the part close to the windshield? Has nothing to do with the ez lift struts in the back.
Mine was always hard to open and close, from day 1. Not impossible, but did require not only getting up higher but also some decent muscle.
I get it, it can be very tough to think about what might have changed. That's why we're here. The A/C surge thing was a good example. I'm not saying that's it, but it is a good example of "hey, I never though of that".
So you took it to the dealer for an oil change. No doubt they did...
I agree, it could be anything. Step 1 is to force yourself to stop thinking about it in terms of the oil change, and start thinking about anything else that might have changed at the same time.
For some reason, this has never been a problem for me or my wife. And it's not like I've never sat my fat ass down and bumped the button on other keys for other cars, either.
Mine's been that way since day 1, and still is--at least the first opening, which is all we ever do anymore. I have to open the door, get up high, and give it a helluva push to get up and over the vertical point. Even after that, it gently falls backward.
But it's all properly installed.
I have no doubt this is the case. And if you spend any time on the interwebz, you've seen plenty of stories from those people. "I just looked at my bank account and realized the cable/cell phone/insurance company has been overbilling me by $300 a month for the last 3 years." Crazy.
2.5 years...