Help - boot won't open
Discussion
2003 SL55 AMG. Came to the car on Sunday to find the boot wouldn't open - not on the remote, not on the electrical release button on the driver's door, and not on the key. It's had a new boot battery recently and all electrical consumers are *online*, so it's not a lack of charge for the mechanism, etc. If I try to put the roof down, it says it can't do while the boot cover isn't closed; I was pretty sure I had closed it before shutting the boot - have never forgotten before(?!?)
I'm wondering if something's got stuck inside it causing the issue... all that's in there's an almost empty hold-all, but with a few flappy straps that could have caught on something.
I've tried using the manual key in the lock, and turning it all the way to the right (turns fine, boot doesn't open), centre (turns fine, boot doesn't open), and left (turns to within about 10 degrees of facing that way, but was VERY stiff to get it to there, boot doesn't open - used pliers to gently apply some force, boot doesn't open). When I say "doesn't open", there's just no response to pulling the boot-release handle - no click/whir/anything. And you can't push the manual lock barrel inwards in any of the positions I can get it to.
The fuse diagram is, naturally, in the boot and inaccessible, but I've checked all of the blade fuses in the box under the bonnet and they're all fine.
Any ideas before I go write an all-too-certainly-substantial cheque to MB?
Thanks.
I'm wondering if something's got stuck inside it causing the issue... all that's in there's an almost empty hold-all, but with a few flappy straps that could have caught on something.
I've tried using the manual key in the lock, and turning it all the way to the right (turns fine, boot doesn't open), centre (turns fine, boot doesn't open), and left (turns to within about 10 degrees of facing that way, but was VERY stiff to get it to there, boot doesn't open - used pliers to gently apply some force, boot doesn't open). When I say "doesn't open", there's just no response to pulling the boot-release handle - no click/whir/anything. And you can't push the manual lock barrel inwards in any of the positions I can get it to.
The fuse diagram is, naturally, in the boot and inaccessible, but I've checked all of the blade fuses in the box under the bonnet and they're all fine.
Any ideas before I go write an all-too-certainly-substantial cheque to MB?
Thanks.
Hi
Try this
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r230-sl-class/1437...
or this
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r230-sl-class/1359...
The first one is drastic but worked. I cannot of course say that either method will work for you but sometimes a little insight from others can help.
Try this
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r230-sl-class/1437...
or this
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r230-sl-class/1359...
The first one is drastic but worked. I cannot of course say that either method will work for you but sometimes a little insight from others can help.
Edited by SLacKer on Wednesday 11th November 13:07
J_S_G said:
2003 SL55 AMG. Came to the car on Sunday to find the boot wouldn't open - not on the remote, not on the electrical release button on the driver's door, and not on the key. It's had a new boot battery recently and all electrical consumers are *online*, so it's not a lack of charge for the mechanism, etc. If I try to put the roof down, it says it can't do while the boot cover isn't closed; I was pretty sure I had closed it before shutting the boot - have never forgotten before(?!?)
I'm wondering if something's got stuck inside it causing the issue... all that's in there's an almost empty hold-all, but with a few flappy straps that could have caught on something.
I've tried using the manual key in the lock, and turning it all the way to the right (turns fine, boot doesn't open), centre (turns fine, boot doesn't open), and left (turns to within about 10 degrees of facing that way, but was VERY stiff to get it to there, boot doesn't open - used pliers to gently apply some force, boot doesn't open). When I say "doesn't open", there's just no response to pulling the boot-release handle - no click/whir/anything. And you can't push the manual lock barrel inwards in any of the positions I can get it to.
The fuse diagram is, naturally, in the boot and inaccessible, but I've checked all of the blade fuses in the box under the bonnet and they're all fine.
Any ideas before I go write an all-too-certainly-substantial cheque to MB?
Thanks.
Hi Just checked mine, a turn to the right 45degrees it will release the centralI'm wondering if something's got stuck inside it causing the issue... all that's in there's an almost empty hold-all, but with a few flappy straps that could have caught on something.
I've tried using the manual key in the lock, and turning it all the way to the right (turns fine, boot doesn't open), centre (turns fine, boot doesn't open), and left (turns to within about 10 degrees of facing that way, but was VERY stiff to get it to there, boot doesn't open - used pliers to gently apply some force, boot doesn't open). When I say "doesn't open", there's just no response to pulling the boot-release handle - no click/whir/anything. And you can't push the manual lock barrel inwards in any of the positions I can get it to.
The fuse diagram is, naturally, in the boot and inaccessible, but I've checked all of the blade fuses in the box under the bonnet and they're all fine.
Any ideas before I go write an all-too-certainly-substantial cheque to MB?
Thanks.
locking allowing the lever to open the boot.
To lock again required a 90degree turn to the left.
mark.
Cheers for the advice, chaps.
Outcome (to help anybody who dredges this thread up in a search in years to come)...
Turns out the boot mechanism fuse had blown. The fuse is in the secondary fuse box, located in the front-face of the storage compartment/back-seat-ette behind the driver's seat. It's the green fuse, if that helps. (Can't remember the exact fuse position). Replacing that sorted everything.
What caused the fuse to blow was water in the boot getting into the lock mechanism electrics, which are stored at the bottom of the boot; I'd had the boot open for a few minutes while it was raining. The electrics are stored in a box (sensible), that's encased in highly water absorbant foam (not so sensible), basically a giant sponge laying on the boot floor, mopping up everything and feeding it into the electrics there.
The fix I've done to avoid any future issues: I've taken the mechanism out of the foam surrounding the plastic box it's in, and mounted it on four 1/2" 'feet' to keep it off the boot floor.
Outcome (to help anybody who dredges this thread up in a search in years to come)...
Turns out the boot mechanism fuse had blown. The fuse is in the secondary fuse box, located in the front-face of the storage compartment/back-seat-ette behind the driver's seat. It's the green fuse, if that helps. (Can't remember the exact fuse position). Replacing that sorted everything.
What caused the fuse to blow was water in the boot getting into the lock mechanism electrics, which are stored at the bottom of the boot; I'd had the boot open for a few minutes while it was raining. The electrics are stored in a box (sensible), that's encased in highly water absorbant foam (not so sensible), basically a giant sponge laying on the boot floor, mopping up everything and feeding it into the electrics there.
The fix I've done to avoid any future issues: I've taken the mechanism out of the foam surrounding the plastic box it's in, and mounted it on four 1/2" 'feet' to keep it off the boot floor.
J_S_G said:
Cheers for the advice, chaps.
Outcome (to help anybody who dredges this thread up in a search in years to come)...
Turns out the boot mechanism fuse had blown. The fuse is in the secondary fuse box, located in the front-face of the storage compartment/back-seat-ette behind the driver's seat. It's the green fuse, if that helps. (Can't remember the exact fuse position). Replacing that sorted everything.
What caused the fuse to blow was water in the boot getting into the lock mechanism electrics, which are stored at the bottom of the boot; I'd had the boot open for a few minutes while it was raining. The electrics are stored in a box (sensible), that's encased in highly water absorbant foam (not so sensible), basically a giant sponge laying on the boot floor, mopping up everything and feeding it into the electrics there.
The fix I've done to avoid any future issues: I've taken the mechanism out of the foam surrounding the plastic box it's in, and mounted it on four 1/2" 'feet' to keep it off the boot floor.
its called your pse pump, iirc the insulation also helps to not absorb the moisture from the air, so I was told on my mercedes courses some years ago, Outcome (to help anybody who dredges this thread up in a search in years to come)...
Turns out the boot mechanism fuse had blown. The fuse is in the secondary fuse box, located in the front-face of the storage compartment/back-seat-ette behind the driver's seat. It's the green fuse, if that helps. (Can't remember the exact fuse position). Replacing that sorted everything.
What caused the fuse to blow was water in the boot getting into the lock mechanism electrics, which are stored at the bottom of the boot; I'd had the boot open for a few minutes while it was raining. The electrics are stored in a box (sensible), that's encased in highly water absorbant foam (not so sensible), basically a giant sponge laying on the boot floor, mopping up everything and feeding it into the electrics there.
The fix I've done to avoid any future issues: I've taken the mechanism out of the foam surrounding the plastic box it's in, and mounted it on four 1/2" 'feet' to keep it off the boot floor.
It would not have been caused by leaving boot open for a few minutes, if it was soaked your boot seals are leaking.
mercedes tech said:
J_S_G said:
Cheers for the advice, chaps.
Outcome (to help anybody who dredges this thread up in a search in years to come)...
Turns out the boot mechanism fuse had blown. The fuse is in the secondary fuse box, located in the front-face of the storage compartment/back-seat-ette behind the driver's seat. It's the green fuse, if that helps. (Can't remember the exact fuse position). Replacing that sorted everything.
What caused the fuse to blow was water in the boot getting into the lock mechanism electrics, which are stored at the bottom of the boot; I'd had the boot open for a few minutes while it was raining. The electrics are stored in a box (sensible), that's encased in highly water absorbant foam (not so sensible), basically a giant sponge laying on the boot floor, mopping up everything and feeding it into the electrics there.
The fix I've done to avoid any future issues: I've taken the mechanism out of the foam surrounding the plastic box it's in, and mounted it on four 1/2" 'feet' to keep it off the boot floor.
its called your pse pump, iirc the insulation also helps to not absorb the moisture from the air, so I was told on my mercedes courses some years ago, Outcome (to help anybody who dredges this thread up in a search in years to come)...
Turns out the boot mechanism fuse had blown. The fuse is in the secondary fuse box, located in the front-face of the storage compartment/back-seat-ette behind the driver's seat. It's the green fuse, if that helps. (Can't remember the exact fuse position). Replacing that sorted everything.
What caused the fuse to blow was water in the boot getting into the lock mechanism electrics, which are stored at the bottom of the boot; I'd had the boot open for a few minutes while it was raining. The electrics are stored in a box (sensible), that's encased in highly water absorbant foam (not so sensible), basically a giant sponge laying on the boot floor, mopping up everything and feeding it into the electrics there.
The fix I've done to avoid any future issues: I've taken the mechanism out of the foam surrounding the plastic box it's in, and mounted it on four 1/2" 'feet' to keep it off the boot floor.
It would not have been caused by leaving boot open for a few minutes, if it was soaked your boot seals are leaking.
The specialist that looked at it said the foam around it was also for sound deadening, etc. But it really was just like encasing the box in a sponge that soaked EVERYTHING up.
The boot definitely hadn't leaked before that, and hasn't since - the toolkit in the bottom hadn't gone rusty at all, etc. And since drying it out, it's not even damp in this latest *torrential* rain. I took a hose to the boot (when closed!) to make sure, too.
You're right, though - I the boot was open for more than just a "few minutes"... I should have clarified - it was probably more like half an hour, maybe more, in absolute driving rain. (Long story - and unavoidable!)
Hi, I'm usually fouhd in the Porsche forum but have a problem with a Mercedes and found this thread from a search.
The car is a 2003 CL55K and the battery has gone flat as well as everything being frozen up (-7 this morning). There was enough power to unlock the car but not to start it - tried the boot but it wouldn't open. This may have been due to being iced up, but pouring hot water over it didn't release it (although I heard the ice around the seals breaking up). I can't get the key blade into the lock (tried a hot air gun but it didn't work and it may not have been used for many years).
So having read this thread it seems I may need to find the fuse for the boot lock (assuming it blew when trying to fight the ice, as it is self-opening normally) or alternatively a way of getting a jump pack connected elsewhere.
The handbook shows that the fuse list is in the fusebox in the boot, so without it I don't know which fuse is which anywhere on the car.
For now I've connected a battery charger via the cig lighter socket, but this requires the ignition to be on so is destined to be a very slow process (and may not work at all if the battery is completely shot) - I'm on the 3rd charger now (20amp) having had no luck with a trickle charger/conditioner or an intelligent smart charger (which does 2/4/8/16 amps) which showed to be charging at 4 amps but then gave up because it thought the battery was faulty. The 20 amp charger is simple and will keep at it until disconnected, but has yet (after 2 hours, I started this whole process at 8am) to put enough in to operate the central locking, hence needing your help please.
The car is a 2003 CL55K and the battery has gone flat as well as everything being frozen up (-7 this morning). There was enough power to unlock the car but not to start it - tried the boot but it wouldn't open. This may have been due to being iced up, but pouring hot water over it didn't release it (although I heard the ice around the seals breaking up). I can't get the key blade into the lock (tried a hot air gun but it didn't work and it may not have been used for many years).
So having read this thread it seems I may need to find the fuse for the boot lock (assuming it blew when trying to fight the ice, as it is self-opening normally) or alternatively a way of getting a jump pack connected elsewhere.
The handbook shows that the fuse list is in the fusebox in the boot, so without it I don't know which fuse is which anywhere on the car.
For now I've connected a battery charger via the cig lighter socket, but this requires the ignition to be on so is destined to be a very slow process (and may not work at all if the battery is completely shot) - I'm on the 3rd charger now (20amp) having had no luck with a trickle charger/conditioner or an intelligent smart charger (which does 2/4/8/16 amps) which showed to be charging at 4 amps but then gave up because it thought the battery was faulty. The 20 amp charger is simple and will keep at it until disconnected, but has yet (after 2 hours, I started this whole process at 8am) to put enough in to operate the central locking, hence needing your help please.
thegoose said:
Hi, I'm usually fouhd in the Porsche forum but have a problem with a Mercedes and found this thread from a search.
The car is a 2003 CL55K and the battery has gone flat as well as everything being frozen up (-7 this morning). There was enough power to unlock the car but not to start it - tried the boot but it wouldn't open. This may have been due to being iced up, but pouring hot water over it didn't release it (although I heard the ice around the seals breaking up). I can't get the key blade into the lock (tried a hot air gun but it didn't work and it may not have been used for many years).
So having read this thread it seems I may need to find the fuse for the boot lock (assuming it blew when trying to fight the ice, as it is self-opening normally) or alternatively a way of getting a jump pack connected elsewhere.
The handbook shows that the fuse list is in the fusebox in the boot, so without it I don't know which fuse is which anywhere on the car.
For now I've connected a battery charger via the cig lighter socket, but this requires the ignition to be on so is destined to be a very slow process (and may not work at all if the battery is completely shot) - I'm on the 3rd charger now (20amp) having had no luck with a trickle charger/conditioner or an intelligent smart charger (which does 2/4/8/16 amps) which showed to be charging at 4 amps but then gave up because it thought the battery was faulty. The 20 amp charger is simple and will keep at it until disconnected, but has yet (after 2 hours, I started this whole process at 8am) to put enough in to operate the central locking, hence needing your help please.
Not easy say Merc, if you cannot get into the boot;The car is a 2003 CL55K and the battery has gone flat as well as everything being frozen up (-7 this morning). There was enough power to unlock the car but not to start it - tried the boot but it wouldn't open. This may have been due to being iced up, but pouring hot water over it didn't release it (although I heard the ice around the seals breaking up). I can't get the key blade into the lock (tried a hot air gun but it didn't work and it may not have been used for many years).
So having read this thread it seems I may need to find the fuse for the boot lock (assuming it blew when trying to fight the ice, as it is self-opening normally) or alternatively a way of getting a jump pack connected elsewhere.
The handbook shows that the fuse list is in the fusebox in the boot, so without it I don't know which fuse is which anywhere on the car.
For now I've connected a battery charger via the cig lighter socket, but this requires the ignition to be on so is destined to be a very slow process (and may not work at all if the battery is completely shot) - I'm on the 3rd charger now (20amp) having had no luck with a trickle charger/conditioner or an intelligent smart charger (which does 2/4/8/16 amps) which showed to be charging at 4 amps but then gave up because it thought the battery was faulty. The 20 amp charger is simple and will keep at it until disconnected, but has yet (after 2 hours, I started this whole process at 8am) to put enough in to operate the central locking, hence needing your help please.
Lift carpet from the drivers foot well area, this is not easy!!!, when removed you will see the 1/2
inch red power cable which connects to a junction box in in the foot well, attach jump leads to
power cable at junction box.
Mark.
Thanks Mark. Couldn't find a junction box under there but bared the biggest red cable I could find and connected the charger straight to that and the earth on the shell.
It now doesn't need the ignition on and seems to be charging up somewhat better - the doors, windows, seats & steering column will now operate and it will also remote lock/unlock - but not the bloody boot!!
I did find the fusebox behind the driver's seat but access was bad as the seat wouldn't move and I couldn't open the door very far (for fear of it hitting the GT3 it's parked next to!). Hopefully it'll charge enough to start so I can move it clear, move the seat and be able to see which fuse is which (none appeared blown from what I've been able to see so far, but I read somewhere that it may need one removing & replacing to reset it?).
However, I still don't have a listing for them - does anyone have one (or can you point me to one)?
Many thanks.
It now doesn't need the ignition on and seems to be charging up somewhat better - the doors, windows, seats & steering column will now operate and it will also remote lock/unlock - but not the bloody boot!!
I did find the fusebox behind the driver's seat but access was bad as the seat wouldn't move and I couldn't open the door very far (for fear of it hitting the GT3 it's parked next to!). Hopefully it'll charge enough to start so I can move it clear, move the seat and be able to see which fuse is which (none appeared blown from what I've been able to see so far, but I read somewhere that it may need one removing & replacing to reset it?).
However, I still don't have a listing for them - does anyone have one (or can you point me to one)?
Many thanks.
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