Boot not opening

[h4mza]

As title, I have MB6 and boot seems to be stuck. Using the key or lever won't help and I don't have the remote key fob for the car. I folded the rear seats and got in to push the latch upwards but nothing is happening. Got a mate to pull the lever and can see the latch rotating. Still confused to what's happening, I had a look at my old MB3 and noticed that from the pic below, the bigger part on bottom rotates upwards and pushes the small part on top upwards to open the boot but on my MB6 exactly the same happens but boot just doesn't budge.   Any help will be appreciated.

 

[h4mza]

@Dave Thanks for the help Dave, managed to open the boot after an hour of fiddling. Turned out that the mechanism was fine, just the boot lift support probably seized as it was making creaking noise or could be rusty hinges. Sprayed WD40 all over them until no more creaking noise and now boot shuts and opens fine. Hope it stays like this forever lol.

[Dave]

Hmmm, I had this happen on my MA8 years ago, but be damned if I can remember what caused it! I know that I cut an actual flap into the plastic panel on the tailgate that could be removed for access to all the gubbings in case it happened again. Can you get a flat blade screw driver onto the small part of the mechanism mate, the part that goes up? It could be that the larger lower part is worn and isnt pushing the smaller part far enough to fully unlock it. If you can get to it, get someone to operate the lock, and then try and push the smaller part the little bit further with the screwdriver. Hopefully that should be enough to unlock it.

[KiNK43]

Is that the cable visible on the right? If so have you tried pulling that?

[h4mza]

Hmmm, I had this happen on my MA8 years ago, but be damned if I can remember what caused it! I know that I cut an actual flap into the plastic panel on the tailgate that could be removed for access to all the gubbings in case it happened again. Can you get a flat blade screw driver onto the small part of the mechanism mate, the part that goes up? It could be that the larger lower part is worn and isnt pushing the smaller part far enough to fully unlock it. If you can get to it, get someone to operate the lock, and then try and push the smaller part the little bit further with the screwdriver. Hopefully that should be enough to unlock it.

@Dave I managed to remove the bottom plastic panel to gain better view. Yeah have tried using a screw driver to push up the small part of mechanism and it still doesn't open. I pushed it up as much I can. When you say get someone to operate the lock, do you mean get someone to use the key from outside on boot whilst I push up the smaller bit because I've done this with a mate pulling the lever on the front and it didn't open. 

 

One strange thing I noticed was that the boot wasn't sitting flush as seen from the pic so I pushed it back down hoping the latch locks then I can open it but still no 

 

 

 

Is that the cable visible on the right? If so have you tried pulling that?

@KiNK43 No I haven't tried as the lower part of latch moves about so I thought it won't be a cable issue but I'll give it a shot tomorrow. 

[KiNK43]

Oh dear what a pain.

[Dave]

Damn thats really strange mate. I cant even check as the deck has a different mechanism, so cant have a look to try and figure whats going on for you.It does sound as thought the mechanism has failed altogether. The only thing I can think of is trying to get that plastic trim off so you can maybe find a way of unbolting the mechanism from the tailgate (as this would then mean the tailgate should be free) but the bolts will be on the underside facing the latch, so not sure if you would be able to undo them from inside the tailgate using mole grips or something?

When you push the tailgate down, as its sitting proud, does it stay down? Try pushing it down as hard as you can and get a mate to try the key in the lock again to open it. if that doesnt work, try the same again, pushing down on the tailgate and get them to try the handle next to the drivers seat. Something has to give to let it open. It might be that the lock wont fuily open as the tailgate is sitting up from the latch?

[Dave]

lol Glad to hear you got it open mate. Never heard of the struts seizing before, so that's a new one! Will be handy to know in case any other members get the same fault

[h4mza]

lol Glad to hear you got it open mate. Never heard of the struts seizing before, so that's a new one! Will be handy to know in case any other members get the same fault

Lol yeah, probably hasn't been opened in a while but I'm glad I got it working in the end. Quite disappointed the boot light doesn't work anymore but I think I can live without one hehe