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Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 2:06 am
by Tommio RS
Hi there everyone! I have a simple question for you guys to today.

My trunk does NOT open! I kinda need it to pass a safety....

So here is the more detailed problem. FYI the car is a 94 ss sedan.

You pull the cable in the car. feels kinda crappy but still goes up all the way, but no opening happens.

The key does NOT work to open it. The last owner broke the key in the hole.... So i totally disconnected it.

I can crawl into the trunk via the back seats folded down and just push the latch with a flat head screw driver to open it!

The cable to release the trunk moves but looks like not enough. I can have someone pulling it and it almost unlatches then i poke it just a hair more and it opens....

Any thoughts of how to fix this. Or where i can buy a new latch.

Thanks

Tom

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 2:12 am
by kimokalihi
Mine won't open with the lever either. I have to open mine with a key and I don't know why.

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 7:17 am
by vrg3
Tom - Have you tried cleaning and relubing the latch? It might be that it's sticking a little. Or, I suppose, your cable could actually be a little stretched. Maybe you could tweak something where the ball end of the cable attaches to the latch -- stick a bunch of spring washers between the ball and the arm it attaches to? I suggest spring washers because they have a break in them that might allow you to finagle them over the intact cable.

kimokalihi - This may be an obvious question, but do you have the little lever on the latch set to the "cancel" position?

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:14 am
by kimokalihi
Nope checked that already.

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:27 am
by pancakeftw
My lever still works, BUT my key was broken too. If you go to the dealer, they can still order a new lock insert. it comes with 2 pre-cut keys (obviously they're not the same as the ignition, but its worth it). Mine only took about 2 days to get here, and it takes about 5 mins to install.

EDIT:
KEY LOCK AY, TRUNK
(PART #): 57441AA140

Its currently on SubaruGenuineParts.com for $15.20

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:47 pm
by Tommio RS
vrg3. You kind sir might have just figured out my problem! Im going to give the washer trick a go. I did give it a clean and a healthy spray of WD40. So that might help. Ill try it mid this week when i find some time.

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 2:36 am
by vrg3
Tell us if it works! I'd love to know.

WD40's not so good for this application, except maybe to help clean old gunk off. If it works, I'd find a proper lubricant. Maybe PB Blaster's TDL or something.

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 6:32 pm
by Tommio RS
vrg3! The washer worked! I used some product called Chem loose. That stuff worked great!

Just need to get some nice small washers and a dremal to cut them up.

Thanks vrg3

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 7:21 pm
by vrg3
Haha, that's awesome! Can you take some pictures? I feel like this is the kind of thing that'll come up with a lot of these Leggies as they age.

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 1:02 am
by fngearhead
There's a valet switch on the latch. Check the postition of that. I bought a 94 Lego sedan last year and one problem the kid listed was trunk won't open. He had been crawling thru the back seat to open it forever because the key cylinder was jammed. I flipped the switch and it popped from the cable/lever just fine.

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 2:18 am
by IronMonkeyL255
You can get a new cable stop. I used the washer method, but one day they fell out. I just cut the old cable end off and put the new one on so it was a bit shorter.

Sent from my mind using telepathy.

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:17 pm
by Legacy777
IronMonkeyL255 wrote:Sent from my mind using telepathy.

Hahaha :lol:

Nice!

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 3:34 pm
by oldscoobyturbo
unbolt the latch from the trunk lid first then
to loosen/lube the latch use a combo of atf and acetone 50/50 mix and shake well then spray it in all the moving parts
then free up the stuck latch
you can remove broken keys from the locks too
take the liner off then all the little 10mm and 8mm nuts that hold the garnish on then remove the clip and push the lock cylinder out of its hole.

fix key cylinder pics are in steps of parts removal
remove the 'c' clip then the rod arm
next the spring
now push the broken peice out with a small flat screw driver
if need be you can press on the little tumbler parts to loosen a twisted key part or try slightly turning the main shaft with a square screw driver
now you can save yourself from needing another key

http://s684.photobucket.com/albums/vv20 ... %20repair/

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 3:40 pm
by kimokalihi
Good news! I fixed my trunk a couple days ago. Over 3 years without a functioning trunk release and in 1 day I replaced the actual lever with one I got from the junkyard that wasn't broken and then had a friend pull on it while I looked at the release hook in the trunk and found out it did in fact move so the cable was not broken. Then I noticed it looked bent towards the bumper. Grabbed a vice grips and and bent it back towards the front of the car and it works now! I'm pretty excited.

Everything on my car works except the AC which is removed. Amazing.

Re: Trunk Stopped Opening....

Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 5:38 pm
by Tommio RS
Whoot! Now everyone has a working trunks! Now i just need to find a new body for my other leg....