Expert advice needed! Trunk lock inop, can't get into S14 trunk.

[DJ_Sunrise]

I am completely locked out of my trunk now.

My trunk lock busted sometime over a year ago, but the handle inside worked, so I did not bother trying to fix it until recently.

When I put the key in, twisting it would not unluck the lock. Tumblers must be jammed. So one day, I decided to look at the lock. Popped open my trunk, and flipped a switch on the actual lock, thinking that maybe it had something to do with why the key did not unlock the trunk. Quite the opposite.. it put the trunk into valet mode, so it disabled the trunk release inside of my car.

Recap: at this point, trunk release will not open trunk, and neither will keys.

So I had one last option.. Going in through the back seats, and this is where everything gets F.U.B.A.R.

I pulled on the seat release for the back seat on the drivers side, and it popped open fine. I pulled on the latch on the passenger side, and bam.. my hand slammed into the rear windshield, pull latch attached to my finger. It actually snapped off from whatever it is attached to inside of the rear seat. I tried to use a pair of pliers to pop open the top back seat latch to lower it, but I can not see or get to whatever releases it because the wind shield gets in the way. After that happened, I resorted to playing with the trunk lock again. I grabbed some graphite powder, and used nearly a tube in my lock, to no avail. The whole lock assembly twists loosely, but no go, so something is insanely jammed inside of it. WD-40 did not help either.

So here is where I am at now.
1) Keys does not unlock trunk.. Tumblers may be jammed, but either way, it is not opening. I had a fresh key cut by code, and no go once again.
2) I can not use my trunk release handle, because the trunk is in valet mode, disengaging the wire at the actual lock. Yes, I am using the master keys, and they do not work.
3) I can not release the back seat latch on the passenger side because the plastic pull handle is busted. I can not see in because of the back wind shield, and insane amounts of seat foam blocking the view into the top of the seat half.

What do you guys recommend? I have leather back seats, so as much as I would love to sawzall into them, I probably shouldn't. Has anyone dealt with a locksmith for stuck locks? Word of mouth is that a locksmith will charge between $100-$200 regardless if he unlocks it or not. Has anyone drilled through a trunk luck before? If I go too far or too large of a bit, I may damage the trunk/body/release.

So... What should I do in my shitty situation???

The techs I worked with all said graphite lube, and if that doesn't work, drilling through the lock with the potential of causing much damage.


Sooo... whose selling rear upper and lower cloth seats..haha... D'oh...

-Bart Siedlecki

[projectRDM]

The seat releases from either side, not both. If you pull the good release really hard and higher than normal, it will release both.

If that doesn't work, pull the rear deck and remove a speaker, then reach in through the opening with a long pry and flip the latch back to normal.

Good luck either way.

[mrmephistopheles]

You could also unbolt the seat from the bottom and see if you can't force the latches to release.

[DJ_Sunrise]

Great ideas guys, I really appreciate your help. I'll give it a try on Saturday, and let you know how things go.

-Bart

[derek_s13]

if you drive your car to a serv-u, or any other "neighborhood" locksmith, it shouldn't be anything like 200.

i once broke my ONLY key off in my coupe's door. like IN the lock. no way for me to take it out. i fucked with it for days. had to mess with the ignition and start it with a screwdriver

went to serv-u, bit the bullet and paid $30, and he had the key out, a new key made from the two severed halves, and my locks greased for me in 10 minutes

[IIIXziuR]

Yeah I have the same exact situation right now. It's really annoying.
I should really take care of that. I can't even open my trunk at all now.

[ZipTied]

My 96 Zenki has the same problem. The latch pulls but the trunk doesn't pop. Find something to prop the trunk release handle all the way open like as far as it goes. Then pull up on a trunk a few times. Or have a buddy pull the trunk when you pull the lever. It works for me. Good luck. And ya pulling just one side of the seat will pull them down.

[projectRDM]

Originally Posted by ZipTied

My 96 Zenki has the same problem. The latch pulls but the trunk doesn't pop. Find something to prop the trunk release handle all the way open like as far as it goes. Then pull up on a trunk a few times. Or have a buddy pull the trunk when you pull the lever. It works for me. Good luck. And ya pulling just one side of the seat will pull them down.

If the lever on the latch is switched to valet the pull handle will not open, period. That's why it's a valet lever.

[DJ_Sunrise]

Finally got it open. No matter what I tried pulling up on the one handle did not release the other side, however, I jammed a boot on the right side and managed to unscrew the 12mm bolt that holds the seat lock on. I took the rear deck lid off, than the speaker, and reached my hand through with a wrench. Once that bracket came off, I somehow managed to crawl into my trunk and release the valet switch.... Problem solved. $60 for a new trunk lock, not too crazy. Thanks for the input guys!

-Bart


ProjectRDM: Thank you a shit ton for the idea of removing the speakers and reaching in.

[projectRDM]

Ask me how I knew how do to that.

Better yet, try the same thing, but with your keys locked in the car and a dead battery, with the battery in the trunk. I actually popped the rubber drain plug out of the spare tire well, reached in with a piece of threaded rod, flipped the lever back to normal, then pulled the latch enough to release it. Jumped the battery with a box, then slid a coat hanger in to unlock the doors. That was a fun day.

[DJ_Sunrise]

Lmao. That is insane man... If I had been in that situation, I'm not sure what I would have done.. Props for keeping a cool head about it.

-Bart