Boot won't open & kill switch is on

[BL330]

Aargh!

Having had a day where the car wouldn't start in the heat as the padlock indicator was showing, I figured it's been a while since a reboot, so when I got home I turned the knob and left the boot lid up and the driver's door ajar.
While I let it reset, my wife and son saw the boot open and closed it.
The key won't turn in the boot lock, the glovebox button has no power, nor the key fob.
Houston we have a problem!
Dave Brown on the Australian forum had this and lubed the key and pushed down and his opened his.
My key now turns a fraction but no joy.
Unless someone has a better idea I think it's out with backseat and parcel shelf to try and reach over the fuel tank.

Frustratingly yours,

Bruce

 

[Steve GS]

Not sure if this will work but how about get a spare battery an old charger that plugs into the 12v on the centre consul strip the cables some crocadile clips would be handy attach to battery you may just get enough power to operate boot opener
I've never tried this but it's what I'd do if stuck. You would need to determine the + and - on the leads.

 

[BL330]

Thanks Steve,
Still trying to jiggle the lock, as others in Australia have said it will eventually open.
Bruce

 

[Danny]

You should push down the bootlid firmly while turning the key. Hope this helps

 

[2b1ask1]

I was going to say lots of spray oil in the boot lock then hit it with some heat from a hot air gun or hair dryer but then I noticed where you are and it is probably pretty warm there already still it may help to get some heat into the oiled lock to help it penetrate and free things up. I think this is the only way. There is no manual pull cord on the GS is there? the GT's get a manual pull cord tucked under the rear seat squab on the left hand side.

 

[BL330]

Thanks guys,
I've got the back seat out but have run out of light to remove the parcel shelf, as it's after 8pm here.
I have a sneaky feeling there are screws under the parcel shelf, which you access from the boot.....
Also I have been turning the key clockwise, whereas some had said it's anti clockwise, but they are not sure.
Unfortunately I keep my owner's manual in the boot, so I can't check.
This is sounding like a goon show script.
Good news, John remembered a post from Maser Sod on 18-07-2012 on this exact problem.
I'll attack it in the morning.
Thanks for your help,
Bruce

 

[saintetienne]

Good idea Steve it should work fine , I have an attachment on my booster pack which does the same. As you correctly say it only needs just enough !

 

[CraigWaterman11]

Remove license plate light molding

If you remove the license plate light molding, and use needle nose pliers to reach in and pull the cable it will open right up. It's two Philips heads I think.

 

[skcl]

I must say that my key does turn very much, only a few degrees, and you don't hear the click of the lock, but the boot will open. So if you have movement on the key it may well be enough.

 

[BL330]

No progress. After Steve's suggestion was backed up on the Aussie forum but applying power to the positive terminal of the glovebox switch, I tried to no avail. There are 5 wires feeding the glovebox unit. The closest to the driver (rhd) is the negative. The next is lights as I could get the cabin lights going. The middle is related to the glovebox light as best as I could determine, the 2nd from left is the boot release leaving the very left for the fuel flap.
I just could not get the boot to activate, nor the fuel flap. Maybe the battery reset kills them?
So plan B try the lock with lots of WD40, no joy.
So plan C remove the number plate light carrier. The end screws came out easily but the centre screw decided to turn freely with it's captive nut intact!
The Aussie forum concludes the key mechanism must be rusted up, particularly as this one spent it's first 7 years over there and no one has asked a question of the key mechanism until now.
I'll continue to let the WD40 soak in and perhaps we'll have some joy tomorrow?
One clever Aussie says MASERATI stands for Makes Awesome Sound, Everything Routine Always Totally Infuriating!

Bruce

 

[Evo Cymru]

Hi there,

I had this problem too when I shut the boot with the power off - ****! Eventually managed with friend turning the key while I sat on the boot. Once turned to unlock and kept in this position, I jumped off and then, hey presto we were able to lift the boot lid up. Hope this helps. Note it doesn't need much turn to actually unlock and there is no audible noise.

Olly

 

[Danny]

That should indeed do the trick. I responded to this thread with a similar advice but the OP did not report back whether he has actually tried it prior to looking into the more difficult solutions.

 

[Steve GS]

No progress. After Steve's suggestion was backed up on the Aussie forum but applying power to the positive terminal of the glovebox switch, I tried to no avail. There are 5 wires feeding the glovebox unit. The closest to the driver (rhd) is the negative. The next is lights as I could get the cabin lights going. The middle is related to the glovebox light as best as I could determine, the 2nd from left is the boot release leaving the very left for the fuel flap.
I just could not get the boot to activate, nor the fuel flap. Maybe the battery reset kills them?
So plan B try the lock with lots of WD40, no joy.
So plan C remove the number plate light carrier. The end screws came out easily but the centre screw decided to turn freely with it's captive nut intact!
The Aussie forum concludes the key mechanism must be rusted up, particularly as this one spent it's first 7 years over there and no one has asked a question of the key mechanism until now.
I'll continue to let the WD40 soak in and perhaps we'll have some joy tomorrow?
One clever Aussie says MASERATI stands for Makes Awesome Sound, Everything Routine Always Totally Infuriating!

Bruce

Did you turn the key in the ignition as if to start. as the 12V charger isn't activated unless on I think. Just a suggestion

 

[BL330]

Hi Steve,
Yes I did have the ignition key on.
If I don't have luck with the body weight and turn the key today, I'll see if there is any way to reach over the fuel tank.
Other than that, I'll have to grind the head of the centre screw of the number plate light carrier to get access to the cable.
This is not the first time for grinding. One rear engine bay cover Allen headed screw would not budge a year ago.
Ever since then every screw and nut gets copper greased on refit.
The sun's up now, so looking forward to posting a victory today.

Regards,
Bruce

 

[Steve GS]

Good luck with it hope it goes your way.

 

[BL330]

Victory! The lock still refuses to budge with multiple attempts of sitting on the boot and attempting to turn the key.So I borrowed a mate's Dremel and over an hour later had worn down the centre screw head of the number plate lights carrier, to the point I could remove the carrier. Then removed the lights and rubber seal, found the cable but couldn't pull it with enough strength using my hands in the tight opening. Used a tent peg to hook around the cable and voila the lock opened.
There was much running around the driveway with arms up, to the puzzlement of neighbours. Quickly restored the battery switch.
Removing the boot lid liner I found the centre screw is used to locate the left hand light bracket. So the 8mm nut that moved is a regular nut not a captive one as the other 2 screws have.
So the winning suggestion in this instance came from my new best Red Sox buddy, CraigWaterman11.
Thanks everyone for your support and options.

PS lock still doesn't turn, so I'll leave it to my next service and let the experts have all the fun.

Regards,

Bruce

 

[Steve GS]

Good news is great. when ever I turn the battery off i place a cloth over the latch folded big enough so this can't happen.

 

[mjheathcote]

Just picked up on this thread, glad you got in.
No way you could have got to the battery isolator over the tank, especially with all the boot linings in place too.
Did you try introducing 12V through the cigarette lighter socket? I really would have thought this would have done the trick, introduced enough amps to then simply pop the button in the glovebox. Infact will give it a go myself to prove if it works!

 

[CraigWaterman11]

I would of given anything to see you running around your driveway like you described! Lol.....where's youtube when you need it. Glad you got it worked out. I thought you would use needle nose pliers but if a tent peg is all you got that's what you have to use!

 

[Gp79]

I had the same problem with my boot lock, so fixed it as a priority while the glovebox release still worked!

Basically the key was not going all the way home, so it would not let you turn the key.

I couldn't see this until I had the lock assembly stripped down but it is worth trying to tap the key / force it in further into the lock to make sure it is fully home before turning clockwise. Plus plenty of lube.

My boot now opens on the key easily with no pressure on the boot.