SL-Class (R230) 2003 -- 2012: Discussion on the SL500, SL550, SL600

SL/R230: Close boot lid

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Old Feb 6, 2023 | 10:12 AM
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Close boot lid

2003 Sl500

Drive 15-20 feet, red error comes up "close boot lid". Trunk is shut and door locks etc all work so I can eliminate PSE pump.

What exactly is the "boot lid"? Is it a part of the actual locking unit? Does the entire thing need to be replaced?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/132753684222

For what it's worth, my car is rarely driven so I'm always getting "electric consumer offline" messages for the battery. Need to drive 15-20 minutes before the electronics come back online. I finally got around to hooking up a trickle charger yesterday. I was hoping this may be the issue with the boot lid not engaging since the comsumer battery controls 3847744 devices in the car


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Old Feb 6, 2023 | 10:45 AM
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The cover that pulls back inside the trunk?
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Old Feb 6, 2023 | 11:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Dr. Plastic
The cover that pulls back inside the trunk?
Not sure why that would cause an error unless you are trying to open the convertible top
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Old Feb 6, 2023 | 11:32 AM
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'03 SL55 Black, '03 SL500's Aegean, Mars Red, Tazanite, Alabaster, '11 S550 Flint Gray
The boot is the trunk, boot lid = trunk lid. You probably have a leaking trunk latch actuator. The soft close will appear to work, but will release after a few seconds. Trunk will be latched on the first catch, but not properly pulled down. You should also have a red LED on the trunk release switch on the door.
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Old Feb 6, 2023 | 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by MikeJ65
The boot is the trunk, boot lid = trunk lid. You probably have a leaking trunk latch actuator. The soft close will appear to work, but will release after a few seconds. Trunk will be latched on the first catch, but not properly pulled down. You should also have a red LED on the trunk release switch on the door.
sigh- yes, I have a red light on the switch on the door

By actuator, do you mean the puck?
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Old Feb 6, 2023 | 02:29 PM
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The black puck is the release. What usually leaks is the control manifold which is the rectangular box part of the actuator and has 3 air/vacuum lines attached. See the sticky on trunk soft close.
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Old Feb 6, 2023 | 04:30 PM
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The pump actuator is very very common to fail. I have removed mine over 30 times fixing, glueing and replaced 3. There is an electrical connector with 2-3 pins that plugs into it, I had this issue with verdigris on the pins, cleaned them and all worked again.
This video I did will help explain if you have any air leaks\:

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Old Feb 6, 2023 | 04:39 PM
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Two short cuts to keep you going until you remove the lock and repair it: remove and replace F71 (20 A yellow in the cubby box). This will reset the pump for a time.

To close the boot, push down hard where the panel creases. Never slam the boot lid though.
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Old Feb 7, 2023 | 09:44 AM
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Thanks everyone- I'll give this a shot this weekend. Hopefully it warms up a bit here in DC
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Old Feb 8, 2023 | 03:24 AM
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Heres how to reset the trunk fuse if you are unsure:
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