E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

How to break into a locked trunk when key, fob and driver side door latch does not wo

Old Jan 15, 2018 | 10:41 AM
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2006 e320 cdi
How to break into a locked trunk when key, fob and driver side door latch does not wo

So I have an 2006 e320 cdi with 215,000 miles on it great car except for two issues I am having. First of all I can not get into the trunk. The key does not work in trunk, the latch on trunk does not work, the FOB does not work and the button on driver door does not work. I closed the door last week and the 3rd brake light and license plate lights error came on as well as the trunk is stuck closed. The battery is strong. The only way I can think of getting in is to cut a whole in trunk somewhere under license plate or behind rear seat to get to wires or fuse. Anybody have this problem and resolve it?

The second issue I am having I will post later is a fuel rail pressure error that comes on in cold weather and high elevations.

Thanks
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Old Jan 15, 2018 | 11:11 AM
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Yup...Thanks. Trying to find a solution other than that!
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Old Jan 15, 2018 | 11:39 AM
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Took me a bunch of tries before getting my blade key to successfully open the trunk latch.
Lubricating with WD-40 seemed to help.
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Old Jan 15, 2018 | 11:42 AM
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OK. It turns to the left to open right? I seem to be able to move it perpendicular to left to no avail. Not sure how much to force it. Local dealership said use pliers. Didn't work...
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Old Jan 15, 2018 | 11:45 AM
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Mechanical key should work regardless electric glitches.
Is the blade turning the tumbler? On those cars you need to turn the key and then pull the trunk latch to open
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Old Jan 15, 2018 | 11:56 AM
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Yes tried that but the trunk lock doesn't work...Hasn't for a while. I can try it using driver side latch I suppose. But I have not heard the tumbler move with key either.
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Old Jan 15, 2018 | 12:45 PM
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Can't quite understand your issue?
The tumbler is frozen?
As suggested above - spraying WD40 with the straw inside and multiple exercising will make the tumbler move again.
Sometimes it takes soaking overnight.
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Old Jan 15, 2018 | 01:24 PM
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Tumbler may be frozen I guess...All I know is that I turn the key as far as it will go the left to 9 o'clock and the latch does not release. I do not hear any click or anything. I will try wd 40 tonight and see what happens.
Thanks for following up...
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Old Jan 15, 2018 | 01:37 PM
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You do know that you have to turn the key AND press the release right? Turning the key engages the mechanical part of the (usually electric) release button.
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Old Jan 15, 2018 | 01:43 PM
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2006 e320 cdi
thanks...yes but the latch on the trunk has not worked for a while. I have tried them at same time to no avail...
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Old Jan 15, 2018 | 05:00 PM
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1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
I went to my car to double check it.
-from vertical slot position, insert the blade and turn about 45' CCW. what should have no resistance and key will not come out in this position
-keeping the blade at 45' and pulling the latch you should feel the latch pulling the lock.

When you turn the blade 90' CW to horizontal position- you can pull the blade out and have the trunk mechanically lock, when only blade can unlock it.
If your latch did not work before and you don't feel any resistance, that means you had the rod coming off it at some time and now you have double trouble. I would give remote last chance before drilling. or try MB roadside assistance. It is free for owners who service their cars at dealers.
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Old Jan 15, 2018 | 07:33 PM
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First of all I want to really thanks you for being so conscientious.
My car is at a friends house in a gargage, as I do not have one and we have lubed it with wd40 where we will try again tomorrow afternoon.
We will follow your procedure then and hope we can get it open. If not we will prly have to drill!
I do not have this car serviced at a Mercedes dealership. It's my fault I should have fixed the rear latch when it stopped working and we prly would
have seen the rod coming out.
Oh well!
I will let you know how it goes!

Thanks again.
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Old Jan 15, 2018 | 08:24 PM
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Worth making the call and check, but even if MB roadside assistance will charge you $150 (?), if they manage to open the lock, it still might come cheaper than drilling and ordering new tumbler.
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Old Jan 15, 2018 | 09:10 PM
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I will definitely give them a try first. Thanks!
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Old Jan 17, 2018 | 09:16 AM
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No luck opening yesterday. We are going to give it a few days of WD40 before we move on to anything drastic.
MB dealer said that those things freeze up all the time because no-one ever uses them.
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Old Jan 17, 2018 | 10:55 AM
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Originally Posted by sbla
No luck opening yesterday. We are going to give it a few days of WD40 before we move on to anything drastic.
MB dealer said that those things freeze up all the time because no-one ever uses them.
Make sure the trunk latch handle springs back fully. You will not be able to open or unlock the trunk using the key if it's stuck in the fully depressed position!

Last edited by MB_FanAddict; Jan 18, 2018 at 07:09 PM.
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Old Jan 17, 2018 | 11:58 AM
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Ok...Thanks
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Old Jan 17, 2018 | 12:00 PM
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Actually, I thought it was kind of an electrical touch latch? Maybe it is stuck open now and that is why it is not working, eh?
Is there a way to spring it back?
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Old Jan 17, 2018 | 01:12 PM
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2006 E320 CDI
Maybe give it a good wack with the key out and maybe try banging it with the palm of your hand with the key in and turned. It may free something loose. Nothing to lose!
Mike T.
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Old Jan 17, 2018 | 02:20 PM
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Thumbs up

yup!
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Old Jan 18, 2018 | 02:28 AM
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Originally Posted by sbla
Actually, I thought it was kind of an electrical touch latch? Maybe it is stuck open now and that is why it is not working, eh?
Is there a way to spring it back?
If the latch handle is stuck you can simply move it back by hand (you can work on freeing it up later with some penetrating lubricant). Once you've done that, turn the key back to the 12:00 position and attempt to unlock the trunk again by tuning the key AND then pulling on the latch.
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Old Jan 23, 2018 | 02:05 PM
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2006 e320 cdi
So Thanks for all your help. I couldn't get it working so I brought it to my mechanic who figured it out. I have a feeling all the lubrication finally took affect and the handle as we worked it back and forth finally freed up.He was able
to use the key and handle at the same time to release it. The wires were broken he fixed them and all is back to normal. Moral of the story use they key periodically! Thanks
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