Don't be stupid like me....

wallymn · Jul 26, 2010

Fun weekend..

Doing some work on the car this weekend I had to disconnect the battery and I shut the trunk...

30 minutes later I went to open the trunk... The lock on my 18 month old car was corroded.... I couldn't insert the key...

I tried to blow the lock free and oiled it... no help. trunk lock is shot...

This is a car that is garaged 100% of the time and washed at least once a week.

This isn't the first time I couldn't get into the trunk.. for those that might need to

The ski boot pass thru has a direct line of sight to the emergency release on the inside of the trunk lid. A broom handle works well to reach that release latch and open the trunk....

I now carry a broom handle in my car for emergency....

yuhaze · Jul 26, 2010

The same thing happened to me this weekend!
I had the battery disconnected and after a while I had closed the trunk ........
key wouldn't work, isn't rusted, just wouldn't work.
Enter the broom handle!!
I may have to follow your lead and keep it in the vehicle!

dg_moore · Jul 26, 2010

Good info - might not be a bad idea to put some WD-40 on your key and keep the trunk lock lubed

wallymn · Jul 26, 2010

The problem I have is that the lock , even after heavy lubing, will not function.. The key will only insert about half way.

I have a 27 year old 1 Ton which which sits outside all year, the lock isn't touched for 6 months... but has never jammed...

There is a white powered in the lock I see when cheap metal is exposed.... I assume I will need the lock replaced but I will let the dealer sort it out..

dg_moore · Jul 26, 2010

I'm going to check mine today - this could be a problem down the road

sandy · Jul 26, 2010

Great business opportunity...........we buy broom handles, paint to match car colors, label as Emergency Trunk Opener and sell on internet for $99.95

Paulroger · Jul 26, 2010

Great design!

What would happen if you happen to have your trunk packed with travel bags blocking the emergency release lever and the battery dies? How would you get the trunk open to retrieve your bags?
Assuming you can insert your key in the driver door lock, could you get enough juice into a dead battery enough to open the trunk release? Just asking.

yuhaze · Jul 26, 2010

Paulroger said:
Great design! What would happen if you happen to have your trunk packed with travel bags blocking the emergency release lever and the battery dies? How would you get the trunk open to retrieve your bags?
Assuming you can insert your key in the driver door lock, could you get enough juice into a dead battery enough to open the trunk release? Just asking.

That would be a really good case study. I know that the physical key would not work for me with the battery disconnected. I'm glad I didn't have a full trunk! That little hole in the back seat would make it a challenge to pull out whatever is in the way to the manual trunk release

dataguy · Jul 26, 2010

I made the mistake of testing the manual trunk lock after reading this thread. At first, the key would only go in halfway, but with some steady force, it popped all the way in and unlocked the trunk. But then, it took a minute or two to extract the key.

I'll mention it to the dealer when I service the car next.

wallymn · Jul 26, 2010

I really haven't seen a lock degrade like this before, the driver door key (which I never use) is in great shape... so I don't understand why the trunk is so poor...

Good point on a full trunk, I had emptied it to get to the battery, but in the case of an unexpected dead battery with no functioning key, it might be a problem.

I know from experience you can "run" the car off the jump point under the hood.

IF you have two people with the jump point hooked up, and trying to start the car , (cranking) someone else could hit the trunk release....

Can I say A mechanical trunk release (rather than the electric) would solve this problem...

How can you put the battery in a box which is unlocked by the power coming from the battery?

STREETS · Jul 26, 2010

When the keyfob battery gets low- careful not to leave in the car- because the car will lock with the key in it! TRUST ME. And AAA car jimmies tend to scrape away the black plastic tape on the upper doors. So before Mr. Slim Jim comes, apply some electical tape and save yourself some anguish. Better yet- lets all go out and by Energizer CR2032 batteries!

Richard Ft. Lauderdale · Jul 26, 2010

Check the trunk lock button in the glove compartment. You can not open the trunk if this button has been pushed. This is to keep a parking valet from going in the trunk.

nearwater · Jul 26, 2010

Richard Ft. Lauderdale said:
Check the trunk lock button in the glove compartment. You can not open the trunk if this button has been pushed. This is to keep a parking valet from going in the trunk.

Yeah, but even with this button pushed, you still should be able to open it with the metal key, correct?
The purpose of this lock is to disable the trunk release button on the driver's side door panel and once the glove box is locked, you can pass on the key fob(fob only) to the valet person so that you can leave valuables locked inside the glove box and the trunk.
It'd be a design flaw if the trunk cannot be accessed with the physical key with this button depressed.

Dan

ctrcbob · Jul 26, 2010

I just went out and tried mine. Slid right in and opened the trunk, but then I had a hard time removing the key. Once I (pulling hard) got it out, I pushed it back in and out a few times, even turning the key upside down. Now that I know it works, when "I get a round tuit", I'll squirt some WD40 in there to lube it. May even lub the door key locks also.

Jerome Leff · Jul 26, 2010

I tried to open my truck using the key and it went in half way and wouldn't turn. I opened the truck normally and moved the emergency latch several times back and forth. Then I put WD-40 on the key and tried again. Everything worked fine. Maybe the emergency latch has to be moved several times back and forth to free it up.
NO problems with it now. Love our GENNY.

dg_moore · Jul 26, 2010

OK - I just tried mine (11/09 build date). It worked fine, no prob getting the key in or out; turns fine. I put some WD-40 on the key and worked it in - should be ok.

yuhaze · Jul 26, 2010

nearwater said:
Yeah, but even with this button pushed, you still should be able to open it with the metal key, correct?
The purpose of this lock is to disable the trunk release button on the driver's side door panel and once the glove box is locked, you can pass on the key fob(fob only) to the valet person so that you can leave valuables locked inside the glove box and the trunk.
It'd be a design flaw if the trunk cannot be accessed with the physical key with this button depressed.

Dan

shoot, then all the valet would need to do is grab the emergency broom handle, open the cubby hole, and voila! he's in the trunk!

ilovemygenesis · Jul 26, 2010

dg_moore said:
OK - I just tried mine (11/09 build date). It worked fine, no prob getting the key in or out; turns fine. I put some WD-40 on the key and worked it in - should be ok.

Same here, i will put some lube on the key but otherwise it worked just fine, same model year as well, but i can see how it could be an issue, i will keep an eye out for this one.

Sayantsi · Jul 27, 2010

I wonder, can you connect a battery to the jump points in the engine bay and then use the trunk release button?

nearwater · Jul 27, 2010

Sayantsi said:
I wonder, can you connect a battery to the jump points in the engine bay and then use the trunk release button?

For a drained battery, definitely.
But for a disconnected battery, I'm not sure how the power cables are hooked up but I think it'll work as well.

Dan

Don't be stupid like me....

Been here awhile...

Been here awhile...

Been here awhile...

Been here awhile...

Been here awhile...

Registered Member

Registered Member

Been here awhile...

Been here awhile...

Been here awhile...

Registered Member

Registered Member

Been here awhile...

CTRC, USN Ret.

Hasn't posted much yet...

Been here awhile...

Been here awhile...

Registered Member

Been here awhile...

Been here awhile...