LCR Boot Lock

[lc_allan]

Mine is jammed

I have done a search but mine has a few different symptoms than others have reported before.

The mirrors, other doors etc.. all open/close fine.
The rear washer works fine and am sure there is not a leak.
The lock itself I can hear engaging and disengaging when the keyfob is pressed.
The key will go all the way to the left to open the boot but nothing.
I have WD-40'd the lock to no avail.
The handle does not seem to fully come up when you hear the normal click before opening.
I put my bag in the boot as normal this morning and nothing is trapped under the lid. I retrieved this via the back seat down.
I didn't slam the boot either this morning.
I have pushed down and lifted slightly when trying the lock, no difference.
I have tapped slightly around the lock when trying also.

I give up, the car is under warranty so I don't want any removing trim, cutting etc..

Any more advice?

 

[Reg]

Had exactly the same the week before christmas. Took it straight to the dealer, they got in from behind the seats to free it off from the inside. Replaced a solenoid 2 days later, its been fine ever since (under warranty).

 

[lc_allan]

Had exactly the same the week before christmas. Took it straight to the dealer, they got in from behind the seats to free it off from the inside. Replaced a solenoid 2 days later, its been fine ever since (under warranty).

Did your lock seem/sound like it was working? The noises that come from the lock/delock sound the same as before. It's the handle that seems to not go up as far?.

 

[andycupra]

*** see post 6 for more info***
this will be the solonoid not working fully.

it will sound and feel like its working as its working 80%.
unfortuantly only when the solonoid has worked 100% does it lock into position.

you will either (have to go to dealer if under warranty)
or, take down back seats, pull off boot trim, (grab it below rear wiper from inside boot and be brave but not silly pulling it off)
or partly pull it off, just at top you may be able to see down behind this trim to see the workings.
actuate it with remote a few times to see how it works.
you should see that the lock working but not fully moving across. this is due to a lack of lubrication im most cases. so try lubricating it and operating it a few times to see if it operates ok.
i think, the solonid cylinder goes horizontal, and as it goes across it will only 'lock' in place at the end of its travel. i bet its stopping short of this.

this happened on my first leon, i lubricated it, and it worked fine during the following 2 years! was probably due to it being used rarely this it jammed.

 

[lc_allan]

this will be the solonoid not working fully.

it will sound and feel like its working as its working 80%.
unfortuantly only when the solonoid has worked 100% does it lock into position.

you will either (have to go to dealer if under warranty)
or, take down back seats, pull off boot trim, (grab it below rear wiper from inside boot and be brave but not silly pulling it off)
or partly pull it off, just at top you may be able to see down behind this trim to see the workings.
actuate it with remote a few times to see how it works.
you should see that the lock working but not fully moving across. this is due to a lack of lubrication im most cases. so try lubricating it and operating it a few times to see if it operates ok.
i think, the solonid cylinder goes horizontal, and as it goes across it will only 'lock' in place at the end of its travel. i bet its stopping short of this.

this happened on my first leon, i lubricated it, and it worked fine during the following 2 years! was probably due to it being used rarely this it jammed.

Andy , thanks so much for that. I'll give it a go tomorrow. It doesn't get used that much and I picked it up 3 months ago with only 2500 on the clock from new so I guess the previous owner didn't get a lot of use either

Is there a chance of breaking anything or being left with a red face at the dealers?. Is there any clips that can snap easy etc.? It is under warranty but it's a bit of a hike to the dealers and courtesy car is needed if they keep the car for a few hours etc..

 

[andycupra]

ive managed to find my old posts on this, the bits from the threads you need are as follows:
(note the bit saying about two screws in the trim handles )
You may be able to do this without pulling off the trim completely if you are bendy! ooer.
oh and i suggest pulling trim with 2 hands slightly apart rather than in one place to reduce stress on the trim.
hope this helps:

fold rear seats down and remove parcel shelf from car

the bit thats actually causing the problem is not the lock itself but the mechanism between the handle and the lock

remove the two screws which are hidden inside the handles
gently pull at the top where the rear wash wiper is mounted you should be able to look directly down and see a small metal rod
pull this and the boot will open.

now the reason why the mechanism keeps sticking is because its drying out
it needs lubricant

for me it took a while to get the trim off, i had to pull quiet hard and it makes a horrible sound when you take it off... but get it off i did...
they are kind of once fit metal clips - like a squashable arrow head

its difficult to explain how the lock works and what was wrong but here goes...

in this case the problem was that the boot handle was not connected to the lock mechanism... (ie pull all you like on the handle but it wasnt operating the lock release mechanism).

The handle is attached directly to a central unit.
There is a metal rod running from the central unit down to the lock mechanism.
sounds ok so far..

But.... the central unit has a bar that runs horizontaly.
The central locking unit has a motor that moves this bar left to right and this bar is the link between the handle and the rod running down to the lock mechanism.

When the central locking is locked. the motor moves this bar to the offside of the car and removes the link between handle and metal rod.

When the central locking is unlocked the motor pushes the horizontal bar back to the nearside and re-establishes the link between handle and rod.

In this case the bar was not moving across far enough as the central locking motor was not operating to its full length. (the motor seem slightly small for the application).

So i operated the motor by hand to its full extent and it all worked!
It would seem to make sense that this system may have needed lubricating so while there i oiled the motor cylinder and the horizontal bar...

It has now been working for 24 hrs... and me trying it over 20 times...
***UPDATE its been working ok for over 2 years now using basic oil from the garage***

or, if you prefer, here is the link the the thread i did sometime in 2004:

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=41164

posts 1, 10 & 13 are what you need to read.

 

[lc_allan]

I'm scared now I'll snap all the clips and then be left with a broken boot trim and a stuck boot lid and need to visit the dealers

These clips, are they one time use only, reusable or will I need a dealer visit to order more? haha

Thanks again Andy. Didn't see that original post.

 

[andycupra]

well i didnt get any new ones. i used the old ones.
up to you if you dealer it or not.
other option is putting seats down to get access in mean time.

 

[lc_allan]

Thanks Andy, managed to get into the boot and get it working.

Used WD40 for now but have left the trim off and will grease it tomorrow.

The trim was very difficult to prise off, and was scared I was going to crack it in the corners but it eventually gave way.

I will double check the lock operation tomorrow as could not see it too well with the failing light. However all seems to be in order.

Not looking forward to replacing the trim but I'll take my time and hopefull it will go on easier than it came off

Thanks again, you have saved me a trip to the dealers hopefully

 

[lc_allan]

Andy/All,

I have seen what the issue is on my car and am wondering if anyone has had the same.

On mine it is the horizontal metal bar. It's not the fact that it needs lubricating. It moves left and right perfectly. It's the fact that when the handle is lifted it sometimes sticks upwards.

This is only an issue if the handle is moved up/opened when the boot is locked as the bar is not all the way across in the recess.

Now I know you thinking simply don't try to open the boot when it's locked, however this sometimes tricks you when you think it's unlocked off the fob or someone else tries when it's locked.

I think it's lack of use on the boot as it's not been opened that many times etc... It's got slighty better and it pops down most times but if it sticks I have to mess with key back and forth and try the handle until it slots down.

I have left the trim off for now until I'm sure it's fully working but does anyone know if the handle has some sort of return spring that when you close it brings the mech down.?

Please don't everyone rush and try the locks when the boot is closed as it may happen to you lol