Help! trunk wont open Tools inside No cable
 

I recently removed the trunk lid from the mounts and replaced it after removing rust. The trunk wil not open for the life of me. I have tried for hours pushing pulling up and down. the key turns, but when it gets to the point where youre supposed to push in it wont let it happen. This is a 1983 240 d euro. I looked under the back seat and i cant find any cable or anything but wires. please help I may have to get it to a locksmith. rather not. thanks
Chris

Since you mentioned rust...

You might try spraying Liquid Wrench or similar into the lock cylinder and and around the push latch. I would then try using a palm sander WITHOUT sandpaper to cause high pitch vibrations in the area to loosen any stuck cylinder springs.

Can you take out the back seat and get in that way?

Mike

Dunno about the 123 chassis, but on the 108, you cant take out the backseat without unbolting it from the trunk!

On the 108, the trunk latch mechanism lines up with the lock cylinder in such a way that when locked, the button doesnt push on the latch - only when unlocked. It's such a simple design MB may have kept it in the 123. If so, moving the key while the button is depressed may work. Find a point where you can't turn the key, the nrelease the button, turn the key a little more, and push. Otherwise you may have to have the lock cylinder removed so you can manually push the latch.

trunk lid
 

Thanks for the tips. I will try the sander. to remove the locking cylinder do I have to drill it out or what. Maby I will go to the boneyard to check out how the mechanism works. I think a locksmith will want at least a Ben Franklin for this job. Hopefully i dont have to go that route. Thanks again
Chris

I am not sure what a locksmith can do for you anyway, since the lock works. A good mechanic might be able to help you.

Mike

How about a local thief - tell them the Mona Lisa is inside :)

The sander sounds like a good tip.

still wont open
 

I've tried almost everything. It seems the locking mech. is working, but the latch wont release. The button won't go in when it is in the unlocked position. I wish I had a mini robot to go inside through the medical box.

It might be worth dropping by a dealer - they may know just where to give it a smack to make the trunk pop open (like Fonzie from Happy Days).

I assume your car has the original vacuum central locking and it works? if so...

The lock has 3 positions ..

Key upright...boot remains locked irrespective of central locking

Key horizontal...(left 90degress) boot is locked/unlocked with central locking

Turn another 45degress counterclockwise (from horizontal) and press in will unlock boot if central-locking is 'locked'

Looks like you may have messed up the activating plunger when you re assembled it, on my car this plunger/washer thing was a loose fit.. try parking it so that the one side is higher than the right.. turn the key all the way to the left and try pressing the button, after that try with the other side raised instead. The more severe the angle the better. theres a slim chance the activating plunger might move just enough to get things working.. thumping the boot during the whole process should help.

Last resort... you have to sacrifice you right rear light... not too expensive and a better option (to me) than cutting a hole behind the number plate .

Best of luck

Anil

If you have not tried already. Have a second person hold the lock in the open position, and you grab the deck lid and shake left and right, forward and back...while pulling up. You might get lucky if the catch is misaligned.
This is a common problem assembling 911's after changing deck lids, and it worked for me. ... might be MB also.

The MB trunk lock are superbly engineered - except for the little plastic cog that has probably broken (worn out) on yours:o

One more suggestion:

Have someone actuate the remote trunk release (or use the remote) while you fiddle with the key.