My trunk won't open

[Keith Richard]

Hey Keith, check the lever that releases the trunk, the cable may have just become disconnected. These toyotas have a little clip that the cable slides into, if it's broken, you can use a pair of vise grip type plyers to grab the cable and pull it so the trunk will release and open. Most of the time it is the lever that breaks and not the cable. You might be able to find one in a salvage yard.

You know I never even considered that. Definitely worth taking a look at.Great suggestion.Thanks.As Doug says it's just a beater. Been very dependable. Just want to get a bit more life out of it as engine still runs great.

[Keith Richard]

Hey JJ...what do you think I should do?

[Doug]

You know I never even considered that. Definitely worth taking a look at.Great suggestion.Thanks.As Doug says it's just a beater. Been very dependable. Just want to get a bit more life out of it as engine still runs great.

Yep a pair of needle nose vise grips could become the new release handle.

I never really thought of that either. My older 70's stuff cars didn't have an interior trunk release....I drove mostly pickups from about 1985 to present.

Toyota forum guys would have come up with solution ( if asked) I'm very certain of that !

Brand specific ( Honda, Toyota, Ford etc.) owner forums are fantastic for advice, sometimes they even make videos.

I can change a cabin air filter in a Honda CRV in under 2 minutes with no tools, Honda charges $75 labor to do it.

[Doug]

You know I never even considered that. Definitely worth taking a look at.Great suggestion.Thanks.As Doug says it's just a beater. Been very dependable. Just want to get a bit more life out of it as engine still runs great.

Keith ( are you the RX guy?), check this out....

you can often find video help to do stuff now ( free).

$100 labor to change spark plugs on my car, did it myself....all top of the motor and easy, did it in a leisurely hour ( shop bid), could do it again in under 20 minutes,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hFaiTIFLI8

[Doug]

any kind of issue you have with a car....

don't ask SBR,RX, etc,

there is a forum for your car ( Youtube is good too).

I have an F-150 and a CR-V, when something comes up I ask the guys that own these common cars...way better than asking a Honda enthusiast about how to bet. These guys have their JJ making videos about changing plugs ( not hair plugs).

Go that way !

[Doug]

Again if you have any bit of DIY in you , join a forum for owners of Toyota, Honda , Ford, Nissan, etc,

There are forums with 10k+ members for models like F-150, Mustang, CR-V.

These guys are extremely helpful, to the point of making videos of routine maintenance stuff.

If you want to try it yourself go there....there has never been better help.

I won't do my own brakes, but I'll do plugs and filters.

I'm not a gearhead, nor an idiot under the hood, I'm more of a carpenter sort....

[Brock Landers]

use an old style can opener

[Doug]

I hate to get ripped off on car repairs/ maintenace !

Fvck triple charges for parts, for one thing....order your own parts online, then supply them to the $95/ hr shop....get the brakejob down to $200 from $300+

[Keith Richard]

Update for JJ: Dealer says same key fits both locks but my trunk lock has probably oxidized.Keep spraying stuff in the lock till it opens or replace the whole lock assembly. Either way not a big deal I guess.

[jjgold]

Update for JJ: Dealer says same key fits both locks but my trunk lock has probably oxidized.Keep spraying stuff in the lock till it opens or replace the whole lock assembly. Either way not a big deal I guess.

Unreal, your still fukkin worried about the trunk

Keith fuk it!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Doug]

spray the shit to Hell with WD-40 then !

[Keith Richard]

JJ ,another update for you.Sprayed lots of stuff in there and still can't get the key in. Oh well. duh

[losturmarbles]

the cable connected to the lever has probably stretched too much.

pull the lever up and try putting pressure on the lever toward the passenger side. that might open the trunk then.
once you get it open, you need to find out how to tighten up the cable. you might have to find an unorthodox way on the internet to do this if the manufacture didn't install a tightening device.

another possible way to open the trunk would be going through the backseat. sometimes there's a release cable there or in the trunk itself.

[losturmarbles]

get some pliers and pull the lever up, grab the cable with the pliers and pull it a little more

[Doug]

did the $20-25 dealer key option fail ?

[Keith Richard]

did the $20-25 dealer key option fail ?

No, Doug, I don't need another key. The keys I have supposedly should fit the trunk lock.I need to fix the trunk release lever or fix the trunk lock. I just haven't had time to look at it really.Will do so today. I work 6 days a week unlike JJ.

[jjgold]

Keth I would pump 50 bullets into that trunk just so you shut the fuk up about it

I swear I am tired of hearing about your trunk

[compaqDikk]

update: still won't open

[Doug]

I don't get the cable thing.

older cars ( like 70's) didn't have an interior release cable, stick the key in and it opens, right ?

What does the cable change ? If that is broke, wouldn't the key still work ?

[Keith Richard]

The key never worked for me Doug and the cable release lever always worked.I don't think one has much to do with the other.

[Doug]

The key must be wrong if it never opened the trunk. JMO

try that toyota forum

[3PtShooter]

boy u getting JJ pissed

[refrain87]

One time I left my car keys inside my car infront of the dealers. They just took the vin number and made me a copy of the car key

[compaqDikk]

spent 2 hours looking for solutions on youtube. nothing. may let this thread die

[Keith Richard]

JJ ya know I still have this problem. Maybe you could do a video and give a tutorial on how to fix a broken trunk?

[Keith Richard]

Day 24:trunk still unopened.

[Dirty Sanchez]

Just take a hachet and go through the backseat...problem solved

[Doug]

Day 24:trunk still unopened.

The key must be wrong.

Try the toyota forum