Popped Trunk and now it won't close
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2010
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1998 Mercedes C230
Popped Trunk and now it won't close
There is wire holding it shut for now but I would like to know if anyone else has had this prob. I have a 1999 C230 Kompressor. I used the Key Fob to open it and when I went to close it back it became a frustrating game of WTF. Funny how a person, namely myself, will try over and over in different scenarios to close something that is obviously not working.
Any thoughts on what may be the problem? And if this is a part issue how do I fix it? Could this be a blown fuse to the trunk latch?
Any thoughts on what may be the problem? And if this is a part issue how do I fix it? Could this be a blown fuse to the trunk latch?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2010
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1998 Mercedes C230
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 7
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1998 Mercedes C230
I was reading about the locking mechanism and they are vacuum actuated, correct? Is the trunk lock vacuum actuated? Could it be a vacuum line came off? I hate taking the car to the dealership for overpriced repair. If I must, I must.
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Joined: May 2008
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From: Manila, Philippines
1994 C220
Yes it is connected to the vacuum, it is possible that it got disconnected but unlikely though. But go ahead and check the lines see if it's connected. You could also hear it if it's disconnected. Listen to your vacuum pump if it's whining after locking the car located on the passenger side near the gas tank. I recommend to try and check the lines first since you would definitely hear it whin since the trunk can't close.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 7
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1998 Mercedes C230
Yes it is connected to the vacuum, it is possible that it got disconnected but unlikely though. But go ahead and check the lines see if it's connected. You could also hear it if it's disconnected. Listen to your vacuum pump if it's whining after locking the car located on the passenger side near the gas tank. I recommend to try and check the lines first since you would definitely hear it whin since the trunk can't close.
Thanks for your help. I will be checking some things out tomorrow. I hope I don't have to take it to the dealer.
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Thread Starter
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1998 Mercedes C230
So it seems that the trunk latch has a few different parts in it- the vacuum actuator and relevant actuator arms, Two micro switches, the latching mechanism and a loose nut....loose nut? Yes it would seem that a nut from the license plate got jammed in the latching mechanism and once I removed it it latched back.
Funny thing about that...then it wouldn't open but at least its not tied shut any longer. I decided to try my luck with figuring out why it won't open. I had to climb through the trunk to remove the screws (torx) to the catch attached to the body. The lid lifted and allowed me to tear into it again. I carefully looked at the way the key lock moved and what it did. Using the metal key from the keyfob I turned it and locked the doors and noticed that the way it moved caused one micro switch to make. So I pushed the key lock and saw that this should have caused the other micro switch to make but didn't.
All of a sudden the switch starts working and the vacuum actuator began to do its thing. So I put it back together and voila! it worked so I tested it a couple of times and it stopped working. I am beginning to think that the micro switch is not making contact as it should so I may need to get another. I am going to test the switch with an Ohmmeter to be sure the switch is not right and hopefully I can find another switch.
Funny thing about that...then it wouldn't open but at least its not tied shut any longer. I decided to try my luck with figuring out why it won't open. I had to climb through the trunk to remove the screws (torx) to the catch attached to the body. The lid lifted and allowed me to tear into it again. I carefully looked at the way the key lock moved and what it did. Using the metal key from the keyfob I turned it and locked the doors and noticed that the way it moved caused one micro switch to make. So I pushed the key lock and saw that this should have caused the other micro switch to make but didn't.
All of a sudden the switch starts working and the vacuum actuator began to do its thing. So I put it back together and voila! it worked so I tested it a couple of times and it stopped working. I am beginning to think that the micro switch is not making contact as it should so I may need to get another. I am going to test the switch with an Ohmmeter to be sure the switch is not right and hopefully I can find another switch.
