Rear Boot / Trunk Won't Open Anymore

[dcporsche99]

Here you go and I quote, "Also, if the car sits idle for over a week, the key remote is not "seen" by the car and you'd have to put the key in the door, turn on the car, turn it off and then push your rear trunk release button."

This was quoted from Randall. (BTW, last year he didn't remember that he wrote it, so I'm reminding him just in case he forgot again !! ) Anyway, it worked for me last year when I was having problems with the rear / trunk not opening.

Hope it works for you too!

[s_edwards]

Nice one, thanks guys!

I'll give it a try this weekend when I get some daylight. Hopefully it'll be accessible from the wheel well - don't fancy having to take of the bumper!

Will let you know how I get on with finding the release cable...

[s_edwards]

Hello people,

Job done! The cable that goes to the electronic release mechanism was broken.

For future reference, the release cable is on the passenger side of a RHD vehicle, and sits just on the inside of the bumper. It's near on impossible to get without taking off some body parts, so here's how to do it (trust me, it's not so bad): -

1.) Take off the painted mechanical spoiler cover. This has four clips along the front (which you release by pushing a screwdriver through the holes visible from the back), and then you can pull it off. Pull it off gently though, as the tabs along the back look quite fragile.

2.) Unscrew the two bolts which hold the metal spoiler base to the support poles and remove the metal spoiler base.

3.) Unscrew the three screws that run along the top edge of the bumper, that were previously obscured by the spoiler.

4.) Unscrew the obvious screw in the wheel arch on either side. This is towards the top of the bumper.

5.) Unscrew the four screws on the underside of the bumper that are on either side of the car near to the wheels (two per side).

6.) Unscrew the two screws on the underside of the bumper either side of the exhaust tip.

7.) Unhook the bumper from the wheel lining (you just have to man-handle it a bit - you won't break anything). Do this on either side and have someone ready to catch!

The bumper will now come off very easily, and you'll see the release cable hanging down from under the passenger side rear light cluster. Remember that this is a RHD vehicle, where on a LHD vehicle it is on the drivers side.

It's up to you, but I relocated my release cable to somewhere slightly more accessible.

It's just as easy to put back, but you do need two people to get the bumper hooked back around the wheel arch linings.

Hope this helps anyone with the same problem!

Cheers,

Stu.

[dcporsche99]

Hi Stu,

What do you mean that the "electronic release mechanism was broken"?? Can you elaborate? How did you manage to fix it?

BTW, nice job with the release cable DIY. IMHO, its also good to note that for some cars that were pre-owned, sometimes the previous owner(s) decide to place it somewhere else other than its original location. I found my cable release in the passenger's side headlight assembly housing.....good thing I did not need it at that time.

[s_edwards]

It was the Bowden cable that runs from the actuator / solenoid in the boot to the boot release.

The steel cable had snapped right at the end near the lock, so it wasn't releasing the boot when it was pulled by the actuator. I just joined it back together with some electrical cable connectors until I can pick up a new cable.