XJ40 Boot Lock - Resolved....

[Anthony0559]

My boot lock will not open, the problem arose without any prior warning or symptoms. I went home and closed the boot lig after removing some items, applied the central locking as normal. Next morning after unlocking the car the boot could not be opened.

I normally have the lock turned through 90 deg clockwise and use the Central Locking to electrically Lock and Unlock the boot lock along with the four doors. When the boot lock is in this position the boot can be opened by pressing on the lock 'latch'. The 'latch' always had a spring loaded resistance when opening the boot - now it does not!!. When the boot lid is closed and the Central locking applied the 'latch' can not be depressed as it is 'dead-locked' as designed, this is still the case.

When the Central Locking on the car is Open, I can turn the key in the boot lock through another 90 deg Clockwise and 'dead lock' the lock as designed.

If I turn the key back through 180 deg anti clockwise, that is to it's extreme left position the 'latch' is released also but again there is no spring resistance and the catch does not release.

Has anyone got any ideas. Please tell me I do not have to resort to drilling it out!!

Thanks,

Anthony.

Thanks to Rob V12 and also to David Marks for their communications on how to resolve this problem. Then both suggested the same approach, which was to drill a hole in the boot panel behind the number plate. As I was desperate to get access to the boot I took another approach before I got their advise. For the benefit of other XJ40 Enthusiasts who might end up in my situation here is my solution:
I dropped the back bumper to get access to the bolts which retain the Striker within the boot. I first attempted to drill out the bolts from within the welding nuts which are spot-welded to the lower valence panel during manufacture. I did not have any luck, maybe my HSS drill bits were 'soft'. I then took a mini grinder with a cutting disc on it. I then carefully 'played' the edge of the disc over the welded nut and ground them down flush with the panel. I then pushed the remainder of the bolts back into the boot and the Boot Lid popped open with the Striker attached. After removing the access panel from the lid I replaced the cylindrical 'circlip' which holds the tie bar onto the latch mechanism. I repainted the surfaces where the nuts had been with touch up paint from the Car Toolbox and used Stainless bolts with locknuts within the boot to re-attach the Striker. After re-fitting the bumper the job was oxo, with no visible intrusion and the new bolts safely hidden behind the bumper.
I hope this solution is of some use to someone some day.
Anthony.

[robv12]

without seeing it my guess is that the operating rod has come off
some , but not all 40's have a remote release in the glovebox, try this first

if not sadly, it is off with the number plate, scribe a line from the boot lock barrel to roughly the centre of the boot lid at its bottom edge, GENTLY drill a pilot hole in the lid where the number plate sits, then with a piece of wire or scrwdriver ferret about until you find the operating rod running down to the latch, try and move it sideways, this should release the latch and let you in, find out what is amiss in the locking mech (I have plenty here) repair or replace as needed, paint the edge of the hole refit number plate and try

you would be amazed how many 40's and 300's I have broken with these holes drilled in the boot lid!!

[robv12]

Good fix this one, a new attack at a common problem

one word of warning here though, not all XJ40 mounting 19mm bolts will come undone easily, ask anyone who has a late car with the upgraded energy absorbing bumper mounts, 16 years of reaction between steel and aluminium means it's an absolute no no to get them oudone, i have seen pictures on another forum of the state they get into, I ahve also scrapped numerous rear bumpers for this very reason