Breaking into 123 trunk w/o breaking anything
 

The trunk of the 83 240D I just bought wouldn't open with key or vacuum. This is the second 123 trunk that I had to break into. The first was my 83 300D. This time I took photos.

Pic below shows position of the "tool", which happens to be a piece of bamboo. You can use a furring strip or a broom handle. Furring strip is actually better because it's flat. That's what I used the first time on the 300D where the cover was already off. I just shaped the furring strip so it could get a "bite", didn't cut a slot and it worked fine.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...071107_001.jpg

Pic below shows the hook to pop the plastic cover for the lock mechanism.
It is made from a coat hanger bent to shape and the point sharpened and bent to get under the cover to pop it off. You'll need a flashlight to see. Work after the sun goes down.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...071107_009.jpg

Pic below shows detail of the tool with a slot cut into it to hook onto the vacuum lock actuator rod.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...071107_002.jpg

Pic below shows how the tool should sit. Note the vacuum lock actuator rod (with the spring) in the mechanism has to be attached for this to work.
Standing outside the door you have to pull the tool toward you thus pushing the lock rod toward the fuel filler while an assistant pushes on the lock button to open. I didn't have anyone to help and used a bungee cord to leverage the tool.

Try it! Better than drilling the lock out.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...071107_003.jpg

Whoa, nice Macgyver move :cool:

Damn, that's totally McGuiver status...and I thought I was a hot shot for breaking into my 300d with just a shoelace.

Getting into locked cars is fun. I love the challenge to improvise with whatever resources I have nearby at the moment. There has not been a car I have not been able to get into.:) NOTE: These are my own cars.:)

So how did you use the shoe lace?

:) Im glad I live in the city. Any car of mine I've been locked out of...
It usually takes about 5 minutes before someone walks by who is very
apt at breaking into a car. I've learned a multitude of techneques for
my previous gassers. Thanks for the info! Noone around here knows how to get into my w123- minus breaking a window...

That's one advantage living in the city eh?;)

Cool, I've drilled a couple out, your way looks more better, Thanks. Why wouldn't the trunk open with the key in the first place?

I have seen a lot of MBs that wouldn't open the trunk unless you turned the key all of the way CCW and hold the key at that 45 degree position while you push in the lock.

Some times the vacuum diaphram pushes the lock mechanism back to the lock position even if the key is horizontal.

On the 300D, there were lot's of gunk in the lock mechanism. The key turned but pushing in the button at different angles did not open the trunk. The vacuum element was fine but because of the gunk, the rod did not move far enough to engage. I came very close to drilling but was able to get in via the first aid kit. I took the lock out, cleaned and lubed and it has been working fine with key and vacuum ever since.

On the 240D the key would not turn the lock and there is no movement in the vacuum lock. I have not looked into why.

All of our cars make you turn it 45 deg counter clockwise then push in the button.....isn't that how its supposed to work?

On all of mine, you have to turn the key 45 degrees beyond horizontal and if you turn it back to horizontal and remove it, the trunk stays unlocked but you can open it without the key with just the push button. The Vacuum lock has never worked in either of my MB's.

I was at the beach and when I was walking out on the jetty I dropped my (only) key. I heard it bounce through the rocks for a few seconds before splashing into the water. conveniently I had my wallet (and AAA) card in my car. I took one of my shoe laces and made a noose on one end. After about 5 minutes of "fishing" I was able to lasso the lock plunger and pull it up. Man, I felt like a bad ass.

Sounds like a job for the MacGyver Multitool...

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/18/the-macgyver-multitool/

trunk locked fixed
 

I think I've fixed the trunk lock on the 240D. I sprayed the lock cyl with lots of contact cleaner mucho gunk came out. Worked the key in and out then more cleaner and eventually the key works. I took the vacuum element out and found the unlock nipple broken off and the vac line plugged with a nail. The lock portion is fine and was working. Since I did not have a replacement vac element. I tried a McGyver repair on the broken one.

I used a 3/4 " length of steel brake line, cut a 1/8" length of external thread on one end, enlarged the hole left by the broken nipple on the vac elementwith a drill bit and a pin vise and self tapped the brake line into it, put a drop of crazy glue to give it a better seal. Installed it and the trunk lock now works like a charm. It remains to be seen how well the repaired nipple will seal.
[QUOTE=funola;1565829]On the 300D, there were lot's of gunk in the lock mechanism. The key turned but pushing in the button at different angles did not open the trunk. The vacuum

great.......now if only the cover was not on the w126 lock mechanizm:rolleyes:

The cover was on my 240D and I had to pop it with the coat hanger hook I made. See pic above.

I haven't had much luck drilling out the lock itself -- but have been very successful at drilling about 3/4" to the right or the left of the lock and pushing the little push thing that the lock button pushes when in the unlocked position... Of course this is at junkyards when the trunk is locked...

No, I was *shocked* the first time I tried to open our 240D trunk with the doors locked and it wouldn't open.

If the locks are all unlocked, the trunks open by just pressing the button in without having the key anywhere close to it.

With the car locks locked, the 240D forces me to put the key in the trunk, turn to 45 degrees CCW, and hold it in while opening it.

The 300SDL lets me unlock and lock all doors and trunk from the trunk switch. Insert key, flip to unlock, remove key, push button and open lid.

One more way to get the trunk open, if the latch is jammed (like when a screw falls in there and jams the "trigger" - don't ask :D) you can use several long extensions and a 10mm socket at the end, and unscrew the tumbler housing from inside. That's how we got into mine, thanks also to the instructions found on this thread it helped give us an idea of how to approach the task.

Through the 'first add box" hole, right?, that musta been fun.

A jammed lock might also be cleared with a MightyVac inline with the passenger side vacuum feed lines. Directly adding 26+" of vacuum directly
got mine to pop free.

On the 300D, those lines are accessed on the front left side of the drivers seat under the carpet and behind the black plastic wire and tubing cover.

I was going to suggest that. :D

Is it possible to unlock the car from within the trunk using a mityvac on the unlock line?

I ask this because over the winter i've been frozen out of my car a handful of times (I carry lock de-icer just in case). I would prefer a better way than using that liquid to gum up the keyhole.

Search youtube. Lock picking is considered a hobby & not a crime. Apparently car jacking is in the same category.

Despite doing this, the trunk did not open. And as I mentioned above, something else was jamming it, which in my case was a loose screw.

On the 85 models with factory alarms, there is an emergency trunk opener pull cord on the left side of the rear seat.

On our '85 300D... the lock side vacuum is yellow / red stripe. The unlock is yellow / green stripe.

Sure wont say it works on all 300D's but it got mine open by drawing down on the yellow / green vacuum line.

There is another solution. Join the "cheap wagon club" !!! :D

A couple years ago, I had a problem with a newly-acquired '81 240D wher the PO had replaced the ignition and trunk locks. While trying to see if I could get the vacuum-locks to work, I wound up locking the trunk, ony to discover then, that the vacuum wouldn't unlock it and I didn't have the key! By applying pressure with my MightyVac, instead of vacuum, to the line for the 'locking' vacuum diaphragm, I was able to unlock the trunk. Turned outthe unlocking side of te vacum actuator had sprung a leak.
So then I disconnected the trunk vacuum actuator and kept it unlocked until I could get a key.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Nice idea Mark, thought of that but wasn't sure if it would work.

Ah ha good to know. ;) Surprised about the car jacking. Are we talking commandeering a car from the owner by force or putting a jack under the car lifting it by force?:D

using a furring strip
 

For practice and fun, since I no longer have the bamboo pole anymore I used an 8' furring strip.

Just cut one end to a point that can hook the trunk lock mechanism, pull furring strip away from the window and open the trunk. I used a bungee to keep force on the furring strip so I can go push the trunk button w/o an assistant. The furring strip, being flat, is actually a lot easier to use than the round bamboo pole I had. I haven't tried this yet but a nail into the other end of the furring strip will work well to pull the cover off.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...052810_005.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...052810_007.jpg

The vac mechanism is not attached.

I tried drilling it yesterday with no luck so far. How far do you have to drill to get it to open? How big a drill?

Did you post to the wrong thread? Drilling is breaking, not what this post is about. Did you try my method? Once you get the cover off, it's a breeze. You don't need bamboo, use an 8 ft long furring strip.

I used a large drill bit that took out the entire round center part that you put the key in. Then when you stick your finger in you will feel a little lever arm that when you push, will open the trunk. I had to do this on a couple parts cars I bought.

Did I misunderstand? the vac mechanism must be attached for it to work, I thought.

You misunderstood. The hook in the furring strip is what you use to pull the normally vacuum actuated rod out of the locking area.

or drive a nail into the end of the furring strip, or a long enough wooden pole.

open 300d trunk without damage-option 2
 

I couldn't get this to work. Fortunately, there is another easy option. On the inside just in front of where the key lock is on the outside there are two holes. Inside these holes are two 10mm nuts holding the lock on. Using and many socket extensions as necessary, remove the two nuts and the lock will fall off. Then it is easy to stick your finger in the hole and move the lever and open the trunk. Clive

Any tips for a w126?

1985 300CD-T trunk seemingly unopenable but got it!
 

Once again, you wonderful people deliver!

I have owned my 1985 300CD-T for many years, had it apart many times and YET, I never knew that there was an emergency trunk lock release underneath the rear seat behind the driver's seat. Doggone amazing! :bounce:

I've attached two explanatory pictures.

My sincerest thanks and deep gratitude for the help provided here that was so incredibly useful to me!!:dancefool