W123 Trunk wont open...help

[dieseldan44]

I know it's been covered...but this is a bit different

The trunk was shut hard when it was full a couple days ago. It opened a few times, now it wont open.

Key, vacuum all work. Turn key all the way to the left and the tumbler won't push in.

What's the magic touch, and what do I need to fix once I get it open?

[funola]

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W123TrunkBreakIn

Once you get it open, take out the mechanism 2 x 10 mm bolts, clean and degrease then lube moving parts (except tumbler) with lithium grease.

[dieseldan44]

Cool, thanks funola.

Was this caused by me somehow warping the trunk lid over items a couple days ago? (I didnt force it, with just was touching)

Or is it purely in the tumbler? (Tumbler wont push in all the way with the key all the way to the left. Tumbler pushes in when unlocked at top position, but trunk doesnt open)

Its never given me any trouble before.

[funola]

Originally Posted by dieseldan44

Cool, thanks funola.

Was this caused by me somehow warping the trunk lid over items a couple days ago? (I didnt force it, with just was touching)

Or is it purely in the tumbler? (Tumbler wont push in all the way with the key all the way to the left. Tumbler pushes in when unlocked at top position, but trunk doesnt open)

Its never given me any trouble before.

I don't think it's a warped trunk, it's not the tumnle either. It's the lock mechanism gunked up, not allowing it to turn all the way to line up a lever that pushes on a latch to open. Once you clean and grease it up it'll be fine.

[MBeige]

This is going to be interesting. My guess is something got jammed between the trunk lock latch mechanism and the latch on the lid. My car had a similar problem when a small screw fell in and did not let the tumbler push all the way in. It had resistance when trying to be pushed inward. The design is that the tumbler pushes a lever mechanism that tilts forward to release the trunk lid latch. If something got stuck there, and if the trunk is full as you say it was, it's going to be very hard to reach in to the trunk access panel (for the vacuum actuator) and unscrew the tumbler housing fasteners, which is what we did through the first aid kit with 3-4 12" extensions and a deep socket 10mm.

[dieseldan44]

Originally Posted by MBeige

My guess is something got jammed between the trunk lock latch mechanism and the latch on the lid.

Bing bing bing bing....

There was a small quartz pebble stuck in there.

Normally I am very careful and meticulous with the cars. Today I was tired and annoyed. So I took a mallet and a drift and just wacked the tumbler in with the key all the way to the left. Rock broke up and trunk opened.

All is well. No ill effects.

[funola]

Originally Posted by dieseldan44

Bing bing bing bing....

There was a small quartz pebble stuck in there.

Normally I am very careful and meticulous with the cars. Today I was tired and annoyed. So I took a mallet and a drift and just wacked the tumbler in with the key all the way to the left. Rock broke up and trunk opened.

All is well. No ill effects.

How did the quartz pebble get in there? I am surprised you broke the quartz with no damage. Quartz is pretty tough.

[MBeige]

Originally Posted by funola

How did the quartz pebble get in there? I am surprised you broke the quartz with no damage. Quartz is pretty tough.

I guess MB lock mechanisms are tougher

[dieseldan44]

Originally Posted by funola

How did the quartz pebble get in there? I am surprised you broke the quartz with no damage. Quartz is pretty tough.

Im guessing at my last gig (im a musician) or wvo pickup I lifted something off the ground and the pebble found its way right into that spot.

It wasn't a solid piece of quartz. Maybe it was rock salt. Some sort of crystal. Im no geologist.