Chimaera boot catch problem.

Chimaera boot catch problem.

Author
Discussion

ohidunno

Original Poster:

506 posts

273 months

Monday 19th May 2003
quotequote all
Hi all. Anyone ever had a Chimaera boot catch stuck in the open position?
I've tried pushing the catch down manually with a screwdriver but it doesn't want to close. Ive oiled it and it makes no difference. To my eye the cath looks to be working properly but without comparing it to another catch I can't be sure that there's not something missing.
Can anyone save me a trip to the garage? Place your bets now.

ribol

11,293 posts

259 months

Monday 19th May 2003
quotequote all
Solenoid/cable stuck holding the catch open?

Ivan

ohidunno

Original Poster:

506 posts

273 months

Monday 19th May 2003
quotequote all
Cheers Ivan, sounds like a reasonable idea. I've just found an old thread of yours describing where the solenoid lives so I'll take a look. Fanks.

CraigAlsop

1,991 posts

269 months

Monday 19th May 2003
quotequote all
Had that happen on mine - needed a new solenoid. Think it was a mondeo item...

ohidunno

Original Poster:

506 posts

273 months

Monday 19th May 2003
quotequote all
Craig, was your lock stuck open?

ribol

11,293 posts

259 months

Monday 19th May 2003
quotequote all
If it ends up being the solenoid, it's nothing special, it's what's called a "2 wire" central locking motor. Cheap as chips, even Maplins sell them. Good luck,

Ivan

CraigAlsop

1,991 posts

269 months

Monday 19th May 2003
quotequote all

ohidunno said: Craig, was your lock stuck open?
Sure was. I managed to get at the solenoid by removing a bit of carpet next to the left rear light cluster. After a good oiling it seemed mostly to work OK (failed once more out of 20 times), but the car was still under warranty so I got them to put a new solenoid in.



>> Edited by CraigAlsop on Monday 19th May 18:47

ohidunno

Original Poster:

506 posts

273 months

Monday 26th May 2003
quotequote all
2 STEPS FORWARD, ONE STEP BACK.

OK, having peeled off several chunks of carpet I have found the solenoid. (It was at about the same hight as the lock mechanism on the drivers side.) Nothing appeared to be loose or broken so I detatched and reattached the connections and shut the boot. The good news is it locked shut, the bad news is the solenoid still isn't working so it is staying shut. Bugger.
Can someone please let me know how to get boot access, obviously I have no access to the petrol filler so the car is not useable.
If you would like to email me of line, I would be grateful.
Also i have consulted bible version 1 page 162. Followed the instructions there but it would appear my car is not standard - double bugger.

ohidunno

Original Poster:

506 posts

273 months

Monday 26th May 2003
quotequote all
Last try.
Sorry, I know it's not really cricket but I've got to put this thread back up to nearer the top. I'm only going to have computer access for another 15 minutes and I'd love to get the boot open this afternoon.
Thanks all.

CraigAlsop

1,991 posts

269 months

Monday 26th May 2003
quotequote all
Too late for today I guess, but do you hear any solenoid clunk?
If so, you could get a friend to press the button, while you push the bootlid in a few different directions (try down, up, left, right etc)
You may find that this gives the solenoid enough help to open the boot.
I got myself in this situation when I re-aligned the bootlid so that it had flush shutlines - unfortunately I hadn't quite got the striker adjusted correctly. As I had no friend handy, I made do with a broken stick that held the boot button in & wiggled the boot
I have since got a remote boot plipper, which makes things much easier...

Big Al.

68,873 posts

259 months

Monday 26th May 2003
quotequote all
You have mail!

>> Edited by Big Al. (moderator) on Monday 26th May 16:09

ohidunno

Original Poster:

506 posts

273 months

Friday 30th May 2003
quotequote all
Thanks for all the suggestions guys.
Maplins sent me a solenoid in 48 hours, and I managed to fit it this morning.
I'm now all set to get out in the sunshine this weekend.
The whole job only cost a tenner!
The power of Pistonheads.

>> Edited by ohidunno on Friday 30th May 20:39