Discussion
Current emergency toolkit I carry in the passenger footwell includes a kitchen spatula.. My boot has a habit of jamming, but only when its bloody cold out and/or raining etc ..
If the relay is ok, and the catch at the back trips, unless the wire is broken I reckon you might have a chance of opening the boot by applying some leverage at the right point. Spatula at the back usually works for me..
If the relay is ok, and the catch at the back trips, unless the wire is broken I reckon you might have a chance of opening the boot by applying some leverage at the right point. Spatula at the back usually works for me..
Well, I spoke to David Batty as recommended by Podie; he seems like a really helpful guy, but basically reiterated the advice I've been given on here. He did also advise having a fish round for the emergency release using a coat hook, and getting at the catch with a metal pole etc. through the access point. Other than that, he confirmed that he had heard of people getting access via the light as I'd planned.
So, I tried the coat hanger and the long pole last night, and boot stayed resolutely shut, although I do now seem to have stopped the catch in the boot from clicking!
Anyway, I've decided that I now have no other option than to attack through the light. However, since I'm going to have to buy a new light to replace the one I'm going to sabotage (£20 from a scrappy), I've decided to spend another £30 and take the opportunity to 'upgrade' my lights to the smoked ones as discussed on a previous thread:
I figure that at least this way I do end up making some progress out of this whole debacle!
Now I just need to psyche myself up to take a hammer to my light...
Thanks to you all for the advice, and especially to Peter H., Schnozz and Podie for the offline help.
So, I tried the coat hanger and the long pole last night, and boot stayed resolutely shut, although I do now seem to have stopped the catch in the boot from clicking!
Anyway, I've decided that I now have no other option than to attack through the light. However, since I'm going to have to buy a new light to replace the one I'm going to sabotage (£20 from a scrappy), I've decided to spend another £30 and take the opportunity to 'upgrade' my lights to the smoked ones as discussed on a previous thread:
I figure that at least this way I do end up making some progress out of this whole debacle!
Now I just need to psyche myself up to take a hammer to my light...
Thanks to you all for the advice, and especially to Peter H., Schnozz and Podie for the offline help.
ah well, win some, lose some. Maybe a word of warning to S owners to ensure they have the right "tool" in the glovebox and they arrange the emergency cable so it can be got at easily.
But as you say, you can use it as an excuse to spend some more money on personalising the car. Mine has the very same smoked lights for 50 notes...
But as you say, you can use it as an excuse to spend some more money on personalising the car. Mine has the very same smoked lights for 50 notes...
Indeed!
Podie said: Richard... you win some, you lose some eh?
Where did you buy the new lights from BTW?
I ordered the lights from Nomad Racing - item number 904. £46 including NWD delivery.
Couldn't put it better myself. I just wish that this was someone else's thread that I happened to be reading, not that I'd wish this problem on someone else of course!
shnozz said:Maybe a word of warning to S owners to ensure they have the right "tool" in the glovebox and they arrange the emergency cable so it can be got at easily.
I remember seeing that pic from a previous posting - very smart!
shnozz said:Mine has the very same smoked lights for 50 notes...
I took the plunge earlier, and started the destruction of my light. Having seen the photo in the bible of the S (in mid respray, around p.255) with the rear lights removed, and having examined the new light cluster I'd ordered, I decided to attack through the fog and reversing lights. It didn't feel at all good deliberating destroying a perfectly good part of my car, but after much cracking and tearing of plastic, I made a hole big enough to get my hand through...
From that point, I had the boot open in a couple of minutes. Pretty much the first thing I did was to look for the emergency release. As it turned out, this had slipped down way out of any possible reach, so that is now firmly back in place!
Anyhow, I'm now presented with another problem. At some point, the solenoid in the boot stopped clicking (possibly when I was previously prodding round with my metal rod); I've checked for power at the connections in the boot, and it's still there. It also appears that the solenoid is retracted (for lack of a better word) and not connected to the catch in any way (sorry for the dodgy focus - difficult angle!)....
I'm not sure what the solenoid should look like 'at rest', and I can't figure out how it should be linked to the catch. I was therefore hoping that someone could take a gander at their's, and let me know how it compares to the picture?
Thanks in anticipation.
Richard
From that point, I had the boot open in a couple of minutes. Pretty much the first thing I did was to look for the emergency release. As it turned out, this had slipped down way out of any possible reach, so that is now firmly back in place!
Anyhow, I'm now presented with another problem. At some point, the solenoid in the boot stopped clicking (possibly when I was previously prodding round with my metal rod); I've checked for power at the connections in the boot, and it's still there. It also appears that the solenoid is retracted (for lack of a better word) and not connected to the catch in any way (sorry for the dodgy focus - difficult angle!)....
I'm not sure what the solenoid should look like 'at rest', and I can't figure out how it should be linked to the catch. I was therefore hoping that someone could take a gander at their's, and let me know how it compares to the picture?
Thanks in anticipation.
Richard
Went to put the roof panels back in the boot earlier and heard something drop on the ground. On inspection, it turned out to be a zig-zag piece of metal which was obviously the connector between the solenoid and the boot catch; this, together with the other bit I found yesterday, has now provided the answer as to why I had the problem with the boot; namely that the clamp at the solenoid end of the wire came loose.
At least that mystery's solved, and I now know how to reconnect everything. My only remaining problem is to figure out what's up with the solenoid, hence my other thread.
At least that mystery's solved, and I now know how to reconnect everything. My only remaining problem is to figure out what's up with the solenoid, hence my other thread.
Thought I'd post of picture of the new lights. They're slightly different from the ones Shnozz has as the indicators now have an orange insert; this saves the need for coloured bulbs:
Now I just need to get the solenoid out of the boot and strip it down to see what's wrong with it. It appears that I need to take out the whole catch bracket to get the solenoid out... ho hum
Now I just need to get the solenoid out of the boot and strip it down to see what's wrong with it. It appears that I need to take out the whole catch bracket to get the solenoid out... ho hum
Tripps said: Looks great, how much work were they to put in? I presume you have to pull out all the sealant, then re-apply when the new unit is seated?
How long did it take?
it is a very straight forward and quick job really. you are right re the sealant. Buy yourself a new tube of black sealant from halfords before starting. Take out the Escort bulb holders (
bulb holders), unbolt the lights, give them a push from inside and a bit of careful leverage from the outside to free them from the old sealant. Pull em free, stick in new ones with pre-applied sealant, bolt em up, stick back in bulb holders (bulb holders) and roberts ya father's brother.
craigy said: The car looks fantastic! Please tell me where you got those wheels from to save me from stealing yours! (If you open your garage tomorrow to find your car clad with old S1 OZ's then you won't need to look to far for the culprit!)
craigy - they are standard S3 wheels mate - Richard has had them powder coated recently so they have a matt finish rather than the original shine - see my profile for the original look.
unfortunatley they no longer sell them mate - and I would be surprised if a set of 4 came up for sale. just hope i dont bend one cos it would mean a whole new set and then auction the 3 individually (or find someone who already has bent one and buy a replacement off them!
)Thanks.
craigy said: The car looks fantastic! Please tell me where you got those wheels from to save me from stealing yours! (If you open your garage tomorrow to find your car clad with old S1 OZ's then you won't need to look to far for the culprit!)
Flattery will get you everywhere! 
The digital camera is very forgiving and doesn't show all the stone chips etc., but the mica blue always comes up a treat after a wash. As Shnozz pointed out, I had the wheels refurbished last September, and went for a powder coat finish rather than a diamond cut (I think I've said why in my car profile). I'm really pleased with the result, and they come up A1 every time. The only thing I find is that, because the rims are quite deeply dished, they seem to accumulate quite a lot of general crap - I haven't experienced this on other alloys, but I guess it's probably a general S thing.
If you really like them, I guess I could be persuaded to part with them for the right price, but I'm sure it'd be the wrong price for anyone else!
Cheers,
Richard
RichardR said: Thanks.
Ah, Mica Blue, you just can't beat it
It does look fab on the pictures! Makes me wonder, do I have to change my wax or my camera
Andy (and a Mica Blue S3...)
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