Trunk Lock Trouble!!! NEED HELP!!!!!!!

[coolchu001]

Well today, my friend somehow messed up my lock in the trunk. It now doesnt open with the key or by pulling the handle next to the drivers seat. The key hole is in a horizontal =keyhole= position opposed to the regular vertical |keyhole| . I figured he probably closed the trunk, turned the key and pulled it out at the wrong interval or something. The only way i can get things in and out of the trunk is by folding down my rear seats (thank god i didnt lock those in) soooo any suggestions on how i can fix this?

[RedPhoenix]

man, that sucks. i had that problem. I wound up popping the lock from inside my trunk (through the seats.. with a a sub box [shit!] and i turned the lock with the key and it worked after that... i dont know HOW but it did. its like a puzzle.. just gotta look at it first i guess.

sorry i couldnt be more helpful.

[Cyorke]

It sounds like you ahve locked the trunk is all. THey are set up so you can lock them eith teh key so it can not be accessed withteh remote lever. Try putting the key in and turning it again. If it is not working try another key maybe the key is messed up or something.

[RningOnFumes]

well, i can tell you the lever from the cab doesn't work because your friend set the trunk to the security setting....you'll have to find a way to put the key back in and twist it vertical.


the security is meant to work in conjunction with the locks on the back of the folding back rests and the spare car key that doesn't open the trunk so for example, when you go out to eat and there's valet parking, you won't have to worry about the driver getting in your trunk, being nosy.....

he can't acces the trunk via lever, back rest, or key.

[drunken_panda]

Your key is probally worn, get a new one cut.

[touringcamry]

On my Gen 4.5, on the side with the key hole, if you open the panel to change the trunk light bulbs, it exposes the lock mechanism. You can minipulate that to open the trunk by pushing it to one side. I don't know how similiar this is to the Gen 3s though. Does Gen 3 have lights on the trunk or only the "CAMRY" panel?

[coolchu001]

well the thing is, the key i have fits into the keyhole, but it ISNT ABLE to turn the key. The key i have is a spare key and thats what i have gotten from the buying the car. (the glovebox isnt lockable with the key) but my friend used this same key to lock the trunk, wouldnt it make sense that it can unlock it as well??

[touringcamry]

In that case, get a new master key cut. The spare isn't supposed to be able to turn trunk lock key cylinder, maybe to lock it only perhaps. The spare cannot open the glove box or the trunk.

[95WhiteCamry]

^^ the spare you guys speak of is the plain metal one with the toyota emblem, right? when i got my cam i had 2 toyot keys, a metal one and a black topped one.. you could lock and unlock with either, even wthe glovebox and what not. i don't think back in those model years spares made a difference.

[touringcamry]

For my 90 Corolla that I had, I had 2 master keys, one with rubber and the other without. Both say Toyota. The spare key is metal only. The spare doesn't open the trunk. So metal only key doesn't tell anything. The spare key is also known as valet key because it cannot open the trunk and glove box while a master key can.

If you look at the spare key, it is cut different from the master key, and yes you can see how it is cut differently. It cannot be mistaken for a worn out key if you have them to compare.

[HoboJoe]

Gen3 came with 3 keys from the factory. One black topped master key, one all metal master key, and one metal key that can't get into the golve box and trunk. My mom bought our xle back in 93 and that's how it came. Just in case you're not the original owner.

[RedPhoenix]

my "black" master key cant lock my glove box or lock my trunk (didnt know that was possible) just opens it.

[Dave's]

My '93 came with a black and a blue plastic key. The black was the master and did everything while the blue was the valet and wouldn't unlock the glovebox or the trunk if you turned it in the opposite direction to lock it and removed the key with it horizontal. The black master key would work but not the valet key. Once the trunk was open and the lock left in the vertical position either key would work. Lost that one to a semi changing lanes so I can't check for a solution. I'm sure you've tried turning your key both directions right? Does yours have a means to unlock it from inside the trunk? (Send in the kid brother.)

[coolchu001]

so what i can do is try to use a better key and try to unlock it?......as u were saying that a spare key (valet) doesnt open or lock the trunk, so in that case, mine isn't a valet key it is a spare. It is able to open the trunk but i never used it to lock the trunk (i just slam the trunk to close it). the key i have isnt able to lock the glove box though. So what i should do is that i should try to use a better key and turn to turn the cylinder back to the original position?.......this key i've used fits in easily but doesnt turn at all!!!!!!

[Mike Gerber]

As someone mentioned above, the key you have is probably the "valet key". Go to a Toyota dealer with your title in hand or your vin number and some other proof of ownership and the parts department should be able to cut you a new master key. It should run about $10-$15 dollars.

Mike