Kelly,

Insert the square key, turn all the way left (counter clockwise) while still holding key position all the way to the left, push in on trunk button.

Your trunk is now open, or your problem is more serious.

Oh, and before you need to know, there is a fuel door release in the trunk on the passenger's side just in front of the trunk hinge. It looks like a brass loop. Pull it towards the rear of the car to release the lock on the fuel door.

__________________

Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."

Longston,

Not to sound like a smart _ss, but I'm well aware of HOW the system is suppose to work...but it's not. I know I don't have a vacuum leak (thank God).

This weekend she and I are going to get a bit closer. I'm going to rip off her rear cushion, climb inside and yank on her little cord (don't go there!!!). Hopefully, the cord WILL be there and the truck WILL open. Then lube the heck out of it (w/o making a mess) and hopefully that will solve the issue.

We'll see...stay tuned for "The Rest of the Story" on Monday

Not to beat the hair off of the smart ass, but are you sure you are doing what I suggest? In the vertical position, the trunk is locked, in the horizontal, it is unlocked, and would normally open when the button is pushed. But the trunk lock mechanism works two different ways.

When you are turning the key all the way to the left, is it in a horizontal position? The second way I suggest, is to turn the key even further to the left, and while holding it there, then push in the button. In the position I am telling you about, the key will be in an almost 45 degree angle from horiziontal.

I'm only offering this suggestion twice because many new Mercedes owners aren't familiar with this little "feature" on their cars. If you have already tried this, then as Emily Litella used to say, "nevermind".

__________________

Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."

Been there! I've tried every single position: Turned the key slowly and listened intensely; turned it quickly and all the while pushing in the key. Maybe the key I aught to use is the proverbial crow bar!!!

[Edited by Kelly Pepper on 03-23-2001 at 02:47 PM]

I took apart my W126 trunk to get a better idea of what you were looking at. It is possible that if the vacuum actuated lock mechanism is broken, the button will seem to be working fine. When the trunk is locked, the button is disengaged from the tang that latches the lid. The valet lock position causes a second latch to engage, and is completely unrelated.

For the hell of it, try locking and unlocking the doors several times, checking the trunk every time you unlock. Maybe you will get lucky and it is just stuck.

Q, That's another "trick" that I've recently attempted with no luck. If I remove the back seat, do you know if there is a cord that should unlock the trunk? This is another idea that was shared with me!

I have the exact model, and year with about the same mileage.

The 45 degree position is the only one that will work to open my trunk. My vacuum system definately has some problems, but that position should always work. The only way it wouldn't is if you have a broken lock mechanism...

I also looked for the emergency trunk release under the seat as Jack suggested. I can't find anything. Further, the owners manual makes no reference to any such thing.

Try my suggestion again. Insert key, turn as far to the left as possible until key is in 45 degree angle position, then depress lock release button. If that doesn't work, you need a mechanic or a locksmith.

I'll be interested to find out what the problem is!

__________________

Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."

I will most likely post my results on Monday, maybe during this weekend if I have a chance. This site is SOOOO helpful. I've also been using Roy Fields Auto Service site. This place is much Much nicer and easier to use.

I don't think you have to remove the seat...

While depress lock release button with one hand, and lift trunk. It should open.

jack

So have we ruled out the valet key? I SO want to be right.

Patsy,

I thought that the valet key wouldn't even turn the lock tumblers on the trunk and glovebox. Am I correct?

__________________

Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."

Mine does, but it does not unlock it. My friend had an early seventies SEL, in perfect condition that her "daddy" gave her. We bought groceries one time and could not open the trunk either. It was an uncomfortable moment.

This is probably not the solution to your problem but one day I went out to my car to open the trunk and I couldn't get it open no matter what I did with the key or button.
It was really frustrating since the car was fairly new (95 E300D). I called 1-800-FOR-MERC and they couldn't help me either. Then I realized that a few days earlier I had committed a sin of sins by taking the car to a commercial car wash. Surmizing that perhaps the soap solution had been too strong and with the pressure being what it is at those places, maybe the darn thing was glued shut! Shure enough,
I gave it the heave-ho while pushing the button and it finally popped open. It really took a lot of effort to get it to pop, so maybe there is a physical rather than a mechanical reason to look in to. Good luck--I can't wait to hear how this is resolved for you.

There is the possibility that since you bought the car used, that the previous owner changed the trunk lock (for whatever reason) meaning that there is another key for that lock... and maybe they didn't give it to you. Hope it's just the fact that the lid is stuck.

__________________
Nello Tare

1982 300D (266,001 mi.) looking and running great

Previously owned:
1976 450 SLC
1983 300D
1976 300D
also
1982 Jaguar XJ6 (loved, but gone)

Here's the solution/winner(s): My kudos go out to "nellotare" and “Longston.” Both were correct. Read their explanations for the answer. I must say that Longston's explanation was the easiest to understand, but nellotare was first to mention it!!

I'm beyond thrilled! Sorry 79 Super Turtle...your suggestion was not right. ymsin: “Open Sesame” did not work; Ali obviously did not own a Mercedes Benz! Jack500: I will have the vacuum mech. checked out. After opening the truck, I locked the car (from the driver’s door; of course) and there was a single, loud clunk that came from the trunk. When I went to reopen it, after unlocking the car, the trunk, again, did not open. Turning the key, counter-clockwise that extra bit is the (temporary) trick.

This site is a plethora of valuable information...you guys saved me a lot of money today. Bless all of you!

Let's see...what next :~)