Front Trunk Stuck - Need Help!

[hanuman]

Cannot for the life of me open the front trunk of my Boxster S (2002). The battery is fully charged and I can hear the lock releasing (at least the solenoid is activating) when I hit the remote or even from within the car with the switch on the driver side. I've even tried the emergency cable release on the passenger side wheel well but to no success. I've even recruited my wife to push down on the trunk lid while I pull my hardest on the release cable but the lid is stuck fast. Anyone know a way to get this lock to release? I'm contemplating on hacksawing the striker from thin gap of the trunk.

Desperately seeking help.

Hanuman

[kbrandsma]

Sometimes when working in the battery area I have left a tool on the cowling under the hood. When I closed the front trunk it closed relunctantly and on re-opening was very difficult. Is one side of the front trunk lid (close to the windshield) higher than the other?

If so you might try placing a towel down on the lid and gently push down on the high spot and see if it doesn't open or assume your latch is working (open) and put a hard plastic upholstery tool near the latch and pry up.

Good luck.

Edited February 27, 2011 by kbrandsma

[hanuman]

Sometimes when working in the battery area I have left a tool on the cowling under the hood. When I closed the front trunk it closed relunctantly and on re-opening was very difficult. Is one side of the front trunk lid (close to the windshield) higher than the other?

If so you might try placing a towel down on the lid and gently push down on the high spot and see if it doesn't open or assume your latch is working (open) and put a hard plastic upholstery tool near the latch and pry up.

Good luck.

Thanks for the tip, but there are no high spot on the lid of the trunk. The last time I closed this was yesterday when I got to work. It was a bit difficult latching securely but eventually after some stronger assurance and that was it .. it refuse to open at the end of the day when I tried to open the trunk to stow my bag .. hmmm. I'll try and find these tools to assist. Thanks again.

Edited February 27, 2011 by hanuman

[hanuman]

Cannot for the life of me open the front trunk of my Boxster S (2002). The battery is fully charged and I can hear the lock releasing (at least the solenoid is activating) when I hit the remote or even from within the car with the switch on the driver side. I've even tried the emergency cable release on the passenger side wheel well but to no success. I've even recruited my wife to push down on the trunk lid while I pull my hardest on the release cable but the lid is stuck fast. Anyone know a way to get this lock to release? I'm contemplating on hacksawing the striker from thin gap of the trunk.

Desperately seeking help.

Hanuman

Just and update - Problem resolved. After spraying the latch with penetrating oil and letting it sit for 20 min. I had to try one last time before trying something more destructive (like hacksawing the striker). With a little more prying and hitting the release button on the FOB repeatedly finally open the front trunk. It turns out the issue was caused by the latch return being pinched against the housing due to the latch return spring popping off. I guess years of opening and closing action have caused the return spring hooked end being straighten out and eventually popped off. The housing of the latch mechanism was also bent inward towards the release. A few minutes of prying and greasing eventually return the mechanism to full smooth operation. I've also moved the tool pouch and stow it behind the passenger seat just incase this ever happen when I'm out in the boonies and need to tow at least I have the tow hook readily available for use.

Cheers to all.

Hanuman

[chris64]

Where / how did you aim the oil? I have same issue and would like to know if you lubed from in front of the car or from underneath. Can you post a photo?

[hanuman]

Where / how did you aim the oil? I have same issue and would like to know if you lubed from in front of the car or from underneath. Can you post a photo?

Lube it from the front in the middle of the gap, to the right of the red latch release, you'll have to angle the nozzle almost horizontal at the striker. I'll post picture when I get home. First try the emergency release cable located inside the right wheel well (you'll have to take off the wheel well cover) and see if it unlock. Good luck.

Edited April 4, 2011 by hanuman

[chris64]

Great! Thanks...I oiled it and finally got it open. I proceeded to spray lube the lock assembly a bit more and I even put a light dab of grease on the hood catch. I cleaned all the overspray and bravely closed the lid...which is now stuck again. aaaaagh.

Did you replace your latch assembly? Thanks again.

[chris64]

I re-read your post and I think I know how you fixed the latch release. I will give it another shot tomorrow when I can pry and grease the spring / latch. Thanks again.

[hanuman]

I re-read your post and I think I know how you fixed the latch release. I will give it another shot tomorrow when I can pry and grease the spring / latch. Thanks again.

Hi Chris,

Sorry for not replying with picture, seasonal allergies have gotten the best of me these few days. Once you get the hood open, remove the entire assembly from the car. Proceed to remove the micro switch ( I think there are instructions here on this forum), right underneath the micro switch assembly is a coil spring, this is the culprit. I bet you the 90 degree bent end of this spring has come off and is sandwich against the latch return. To get this back into the slot you'll have to release the tension from the other end of this spring. Once the tension has been release, use a flat head screwdriver to pry the loose end back into the slot. Proceed to reengage the tension and assemble once the spring i s back in the slot. You might have to adjust the microswitch, it might be off the sweet spot, you'll hear the alarm chirp when you engage the locks.

Cheers

[chris64]

Thanks for the info. No worries as I tried another search and found your photos. I did take it all apart and I was disappointed to find nothing visibly wrong. Spring ends were in place and everything seemed free to move. I greased it all up and reassembled with hope that would do it. No luck.

I am suspicious of the microswitch and the solenoid / servo that actually tugs the release cable. I am going to see if the cable is cycling enough and it the switch is interfering...if I can get back into the car. Let me know if you have any other ideas.

All the Best.

[hanuman]

Thanks for the info. No worries as I tried another search and found your photos. I did take it all apart and I was disappointed to find nothing visibly wrong. Spring ends were in place and everything seemed free to move. I greased it all up and reassembled with hope that would do it. No luck.

I am suspicious of the microswitch and the solenoid / servo that actually tugs the release cable. I am going to see if the cable is cycling enough and it the switch is interfering...if I can get back into the car. Let me know if you have any other ideas.

All the Best.

If it's the solenoid then for sure you can use the emergency cable release that is located in the left wheel well behind the headlight assembly. You will have to remove the left wheel and also the wheel well cover to get access to this cable. If your lock mechanism is operational, pulling on this release cable should do the trick. In my case the solenoid worked just that the latch mechanism was pinched refusing to allow the hood to open. If you hear the solenoid activating but the hood not releasing then it could possibly be the cable to the solenoid actuator has slipped off or if you have forgotten to hook it back up the first time you remove the latch and reinstall. Keep us posted.

Edited April 7, 2011 by hanuman

[chris64]

The actuator was bad. $75 part. Done. Hurray!

[hanuman]

The actuator was bad. $75 part. Done. Hurray!

Glad to hear that it's fixed.

[wams]

Hanuman: I am having the same problem and is happening intermittently. Also, the alarm system (and several other items) have been flakey since I rescued my Boxster from Sonnen Porsche at Mill Valley, Ca. Could please tell me how I can access the photos? Many thanks.