Another boot lock problem

[Peter1450]

Evening Guy’s I’ve looked at loads of threads but all seem to point towards dodgy wiring or unclipped rods. The wiring had a couple of slightly exposed wires but not broken,the rods all seem to be in place, but it was getting dark and pretty cold so will take another look when the lights better.
The boot won’t catch and the key won’t turn in the lock ( don’t remember if it ever did), so to sum up the boot won’t latch via the central locking or the key, it’s my wife’s car so not really sure if it opened with the key before today,any advice gratefully received!

 

[colb]

Key should turn in the lock to enable the button to be depressed to open the lock so your lock may have a mechanical problem. As to bare wires found where were they? If they were in the loom of doom from body to bootlid then strip the outer sheathing off and check all of the wires for broken wires and green corrossion. If any are found then repair using solder joints and heatshrink. Threads on here for how to's if you search Boot Loom. Bad wires in there will cause central locking issues, been there done that with mine.

 

[Peter1450]

Thanks colb There were three wires chaffed but not broken exactly where you said,the boot button depresses but the key or the spare wont turn in the lock.

 

[t-tony]

Is the boot open and won’t lock? On the inside of the boot lid there a couple of plastic panels which come off by removal of screws. This allows you to see the latch mechanism. The key is likely in the locked position whereby the the plunger is not locating on the release lever of the catch. Can you close the latch by putting the end of a screwdriver or similar into the the part which locks onto car body? Sorry I can’t add pictures because I now have an E89 Z4.

Tony.

 

[Peter1450]

Thanks Tony The boots open and won’t catch onto the lower latch ,had those covers off ,the latches all look ok but need to check again.Wires not broken from initial quick check, the latch will close with a screwdriver but not by the key fob and the key won’t turn in the lock.

 

[t-tony]

If you remove the push button from the boot lid and unplug the 2 (I think) wiring connectors all you are left with is a mechanical lock assembly.
Then see if you can close the latch with a screwdriver as I described. If you can, you can release the latch by pressing on the lever that the button pushes against.

Tony.

 

[t-tony]

These may help Peter.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn3Vel0-uPI

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvlt_wMJmWg


Tony.

 

[Peter1450]

Cheers Tony Long day at work tomorrow but will take a good look at the weekend,wife’s not keen on doing the weekly shop with the boot open!

 

[Peter1450]

Just a quick update……..rechecked the rods from the button and solenoid were in place, which they were, so started with the bottom latch adjustment,to my amazement it cured the fault straight away!
Wife’s happy to have a working car again and I’m more than happy that it was a quick and free fix,will repair the chaffed wires shortly,thanks to Tony and Colb for your help.

 

[colb]

Well done for getting the button operating, did it free up the key so it would turn and lock/unlock?
Best get the boot loom wires fixed asap to avoid any further faults developing. if you caught the broken/chaffed wires in time a good solder and heatshrink repair will do. I have seen some real horror stories when the outer sheath is removed, if the wires are too far gone there is a repair loom available to graft in
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142400122102 also

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/meat-doria/12885153