123 trunk latch acting up
 

On my 83 240/300 I cannot get the trunk latch to engage and unlatch no matter what position I put the key in.

I'd rather not drill it out but am at a loss as to what to do next.

Any ideas?

If I drill it out I can buy one new keyed correctly, right?

I had the same problem.
If you can't get into your trunk at all, look at my diy article "breaking into the trunk without breaking anything". Once you're in, take the mechanism out (2x 10 mm) and use brake clean to degrease then lube moving parts with Lithium grease (not the tumbler wafers). That's what I did to mine a few years ago and still working fine.

Thanks for the link! I'll go try out some of those great ideas!

Read your DIY article. Love that tool you made. Is it OK to use an Asian tool (bamboo) on a German car?

Richard

Once you pop the plastic cover, a flat furring strip is much easier to use than Bamboo (round) that I used in the diy.Good luck and let us know how you make out.

Obviously it's ok since I got into my trunk! :D

Here is the DIY Post.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/194141-breaking-into-123-trunk-w-o-breaking-anything.html?highlight=breaking+trunk

I've also been able to use the same hook that I pull the cover off with, to grab the actual latch mechanism that releases the truck lid. When you push the key barrel in to open the trunk, there is a lever that gets pushed, if you pull that lever it will open the trunk no matter what position the lock actuator is in.

Heres what happened to me and could have happened to you. I park and lock the car (79 240D) then later walk back and unlock the trunk and the next time I want to get into the trunk, no dice, wont open no matter what. I fiddle with it for half an hour or so, locking and unlocking the car from the driver door I finally get the trunk to open. Since then we only open a locked trunk with the driver door and not with the key directly into the trunk lock. That was several years ago and its never happened again.

I got as far as looking in the first aid hole and saw that the Miata sway bar was not in there and gave up. (I was looking for it).

The trunk not working for my lovely daughter #4 is not a big deal!

Thanks anyway though, one of these days I may get ambitious enough to do all that work.;)

What if you have or she has a flat and needs the spare tire?

You may get lucky as I did. I cranked up my Mityvac on the return line at the connector on the floor board in front of the drivers seat which popped my locking pin.

Sure was a bunch easier.

Good point!