Automatic trunk lock broken.... -Reply

[Robert Shemo <reshemo@smtpgate.read.tasc.com>]

>On my 89 100 I Just started having a problem with  my trunk lock. 
>Usually when I unlock the drivers  door, the trunk unlocks also.  Not
>anymore.  

>I know you have to have the lock in a specific position for this to work, 
>which it is.  You can here a clunk at the trunk when the driver door is
>unlocked.  But when I push the button there is no resistance like there
>used to be, it just goes in about a inch and the trunk doesn't open.

>I looked at the mechanism on the lock from inside the trunk and I can see
>a plastic piece that looks like it should move  to catch the lock button
>when it's depressed.  

>Is one of those dreaded vacuum locks ?

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

I had a similar problem with my 5000 a while ago, but the trunk wouldn't
lock. You shouldn't have to deal with the vacuum at all. What happened
is that there is a little ball bearing in the lock mechanism to keep the lock
in place when it's locked or unlocked. This probably came loose and 
jammed the lock. When the vacuum tried to ulock it it pulled the plastic 
piece off instead. What I had to do was take the lock out and take it apart
so that I could get the bearing back into place (and put a little grease in
there while I was at it), I then replaced the lock and rehooked up the
plastic "arm" and it's worked fine ever since.

Bob Shemo
reshemo@tasc.com

'87 5000S