MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - My boot won't open

I found yesterday that my key just would not open the boot lock. It must be some sort of jam or breakage in the lock as the others are OK and the spare key doesn't work either.

Luckily I only wanted to put something into the boot on that occasion, but the time will come when I will need to open it - if only to get to the spare tyre in the front.

Does anyone know how to get the lid open any other way?
Peter Ambrose

Peter, it wasn't something simple like a frozen lock mechanism was it? Try again before proceeding to the next stage...


... which is the same as accessing the boot when you've locked the key inside.
Rob Bell

No, it is certainly not frozen unfortunately.
A liberal application of WD40 didn't help either.

I have often wondered how to handle the 'key locked inside' scenario.

Peter.
Peter Ambrose

<<<<accessing the boot when you've locked the key inside>>>>

rob, how does that work when the key’s locked in the boot? it has happened to me once and i didn’t have a clue.

t
tony

Peter,
Locked key inside procedure.
1. Go to Kitchen
2. Open utensil draw
3. Remove Old style Tin Opener
4. Go outside .......
Seriously

Check the archives see if someone has done this and reported how.
Mike
Mike

Peter- does the lock turn?

>rob, how does that work when the key’s locked in the boot?
>it has happened to me once and i didn’t have a clue.
You might just be able to open the boot enough to fish some keys out if you were to open the engine bay cover from inside the car, then reach thru and undo the boot hinges from the lind then lift the back of the lid (where the hinges once were).
Or you could just get your spare key....

Will
Will Munns

Will,
The key turns only a little and then stops - the sort of behaviour I would expect when trying to use the wrong key.

I am sure there were threads on this subject before, but I can find nothing in the archive. Surely even undoing the hinges would not help much if you can't release the catch?

Pete.
Peter Ambrose

>Surely even undoing the hinges would not help much if you can't release the catch?
it would help you reach in to get your keys

>The key turns only a little and then stops - the sort of behaviour
>I would expect when trying to use the wrong key.

Have you tried jiggleing the key in the lock, putting the pressure on and then off etc?

Will
Will Munns

Within the limited scope available I have probably tried everything including pulling, pushing, jiggling and lubricating.

There must be another way in (short of a tin opener)?
Peter Ambrose

There's someone on here who is a locksmith. He mailed the solution direct to the poor unfortunate.
Can't remember who it is.
Andy
Andy

If you can get the boot off from the engine bay (hinges) you might have a bit of play in the catch and be able to undue the striker and lift it all free.
Need to have a look at the boot on mine but its cold outside at the mo and will have do it at dinner!
R Baker

Ihave seen this happen if your service garage uses spray grease on locks and hinges,messy stuff.Try using a thin pentrating oil/grease solvent under pressure into the lock, an air line might work as well. I had this happen and had to dismantle the lock and clean the grease out that was jamming the tumblers it was fine after this.
Mike.
mike

I admid it - I have locked my keys in the boot. Very frustrating ! Had to call the AA out to open it up for me. After many warnings about possible damage to my bodywork he opened it up. I will not provide the gory details as this may lead to the break ins on other people's cars! It took him about 20 mins and he did not damage my car at all.

Jeff - 1998 VVC
Jeff

Thanks Jeff, that is both reassuring and worrying. I wonder how he did it?

Mike, I will try the pressure approach. Maybe some more WD40 followed by good squirt from an air hose?

Peter.
Peter Ambrose

I had something like this a couple of weeks back whilst doing the weekly shopping - after a lot of cussing and very heavy handed treatment to the key the lock eventually opened - much to my relief as I thought the key was going to break - it transpired that a piece of a material (not platic) bag had caught in the latch mechamism and was preventing the normal smooth operation, it did not do any lasting damage, at least not to the lock!

Ted
Ted Newman

Just an idea but is the key straight?
My son had similar problem with hs ZR drivers door. The small metal cover that pushes to one side as you insert the key was pushed in and was jamming the lock. I put copper slip on the key and kept pushing it in until it eventually turned.

John.
2JFK

<<There's someone on here who is a locksmith. He mailed the solution direct to the poor unfortunate.
Can't remember who it is.
Andy >>

A couple of years ago there was a chap who was a locksmith mentioned on this BBS. His name was Nick and his number was 01634300930. Try him but no guarantees. I made a note of the number at the time.

Bruce
Bruce Caldwell

Many thanks for all of the suggestions, and especially the more detailled ones mailed to me.

After a lot more jiggling, poking and a bit of brute force last night a miracle happened and I finally got the key to turn. And why I hear you ask? Well two years ago I started to install an electric boot release, got the solenoid positioned and working, but never actually got around to doing the wiring. What had happened was that one of the bolts securing the release solenoid had totally disappeared leaving it to moved round and jam the lever on the lock.

The moral? If you start something, either finish it properly or don't start.

I am now even more neurotic about locking keys in the boot.

Thanks again.

Peter.
Peter Ambrose

TIP!

all this talk of locks and keys has made me wonder how many of you can say that you have a mental note of your key code and lock code?
(key code so that you can get another one cut if you don’t happen to have a spare handy - mine got lost in the post in holland once! - and lock code so that you can still get in if the battery fails in the fob)

well? be honest! ;0)

t
tony

Bloody hell Tony - I have to write my name on the back of my hand to remember who I am so remember my key/lock codes!

Ted
Ted Newman

ted LOL ;0) t
tony

The solution given to me by my dealer when I asked this question (although I have never done it - touch wood) was to smash out the rear quarterlight and gain access your keys !!!! Let's hope you remember which side of the boot you left them in.
Jon

This thread was discussed between 29/01/2003 and 05/02/2003

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now