The simplest fix for a Toyota Corolla trunk that won’t stay up is to get a pair of vice grips from your neighborhood hardware store or Amazon. Craftsman Locking Pliers and Irwin Vice Grip are two excellent deals on Amazon.
In the interim, you can replace your trunk rods for a long-term fix. You may get a Trunk Support Rear Lift or a Detroit Axle Rod Set, for example. You can also check for parts at your neighborhood hardware store. Even better, see if your local dealership can replace your rods under warranty by contacting them.
Visit Scotty Kilmer on YouTube for an animated demonstration on how to do this:
If the aforementioned fix doesn’t work for you, you could try increasing the release spring on the trunk. View David Crowley’s method here:
In This Article...
Why won’t my trunk latch operate?
When you press the inside trunk release button on the fob or the trunk lock actuator and nothing happens, this is another common clue that there is a problem. This could be a sign of a problem with the vehicle’s battery or with the electronics connecting to the actuator, such as a shorted fuse or wire. Since there are numerous potential issues that could result in this problem, it is recommended to get in touch with a nearby mechanic so they can accurately diagnose and resolve the problem as soon as possible.
What is the cost of fixing a trunk latch?
The price to replace a trunk latch will vary depending on the extent of the damage and if you require replacement parts just or a car repair facility.
To prevent further issues, we advise using solely new metal pieces for your repair if there are any obvious signs of corrosion. The cost of this might range from $200 to $400.
Between $80 to $120 can be spent on a new rubber seal and arm, which is less expensive but typically does not last as long. If the rust isn’t yet obvious or too severe, it would be more cost-effective to simply purchase a new one with metal parts for an additional $250 to $400.
Can I drive with the trunk open?
When transporting large objects, all states let pickup truck and SUV drivers to travel with the back open as long as the objects do not protrude beyond the permitted distance. But if your truck isn’t hauling anything, it’s a different story.
Even when the bed is empty, some pickup truck owners prefer to travel with the tailgate down. The majority of governments do not restrict this practice, although a small number of them do. The laws appear to be applicable to automobile trunks, SUV hatchback doors, and truck tailgates.
According to Texas legislation, which is typical of many that prohibit driving with the trunk open, you are not allowed to operate a vehicle if the tailgate, tailboard, tarpaulin, door, fastening device, equipment, or rigging are not properly fastened to the vehicle. Kansas, Illinois, Minnesota, Maryland, Nebraska, and New Jersey are other states with comparable legislation.
What functions do a car trunk latch?
When the locking mechanism is damaged, this frequently happens. The mechanism for mechanical locks involves twisting the key to the right or left after inserting it into the trunk latch hole. As with any other lock, this engages a set of tumblers, and a spring opens the latch. In certain circumstances, the damaged locking mechanism spring, while in others, the broken tumbler, is to blame. This can happen with electronic trunk latches if a defective solenoid prevents the latch from opening when the remote or a button inside the car is pressed.
In either scenario, a mechanic needs to be contacted right away to inspect and resolve the problem. Although having access to the trunk is frequently considered a luxury by automobile owners, the trunk frequently holds spare tires and other safety gear that won’t be available in an emergency if the trunk latch is damaged.
Because mechanical trunk locks were so well made in the past, most of the time troubles with the trunk latch are due to electrical issues. Contact a nearby ASE-certified mechanic if you discover that your trunk is having trouble opening, closing, or staying locked so they can replace the trunk latch or perform an inspection to determine what’s wrong so they can fix it quickly and affordably for you.
What attaches to the trunk latch?
To safely close the trunk of your car, use the trunk latch, which is affixed to the bottom of the car. It shields your belongings from the weather and is watertight. Because some cars have trunks that can be opened and closed with the touch of a button or the key module, certain cars include modules, fuses, and batteries in the trunk area. The latch is essential to the running of your car because of this.
Depending on the make and model of your car, trunk locks come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. A metal hook, motors and sensors, or a locking device in the center of your trunk can serve as the latch. Your trunk latch has to be replaced if any of these componentssuch as the hook brakes, a motor that breaks, or the locking mechanismis not functioning properly. To prevent any other issues with your vehicle, have a qualified mechanic replace the broken trunk latch.
Since the majority of contemporary trunk locks are constructed of metal and electrical components, they are prone to malfunction or wear out with time. While some might last the entire life of your car, others might need to be replaced. When the latch needs to be repositioned, a trunk latch adjustment may be necessary. If this is the situation, it might not be necessary to replace the latch.
It’s crucial to recognize the signs of a trunk latch failing before it’s too late because they can deteriorate, become bad, and even collapse over time.
The following are indicators that it’s time to repair your trunk latch:
It is unsafe to put off this repair since once the trunk starts to malfunction, you never know when it will pop open or remain open.
Is there a fuse in the trunk?
The electrical systems that power the seats, the airbags, and the seat belt tensioners are all protected by the fuses in the trunk. To help in the removal and insertion of fuses, fuse pliers are provided on the inside of the fuse box cover.
A trunk striker is what?
When you close the lid, the trunk latch grips and retains a piece called the trunk striker plate. Some automobiles have the latch on the trunk lid and the striker on the body, while others have the reverse configuration. The latch may be guided by a few blocks of rubber or plastic on the striker, which may also contain a pin for the latch to latch onto. The majority of strikers may be adjusted, allowing you to correct for a slight misalignment in the trunk panel. If you notice warning lights on the trunk or have to repeatedly slam the trunk lid shut, it may be time to replace the trunk striker plate.
Why are car trunks left open?
In the Bay Area of California, smash and grab robberies have become so frequent that some auto owners are even leaving the trunks of their parked cars open to deter thieves from breaking in.
Images of two SUVs parked next to one another in the Bay Area with their trunks open went popular online last week. Other drivers have been discouraged by local authorities from imitating them.
The owner of an SUV who often leaves the trunk open told Inside Edition that she does so to demonstrate that there is nothing inside that burglars could steal. Garret Tom, deputy chief of the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), noted that there are numerous potential problems with this approach, noting that if the trunk is left open, thieves can easily gain access to the front of the car and find identification documents about the owner in the glove box.
Car doors may criminals pry open?
By intercepting and transmitting the signal sent by your key fob to your automobile, thieves might trick it into unlocking. By stifling the signals from your car key, you can safeguard your car utilizing the following methods:
- Keep your keys in a secure location that is away from your vehicle.
- When at home, keep your keys in a signal-blocking box or an aluminum can.
- When you’re out and about, keep your key fob in a Faraday pouch or shielded wallet.
- If necessary, disable the wireless signal from your key fob.
Note: Don’t just assume that your selected method of signal blocking works; make sure to test it out.
Is it secure to be in a trunk of a car?
Some thrill-seeking youngsters may consider riding in a car’s trunk to be a harmless kind of entertainment.
However, a terrible car accident that badly injured a 16-year-old boy in Ottawa last week demonstrates just how risky this stupid move can be.
The kid was riding in the trunk of a car that veered off the road and smashed into a house early on Tuesday, transporting a total of six young boys. Numerous charges, including criminal negligence causing bodily harm, failing to stop at an accident, and carrying more passengers than there are seat belts, are brought against the 19-year-old driver.
The risks of traveling in a car trunk have been brought to light by this sad event. Following this accident, Queen’s Park ought to toughen the sanctions to prevent youth from taking this foolish risk.
A trunk is one of the riskiest locations to be in a crash, according to safety experts. This is so that occupants inside the car are protected because trunks are made to collapse upon impact.
But only last month, after the province passed a legislation mandating that everyone riding in a car wear a seat belt, did “trunking” become prohibited in Ontario. Anyone found not wearing a seat belt faces a $90 fine plus a $20 victim fee.
This long overdue action is a fantastic beginning. However, Ontario Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield should impose even harsher fines on those who take this needless risk in light of the increased hazard of riding in the trunk. Additionally, drivers who transport passengers in the trunk should be subject to fines and demerit points.
That’s not all, though. To ensure that those who travel in the trunk, whether to get past passenger restrictions for new drivers or just for fun, receive the message, police should also enforce this legislation strictly.
Before kids get into a car with friends, parents must make sure they are aware of the risks associated with riding in the trunk.
A little education would go a long way to convince kids that the risk is simply not worth it in the face of peer pressure and adolescent bravado.