How can I stop the tailgate on my Ford Focus Estate from closing?

OPEN YOUR TAILGATE.
ON EITHER SIDES YOU WILL NOTICE STRUTS WHICH HAVE MOST LIKELY FAILED.
USUALLLY THEY ARE BLACK TUBES WITH HIGHLY POLISHED SHAFTS SLIDING IN AND OUT OF THEM (SAME PRINCIPLE AS SHOCK ABSORBERS).
THEY WORK BY DISPLACING FLUID EITHER SIDE OF A DIAPHRAGM.
FAILURE OF THE SEAL OR DIAGPHRAM WILL CAUSE THE TAILGATE TO FALL UNDER IT'S OWN WEIGHT
THIS IS A HEALTH AND SAFETY WARNING DO NOT PROP THE WHILE LOADING OR UNLOADING

SAMSOM SAMATECH
January 2008

One or both of your tailgate struts has failed and needs replacing. Tip: don't go to Ford, try a motor factors first - should be a mile cheaper.

John
January 2008