Multipla bot lock - it's permanently locked!

Our three year old Multi (orange. I love it to bits, even more than the old one, despite the boring shape, but I digress) has a seized boot lock. Has anyone else had this? For a few days it was hit and miss whether it would open and now it never will. I'm assuming it's an electrical problem but I'm hoping our local garage will be able to fix it as the local Fiat garage is useless and expensive. I'd like to be able to make sensible suggestions to the local garage as to what might be wrong. Does anyone know?

We have a similar problem with our 53 Multipla and we can now only open the boot with the key.
Anyone else got any ideas on this?

When you guys refer to the boot lock, do you mean you can't open it from the outside by simply pressing the rubber covered release switch?

I haven't checked the manual yet (no time) to see if there's a separate fuse for the boot lock mechanism.

If it is, it wouldn't be hard to check.

I'm assuming the boot lock mechanism is the same between the older and latest models.

If it's not a fuse, it could simply be a stuck/faulty boot release switch. It may be on a spring that has come away. When you push the release switch, do you still feel the button move upwards? If so, do you hear the switch relay/motor go click or is there no click?

I haven't bought myself a knocked off EPC or repair manual on CD from fleabay yet, but I doubt it'll be too hard to find out the fault.

Other than a fuse, it could be the micro switch, relay, or motor.

I'm sure these can be bought from a local scrappy or ebay for peanuts.

It wouldn't surprise me if these parts aren't also used on other models - making it easier to source if yours is faulty.

I can see those eBay seller putting up their prices as I type!!!!

I doubt it'll be difficult to replace either. From my limited experience of taking Fiats apart, it's usually quite easy to to get to the stuff in the hatch area. You'll need to remove the boot panel trim to reveal the gadgetry and the rest is held in by nuts, bolts and screews.

Step 1: Check the fuse first!

Hi. We recently had a similar problem with our 54 multipla and discovered that it was water in the unlock switch. stripped it all down, dried it and resealed it and so far no re-occurance of the problem. Hope this helps?

Found this on E-bay if it helps anyone
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/fiat-multipla-...QQcmdZViewItem