Hi all,

On cars fitted with the damper does it actually do anything or does the lower tailgate still slam down if you just open it and let go.

I thought the damper slowed the tailgate dropping. Garage said I'm talking nonsense.

Sounds like you need the "rear tailgate damper mod"  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

Already got the damper fitted as my11. Just doesn't seem to do anything.

hmm, could be a duff damper then? Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
Had- 2008 TDV8 Vogue SE in Java black
Had - 2007 S/C in Stornoway Grey

I'd say it does slow it down a bit. I recall the undamped tailgate would drop and bounce off the stops if one just let go of it. I don't think the damped one does that. Only Range Rovers since 1988

i think youve answered your own question. you need a new damper your old one is clearly faulty.

Your damper is fubar'd, when it's working correctly the tail gate still drops at a rate, only you don't get the thud and the bounce. It does not lower the tailgate slowly, like a cassette door or some other house hold item.

The best way to check is remove the damper and first pull it all the way out then, push it back in again, if it's working then there will be some resistance half way towards the end of the stroke.

Oh and after extensive research, I found that it was fractionally cheaper to buy from the stealers It all looks promising until you add the carriage in to the price. If you have a stealer with in 10 miles of you I'd go there  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

I had a damper fitted to mine by Cam Tech and I certainly didn't regret it

Cheers

Dave Current : 4.2 S/C, now Sold
Previous : V70 Volvo, S40 Volvo ( a very reliable old banger ), E39 M5, Carlton Diplomat and the list goes on

Life Sucks but ya just have to do the best you can with what you have !

Your damper may be fine but you have a duff installation, it's happened before where the bracket is fitted out of position slightly and the strut doesn't get enough stroke as it were to work properly . 2008 MY Supercharged
Rimini Red / Jet
four zone climate
remote park heater
and no ugly kid windows.
magnus satis quod turpis satis

Axle buddy, the man has a 2011 ffrr, I'm under the impression that it was standard factory fit by then

But if it is a retro fit, you have a valid point, the damper needs to be as close to the bottom edge of the tailgate as possible with out fouling. This gives the damper a fighting chance to effect the fall of the tailgate, the more in board the damper (nearer to centre line of the hinges / closer to you when open) the greater the force in has to deal with. And as some have discovered, there is a point at which it has no effect  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

A new one from Dan is about 16 quid delivered!

And fitted in about 2 minutes!

As above - on mine the tailgate would kind of drop, but the damper would catch it & stop it slamming - the last ⅓ of the drop was slowed substantially

If it slams - it's wrong

Mine came from factory with it fitted. It bounces off of the bumper if I let it go.
If I lower it manually just slower than free fall speed I can feel the damper partially kick in.

Dealer is adamant it is fine cause if it wasn't working they'd have to replace it at their cost. Not surprised they say it works.

Just cannot believe they are arguing over a few pounds. I'll have to probably do it myself as they say not covered under warranty.

It will probably be argued as "wear and tear" as a warranty issue. If this is a jaguar warranty I would raise it as an issue with Jaguar customer services directly. It seems obviously faulty to me.