upon checking the right side was a tiny bit lose compered to left one, I've aligned that side as equal up as I could, then closed the boot again, and it felt like squashing butter with my fingers...Both sides sit nice and solid on the seals now.
No more force closes with many tries, or worries I might damaged something behind the panel with the strong pushes, hopefully all is good there, just smooth and solid close. I know it'd have been a shorter story, but it literally made my day. Cheers.
Click to expand...
I have this issue.! So undo the nuts and lift up the entire assembly vertically? I'll have a look tomorrow thanks.for posting
 
CrispyEdd said:
I have this issue.! So undo the nuts and lift up the entire assembly vertically? I'll have a look tomorrow thanks.for posting
Click to expand...
Not vertically, rather on the surface, it's a very small movement too, literally pulling the catching latch closer, so the boot can hook onto it easier. Also just loosen the bolts, removing them could cause more issues due lack of room.
Easier adjusting it side by side too, or you may over adjust them. Just follow the old markings under the bolts, and adjust it by ~5mm, like side of £1 coin.

Gently close the boot, don't slam it just it in case. When closed, gently move the bottom corners of the boot, any loose movement shows they don't sit properly on the seals. Also don't over do it, as that can cause damage overtime to the seals and to parts. Take your time, it'll worth it.

Also cleanings and lubricating the latch on both sides is a good idea, plus it shows if the issue might be the lock itself, which happens too.
Just in case check the side stoppers, they'd sit on the 3rd line from top, on the pic is loosen so 4 lines are visible.
20230728_172500.jpg
 
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A heads up here for anybody, everybody to avoid SGS Engineering for struts at all costs, unless you like a world of pain!

They seem to market three different specs of struts for the A2, including an item at £626 (!) per strut..

Audi A2 Tailgate Struts | Boot Struts | Bonnet Gas Struts

Click to buy new Audi A2 tailgate struts, boot struts and bonnet gas struts covered by a 2 year warranty and delivered next day.
www.sgs-engineering.com www.sgs-engineering.com

I bought the first set which conclusively are too weak, and after going back to them multiple times, they refuse to acknowledge that they have marketed the wrong item and have suggested I bought the wrong item, while also thinking it would be practical for me to go strut-less and return the items at my own cost. I’m now having to raise a credit card dispute to put a cap on wasted efforts.

All other alternatives suggested are preferable, and more likely to work!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
sailesh said:
A heads up here for anybody, everybody to avoid SGS Engineering for struts at all costs, unless you like a world of pain!

They seem to market three different specs of struts for the A2, including an item at £626 (!) per strut..

Audi A2 Tailgate Struts | Boot Struts | Bonnet Gas Struts

Click to buy new Audi A2 tailgate struts, boot struts and bonnet gas struts covered by a 2 year warranty and delivered next day.
www.sgs-engineering.com www.sgs-engineering.com

I bought the first set which conclusively are too weak, and after going back to them multiple times, they refuse to acknowledge that they have marketed the wrong item and have suggested I bought the wrong item, while also thinking it would be practical for me to go strut-less and return the items at my own cost. I’m now having to raise a credit card dispute to put a cap on wasted efforts.

All other alternatives suggested are preferable, and more likely to work!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I concluded long ago that sadly, this company are not a quality manufacturer, despite being British.
 
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