ok...so I have only owned my 2003 touring 350z for 6 months. I noticed the hatch is very heavy and doesn't open with one click. I have the nismo version 1 spoiler on it. One time, I was loading stuff into the rear, and the f'in thing came down and hit me on the back of my head! is there any way I can make the stock shocks stronger? or do they sell stronger shocks that can hold up the hatch? Especially in cold weather for some reason (Chicago)...it barely wants to stay up even with me putting pushing it up a lil bit.

help before this thing knocks me out

 

That actually happened to me last night, your shocks just might be going bad. Maybe take it to a nearby Nissan dealer and check it out.

I don't have a problem with keeping the hatch up, as long as I push it all the way up. If I push it maybe half way it'll come back down slowly for obvious reasons. Is it possible you're just pushing it half way?

 

If you search for the "penny fix," you'll find a solution for a method to get it open with one click. I have the OEM spoiler and it still comes crashing down when its less than 45 outside. I think someone in the marketplace was selling beefed up struts for cars with bigger spoilers (yours may just be old too).

 

I may be of some assistance. PM me.

 

wow! talk about quick replies! thx! this forum kicks ***. Ok, I def. push it up alllll the way...and it stays fine...but if i it even comes down a little from its position, it comes down fast and is dangerous. And yes, when its very cold here, it doesnt want to stay up. The car only has 13,500 miles, but i think the nismo spoiler really weighs it down maybe. Im very nervous loading things into the car now in fear its going to hit my head again or neck/back, lol

 

It’s a tube with a cylinder filled with hydraulic fluid. Imagine what happens to the struts (suspension) in cold weather.

 

PM sent!

 

Actually the hatch struts/lift supports (as Nissan calls them) are filled with compressed Nitrogen Gas

 

jt...ill read up on your thread and contact you. Thanks for the help

 

Noob.

 

i know i know

 

lol, dont worry about being new. I myself is new to this site, too!
I havent had that problem yet. I guess because I always let my hatch open all the way up everytime. But just be careful and I hope u will not get injured, buddy!

 

good looking out

 

u need a set of new shocks!

 

The Nismo spoiler definitely weighs it down. There's the questionable penny trick...or you can buy an upgraded heavy duty shock kit, Nismo makes them exactly for this reason.

 

Veilside V2 spoiler, comes down after about thirty seconds of struggling, and forget about it in the rain. The other day it was raining, so there was the weight of the water on the hatch. I opened the hatch to put a pizza pie in the back, and it nailed me in the head.

 

Do NOT do the lame azz penny fix. Replace the shocks with the HD nissan ones. I have done it on multiple cars and it fixes it every time. Pennies are a stop gap measure and only work on non wing equipped cars.

 

jt is a pretty humble guy but his solution is the BEST! For just $120 I got amazingly powerful struts AND all needed parts AND shipping. Now when I open the hatch to the horizontal position it SHOOTS open and stays! It's even a little hard to bring it down. PERFECT! This is the best solutiuon and if you get jt's struts you'll never look back (or get more hatch headaches).

Personal experience. My struts were shot. Hatch ALWAYS fell within 45 seconds of being opened. Recent cold weather my hatch would only stay open 3 seconds. Had to keep it open with my head.

[Dealer wanted $358 with tax and ball-stud parts.]

 

Thanks for the kind words Larry!

 

Ordered my threw jtabraham also. Great product. Easy install. Had for close to a year, problem free.