Trunk Lock Replacement/Repair - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Jorh · 10-30-2010, 08:52 PM

I got my 1997 Corolla today as my first car! I can finally drive myself to college again. 'Tis much better than that '98 Ford Escort ZX2 Coupe I was driving. I like the 4 door setup.

Anyways, at 150K miles there are a couple of problems. One of those problems is the trunk lock. The only way to open it is to pull the lever next to the driver's seat. The lock works fine but will not accept keys. I couldn't push either key I received into the lock. One is more rounded than the other and looks like the secondary key in the manual. Both keys open the doors and will turn on the engine.

I wish to know what would be involved in replacing the lock or getting it to work with keys. Not very urgent, but annoys me.

**TOYOPARTSMAN** · 10-30-2010, 09:25 PM

If you can't get a key inside the lock, I am suspecting something inside is damaged.

To replace the lock cylinder is a matter of removing a clip and a cable. A new lock cylinder will come with its own set of keys, so if you want the original keys to work, you'll have to have the lock recoded to your original keys, otherwise, you'll have two sets of keys.

Jorh · 10-30-2010, 09:45 PM

Is there a way for me to recode the lock myself? Otherwise, how much would it cost and where would I take it to be recoded?

Piloter · 10-30-2010, 10:06 PM

You could also try a shot of WD-40 into the lock...mine would only take my key some of the time (seemed to not want to even let the key go in) but a little lubricant fixed it.

Jorh · 10-31-2010, 08:52 AM

I just came back in from spraying WD-40 into it. I still can't press the key into the lock. It would rather shift the entire car than let the key in.

Anyways, replacing the lock seems cheap enough, but my goal is to use my current key to get into the trunk. I would like to know how to get a lock that would then be put into the trunk recoded.

96coroll · 10-31-2010, 10:26 AM

i've got the same problem on my 96. Let me know how it goes trying to repair it. I think the problem with mine is someone tried to break into the trunk. every since then it didn't work.

Jorh · 10-31-2010, 11:22 AM

I read something about hammering the key into the lock on eHow. The key will now go all the way in, but it doesn't turn, still.

speedy25 · 10-31-2010, 04:35 PM

If you're mechanical you can disassemble the lock and repair it. I've done it many times but my first vocation is a watchmaker. Sometimes the pot metal core of the lock is too damaged or corroded and cannot be used but the brass tumblers usually survive.

-SP

**TOYOPARTSMAN** · 11-01-2010, 06:52 AM

My advice is to just replace the lock cylinder since you haven't been successful at even getting the key in. To recode the cylinder, if you haven't done it, and don't have the tools and parts, I'd just take it to a locksmith, that is what we do here, and I have only known a handful of techs that had the stuff and could do it.

Jorh · 11-01-2010, 01:09 PM

About how much would it cost to recode a cylinder?