How do I get my car's hatchback to lift like it did when it was new?

Like Gary says, you probably need new support lifts. They're filled with nitrogen, and the cheap factory ones often leak it out pretty quick. $28.99 each, available fro Autozone by special order or through their website mailed to your home.

Not sure if this link will work directly. You may have to select your vehicle or something.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Mighty-Lift...

Most are very easy to change. Probably just need a screwdriver to pry the old ones off. Most parts store guys will put them on for you if they're not really busy at the time.

Buy new gas struts. Those are the little shock absorber looking rods on either side. They usually pop apart or off, and you put new ones in. Yes it might be a bit early for them to wear out, but car makers buy stuff like that on bid. The one who can supply them with a half million parts the cheapest is who the buy from. SO replacing them with a nice OEM aftermarket pair should make it better than new or at least as good as. If they wore out that fast they were likely pretty cheesy. Oiling these might work for a little while, but it can attack the seals and allow more of the charged gas to escape. It also makes dirt stick and that will wear out the seals too. SO just go buy a couple "Easy Lift" or other brand of replacement gas lift struts. Usually all you need is a screw driver to replace them. Its one of the easiest things to replace. Unless a hinge got warped this will work very well, and it will be like it was when the car was new. These went out pretty quick on GM cars, and the replacements seemed to last longer than the originals on my station wagon. They call those "crossover SUVs" now. Station Wagon is too uncool to sell in today's market. I played guitar in a band so it canceled out the uncool factor. All the use those lift struts got opening and closing that hatch back 15x a day or more they wore out pretty quick. I think they just pop off and a clip holds them on a little ball on the window and one on the car. I know it was fast and easy. I think it WAS under $30 too in 1986. That means its probably around $60 now for the pair. Ask the guy at the counter how to install them. It is really easy and will save you the cost of labor. You can also buy them on line and save some money. To me they are easier to replace than some wiper blades, so its an easy DIY fix.

you need new lifting mechanism or shocks to help the lift they have clips that hold them on sum part stores will put them on for you

Hi

You can oil the hinges and that will help a lot. It`s a little early for the two rods to be worn out.