I have had my liftgate repaired twice. Try lubricating the struts and letting it close/open as much as possible and lubricating it again. Both times, they replaced the struts and it cost about $1k.

 

Oil will eat the seals in cylinders and leak for sure. Pressure will be lost.

 

Not sure I understand the reply but thanks for the response.

 

Don't mess with the gas props (gas springs). They are not meant to be serviceable in any way. Lubricate hinges. If that is not the issue, you likely have to replace the gas props. They do not need to be a Kia brand, but it does need to have the same specifications.

 

I someone who had to replace theirs on a 2019 SF and very expensive. Not sure if aftermarket exist, some have looked but nothing posted as far as I know. Live with it unless you find very good price replacements.

 

So, I'm getting not servicable, I'll likely have to replace them... does anyone have a part number? I'm doing searches based on the year/make/model/trim and getting most hits that are clearly incorrect. I'm fine with after market.

 

Left and Right side are the same part number. However correct numbers for a 2015 are confusing depending on build date . You may need a 2014 PN or a 2016 PN depending on build date of your 2015. PN 81770C5100 is for build 11/2014 through 03/2018 and PN 817701U500 is for builds 12/2012 through 12/2014. EG my 2015 was built 05/2014, your mfg date is on the plate on the drivers door column. Now, trying to find an aftermarket gets hard as most avail just say 2014 and 2016, not 2015 as that's to difficult for the general market to list mfg. dates. I specifically do not know the difference between to two PN's, could just be a design alteration or could be physical , but a parts counter at Kia should know the difference.. and if PN's are interchangeable.

 

Very good, thanks, I'll dive into that.

 

Update: Argh, screw me... so the leftgate was drooping... I never could find struts for a reasonable price, but now the liftgate has stopped working. I can hear it respond to the fob but it won't open or close at all, I have to do it manually... does anyone have any thoughts on this, is it still possibly just the electrical struts? Or something more sinister?

Mine is a 2015 Sorento SX/L, I have a couple of questions... recently my liftgate struts will go all the way to the top where I programmed them, but then sag back down several inches. I'm gleaning that repair isn't a thing, but searching by make, model, trim, and VIN have given me a variety of parts that I can't be sure fit the vehicle. I actually purchased a set that are incorrect and will have to be returned. Also, I had a very hard time finding anything for my year vehicle, they all seemed to stop at 2014 and continue with 2016. Does anyone have a source and a correct part number? The set I bought are very close and I got the pair for a bit over $100, when I find what I think are correct they are over $450 each, which is outlandish and I'd rather use a broom handle. any ideas are welcome.

The other question is about something called a steering coupler... a mechanic I use told me that a clunking sound when I rotate my steering wheel back and forth is a very inexpensive part called a steering coupler, but the labor makes it a $700 job. I'm just trying to get some reality on it. Does it really have to be that expensive, and is it something I could do myself?

 

The other question is about something called a steering coupler... a mechanic I use told me that a clunking sound when I rotate my steering wheel back and forth is a very inexpensive part called a steering coupler, but the labor makes it a $700 job. I'm just trying to get some reality on it. Does it really have to be that expensive, and is it something I could do myself?

According to a Kia tech on another forum the book time for this repair is only about an hour so $700 is a ripoff.

There are how to videos on YouTube for this, but basically you have to drop the steering column and remove a few bolts holding the electric motor to access the coupler. This isn’t a safety issue though. You won’t lose steering if it goes bad. The coupler just acts as a damper.

First check and try to tighten the 12 mm bolt at the bottom of the steering column. On the Soul, that bolt can become a little loose and it’s one of the causes of clunking noises. This pic is also from a Soul but should look similar.

 

We had ours done probably 5 years ago and could not find aftermarket at that time so had to buy OEM and I think I paid my local mechanic about $1200 for parts and labor in Canada.

 

Good to know. I guess it's a manual liftgate now.

 

Belay that last post, pilot error... I discovered the "liftgate on/off" button that I didn't even know existed but must have pressed inadvertently. Still dealing with the powered struts issue, but the liftgate works again.