Big problem!

[Jukie]

Any help would be gratfully appreciated, then you can all have a jolly good laugh at my expense - you have my permission.

Took defunct battery out of mum's W202 this morning and shut the boot without checking car/boot was unlocked. So boot is locked and there is no power to the electrics.

The metal key in the fob will happily fit and unlock the driver's door but will NOT fit the boot lock. This leads me to think the boot lock has previously been changed or there is something stuck inside the barrel. I have applied liberal quantities of WD40 to no avail.

Any suggestions of how I can get the boot open? My local dealer said this has happened to them before (!) and they had to take out the rear seat & panels, etc and force the lock from the inside. Is removing the seat/panels etc hard? Does anyone have any help at all they could proffer?

 

[peterchurch]

Oh boy

as a thought does your rear seats fold down ?
if so you could try crawling in to refit the battery...

good luck

 

[Shude]

as a thought does your rear seats fold down ?
if so you could try crawling in to refit the battery...

The release levers for the folding seats are at the edge of the boot opening, that's one of the silly design flaws.

 

[GrahamC230K]

The release levers for the folding seats are at the edge of the boot opening, that's one of the silly design flaws.

A security feature I think you will find.

Boot locks seasing/rusting very common (rare to find one that hasn't had it).

You may well have to take to some sort of brute force, the only way in is your key as far as I know or have ever read.

 

[Sp!ke]

Just wondered if you could apply 12 volts elsewhere like... the cigarette lighter socket - just enough to use the central locking.

Is the locking a vacuum affair on yours? If so, just find the pump and apply some voltage to it.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Just wondered if you could apply 12 volts elsewhere like... the cigarette lighter socket - just enough to use the central locking.

Yes, maybe one of the jump starts for girls things from halfords that uses the ciggy lighter - good idea Sp!ke.

 

[Ian B Walker]

Yes, maybe one of the jump starts for girls things from halfords that uses the ciggy lighter - good idea Sp!ke.

eek dont let Pammy read that

 

[Jukie]

Yes, maybe one of the jump starts for girls things from halfords that uses the ciggy lighter - good idea Sp!ke.

Spike/Graham, could either or both of you elaborate on this? I take it there are power packs that can provide "juice" via the ciggie lighter?

 

[Shude]

Will one of those jump start kits work with no battery present?

 

[Jukie]

Will one of those jump start kits work with no battery present?

Shude, if I could find one I'd try it! Gotta be cheaper & easier than damaging the Benz!

Spike, sorry, I wouldn't know if the locks are on a vacuum or not. It's a 199 W202. Right now I'm not thinking very well......

Anyone know if the boot locks are easy to "pop"?

 

[GrahamC230K]

I'm searching various forums for you jukie - I have read about this before - you are not the first!!

 

[Shude]

Steve "MBenzNL" K said that the boot could be popped open by blowing into the vaccum hose, if you can find it

 

[Dieselman]

The locks are vacuum operated. Where is the vac pump on a 202, if it's under the rear seat then just locate the boot release pipe and suck on it.

Are you SURE the key won't fit the boot, maybe it's just seized.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Maybe try a PM to WHeelie - he might have a tip on how he unseized his

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=1687

 

[Jukie]

The locks are vacuum operated. Where is the vac pump on a 202, if it's under the rear seat then just locate the boot release pipe and suck on it.

Are you SURE the key won't fit the boot, maybe it's just seized.

The key goes about half way in and no further. I'm about to try yet more WD40........

 

[LazyBob]

WD40 is not the best for this. It's not really a lubricant, in fact when it dries it sticks stuff together. Alcohol on the other hand will clean the muck out (and will make you care less about the problem if you 'use' enough). These spray lock defrosters are mostly alcohol. Then to lube it up you can use an oil like 3-in-1 or better a carbon lock lubricant like this http://www.rs-components.co.uk/elec...reLocksPadlocks-Padlocks-Lock-Lubricants.html

I had the opposite problem - the key went in, but wouldn't come out. Alcohol worked a treat, I had eight pints and then thought "sod it, I'll give it a right good pull and don't care if I break the lock" and as if by magic the key came out.

 

[Jukie]

Anyone know where the lock vac pump is on a 202, then?

Also, there is a 12ft ciggie lighter to ciggie lighter cable for charging/jumping from car to car. Only £13 so I've ordered one to see if that helps at all. Should get it on Tuesday so I will let you all know. In the mean time, any more suggestions?

Many, many thanks to all so far....


PS here's a link to a cheaper, longer cable to the one I ordered...
http://www.sinclairanddrummond.co.uk/detail.asp?prod_ID=346

 

[Dieselman]

Use a set of jump leads or if really pushed a piece of electrical flex.

You need to be careful that the battery positive isn't in contact with the body of the car, otherwise it will short out.

Check there isn't anything jammed in the boot lock. Try picking it out with a pair of tweezers or a hook made from a paperclip if there is.

 

[Jukie]

Use a set of jump leads or if really pushed a piece of electrical flex.

You need to be careful that the battery positive isn't in contact with the body of the car, otherwise it will short out.

Sorry, DM, you've lost me with this one.

 

[Dieselman]

Sorry, DM, you've lost me with this one.

As you've removed the battery the positive clamp will be floating around in the boot, connected to the positive cable. If you try to put power into the car from another source the positive clamp may be touching part of the body so causing a short to earth.

To apply power just pop the bonnet and wire up to the engine block and to the positive binding post.
Any bit of cable will do just to operate the central locking.