Trunk Release

[hav]

Hi,
I have a 99 XLE camry V6. I can't open my trunk. My key wont turn. Till yesterday my trunk was opening with the latch beside the seat, but now even that does'nt work. can anyone help me out please.
Thanks

[T.L.C.]

When the latch stopped opening the trunk, is it loose like its unlocked or tight like its still holding the trunk. My gas cap did that it was the wire, the latch was all loose and felt like it had unlatched but it didn't after a little troubleshooting I found there was a break in the wire.

Might help just my .02

[BigPete]

My trunk is also kinda picky, I could only open it by turning it clockwise, otherwise the lock jams up and won't turn. I got some compressed air and blew it through and it seems to have taken care of what ever was jamming it up.

I also had the same problem with the wire to the fuel door, but have been too lazy to fix it yet.

[Eyebrows7]

Heh, dunno if you know this, but the keyhole is designed so that if you turn it clockwise, the trunk opens. But if you turn it anti-clockwise, it doesn't open the trunk but locks it instead, so you can't use the latch to open it.

Mess around with that if you haven't already, before you start trying to change the wire.

[BigPete]

Originally Posted by Eyebrows7

Heh, dunno if you know this, but the keyhole is designed so that if you turn it clockwise, the trunk opens. But if you turn it anti-clockwise, it doesn't open the trunk but locks it instead, so you can't use the latch to open it.

Mess around with that if you haven't already, before you start trying to change the wire.

I don't know why it made a diff, but my regular key worked like that, but if I used my valet or spare key, it didn't.

[ASG14]

^ Hence the name "Valet Key".

[AmanO]

Neither option opens my trunk either. If you crawl into the trunk through the fold down seats, how can you open the trunk up? I see the cables coming from the key and lever. I can move the key one by hand but the latch does not open.

[Kep]

Maybe it didn't latch completely. Try pressing down on the lid a little harder. Since you're getting at the latch itself, go ahead and spray it with WD40. Once it opens lubricate it with lithium.

Kep

[AmanO]

If that does not work, do I have to unbolt the latch from the trunk?

[Kep]

If you can't get it to work then, yes, you will probably need to detatch the lock mechanism or the striker bar from the car to open the lid. Before you do that try to get the trim away from the mechanism so you can see where the rod coming from the key attaches. You may be able to determine what is jammed by pushing or pulling and see how to open it manually. You may need to detatch the rod or have someone turn the key while you are doing this. If the design hasn't changed these mechanisms are pretty straightforward. A lot of moving pieces and a spring.

If you do end up detatching one or both remember to mark(nail polish works well) three places where each piece was in relation to the body so when you put it back together you can line the marks up again and you shouldn't need to realign everything.

Kep

[n0rad]

Have you tried just pulling really hard to open it? For some reason my trunk has incredible suction and I really need to give it a good pull sometimes. Sometimes I think it didn't unlock.

[Kep]

n0rad's comment tweaked a memory. I noticed that you're out of Cleveland. If that's Cleavland, Ohio, has it been wet and cold? Once, in Chicago, I had my doors freeze close and the key locks wouldn't turn. Not likely but a possibility.

Kep