Hi Guys,

Ahhh..... the FUN of living in Minneapolis!!

Fot the last few days now I have not been able to get my trunk open on my '01 E430, Not by remote, not by switch, and not even by key!!!!

Has anyone else experienced this? If so are there any tricks for getting it open? I am assuming the "Trunk Vacuum Element" is frozen. I say that because normally you at least hear a couple of sounds when you open the trunk, PSE etc, but currently you don't hear ANYTHING but I do not see how that would be the PSE itself, or.. could it?

I guess the real puzzler is even if the vacuum system is incapacitated shouldn't I be able to open it with the key? Mind you I can only even get the key into the lock after pouring a couple of gallons of hot water over the outside of the lock cylinder. Please help!!

Thanks.

 

Hold the water!! That's one thing we know will freeze -- even in southern Minnesota. (:-)

Stop by a local locksmith and get some spray lube for locks or whatever he recommends. However, if you've gotten water in the cylinder you may need to get it somewhere warm (Florida?) until it thaws out. Talk to the locksmith. I'm sure he'll have some ideas.

If you have a can of WD-40, you can try spraying some it. It's a moisture displacement chemical but it won't thaw any ice. No don't spray any salt water in for that. Good luck.

 

here's what you do for frozen locks...get a thick walled 15-19 mm socket head and heat in over a source until it's hot...grab it with a pair of pliers (vice-grips recommended) and take it outside and hold it (the hot end of the socket head) against the frozen lock for about 15 to 30 seconds, release and unlock...it'll work.....

 

Well Guys I decided to go to battle with the problem yesterday afternoon and this time I WON!!!

First I took about a gallon of hot water out with me, The seal around the trunk I already knew was a major culprit. So I poured the water around the perimeter of the trunk and then a bunch over the lock to heat it up some so I could get the key in. It was too windy out to use the lighter trick. Got the key in turned to left and pushed in and pulled up hard, got the trunk open!

NEXT... started investigating what could be causing the problem with the remote function, well in looking everything over I noticed the the switch that senses the opened or closed status of the lid was stuck in the closed position. So for starters I cleaned up the sliding portion of the switch so it moved up and down like its supposed to.

WELL.... that seemed to be a major player in the problem. First obvious sign was my trunk light started working again, whew hewww!!!!! And my alarm went off as well. And sure enough I closed the trunk, locked everything with my remote, unlocked with my remote and pushed the lock on the trunk and it worked!! then I used the trunk button on the remote and it worked! Then I used the button in the car and it worked!!!

It appears it was not water in the lock itself so much as sticking issues with the sensor switch probably magnified by the extreme cold that lead to the headaches. To be sure I went out hours later and tested everything and all was well. Only thing frozen was the usual rubber seal around the trunk.

SO, I guess I taught myself a little something there and persistence paid off.
That little sliding switch just to the left of the trunk latch controls a lot more than just the light!!

Thanks guys for the input as always.

 

Spray silicon on the rubber seals of the car help them from sticking. Wal-mart or who eaver has lock spray with grafhit [spelling] that will keep the locks from freezing

 

This is common for my 96 E-320. It's the seal on mine. I suspect you will run into the same issues at some point, living in the Great White North.
On mine the latch works fine yet the trunk doesn't open Then after you have forgotten about it later, the trunk flies open as you are driving down the road (and it air dries out or thaws). Then you are pulling off somewhere to get out and close the trunk. Be aware if you have valuable stuff in the trunk, it may pop open as your car is parked and the sun shines on it whilst you are away from the car. How's that for an invitation to a "rip off artist".
I think I'll try the silicone or graphite. Thanks for the hint. Hope it won't rot the seals.

Aardvark

 

Silcon will pressurve rubber. graffit is for the lock