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Technical Boot unlock?

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Technical Boot unlock?

stu0710

stu0710

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Parked in the garage
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I haven't driven the car for a while (my wife has been using it!) and just noticed that the bootlid will only unlock when pressing the bootlid symbol on the key fob. I.e on getting out of the car without locking it the bootlid won't open unless the bootlid symbol is pressed. I thought that the boot remained unlocked until it was locked by pressing the lock symbol. Has something gone wrong?
 
Sounds like the switch of the boot handel has stopped working.
A few people have had this problem. If the car is under warranty take it in and get it fixed, if not scan ebay for a new one. They are easy to swap over.
I got a spare one just incase my one goes wrong.
 
I'm also getting an intermittent 'check rear number plate lamp' message coming up so I'm wondering if this is the same wiring loom fault into the hatch that some other forum members have experienced?
 
stu0710 said:
I'm also getting an intermittent 'check rear number plate lamp' message coming up so I'm wondering if this is the same wiring loom fault into the hatch that some other forum members have experienced?
Click to expand...

I had the intermittent check light message, was a dodgy bulb for me.
 
stu0710 said:
I haven't driven the car for a while (my wife has been using it!) and just noticed that the bootlid will only unlock when pressing the bootlid symbol on the key fob. I.e on getting out of the car without locking it the bootlid won't open unless the bootlid symbol is pressed. I thought that the boot remained unlocked until it was locked by pressing the lock symbol. Has something gone wrong?
Click to expand...

Here's a post I made awhile back to try to explain how the boot latching mechanism works:

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/247768-...ml#post2575882

It's either the microswitch or a wiring fault. From what you've posted so far, and given the intermittent error message, I'd say it's 2-1 on the wiring, but as Maxi says, an impending bulb failure will give the same indication and the two issues could be unrelated.

Have you done a visual inspection of the wiring at the point where it feeds into the tailgate?
 
Hmmm......when the bulb failure warning message shows the RH number plate bulb is definitely not working, however it then appears to fix itself, can a bulb have an intermittent fault? Also if it was a wiring fault would both bulbs have gone out as presumably they both take a feed from the same wire which enters the hatch?

I have tried to have a look at the loom between the hatch and the car body, but it is in a rubber concertina shroud - which appears to be OK and not getting trapped anywhere?
 
stu0710 said:
Hmmm......when the bulb failure warning message shows the RH number plate bulb is definitely not working, however it then appears to fix itself, can a bulb have an intermittent fault? Also if it was a wiring fault would both bulbs have gone out as presumably they both take a feed from the same wire which enters the hatch?QUOTE]

That's what happened with my lights. Both of them did the same thing, one went and I replaced the other because it was getting annoying.
Click to expand...
 
stu0710 said:
can a bulb have an intermittent fault?
Click to expand...

I expect Maxi will get here first* but... Yes, definitely. One of my 12V Xmas tree lights did this just last week.

stu0710 said:
Also if it was a wiring fault would both bulbs have gone out as presumably they both take a feed from the same wire which enters the hatch?
Click to expand...

I'd have thought so. The bulbs are trivially cheap, so why not just change them & see what happens? I don't think it'll fix your tailgate problem, though!

*seems I was right!
 
Last edited:
Seems like unrelated problems so I'll change the bulbs and then hope that it's the boot microswitch. I wonder what the chances of it being replaced under warranty are - car is 21/2 years old?
 
stu0710 said:
I wonder what the chances of it being replaced under warranty are - car is 21/2 years old?
Click to expand...

I'd guess about 50-50 but it costs nothing to ask. Also if you're that way inclined & have the necessary tools, it may be possible to dismantle the latching mechanism & replace just the microswitch, which will only cost pennies. Try Farnell, RS components or even Maplins to source one.
 
Last edited:
stu0710 said:
Where is it squirted? Do you have to temove the rubber membrane from outside to get at the switch?
Click to expand...

I haven't needed to do this myself yet (crosses fingers). But as switch cleaner is generally safe to use on most plastics, I'd disassemble as little as possible - at least at first.
 
I've had a good look now and the switch now works as I've pulled the little flap out a little allowing the switch to operate, but it seems to have a load of crud in the flap hinge / switch and so seems to jam closed every few times its used. Presumably a squirt of WD40 would be OK as it would both lubricate the hinge and the switch - is switch cleaner a similar product?
 
Does the handle return?
I had the same issue and found the handle had seized on it's pivot pin.
When you squeezed it to pop the boot it stayed squeezed. If I put a little screwdriver behind it and tweaked it back out it worked again...once!

I took the whole mechanism off and squirted copious amounts of WD40 into the pivot, worked it back and forth until it freed up and then lathered it in aerosol white grease. Works fine now.
 
Exactly the same thing happened with mine. The hinge pin was tight and the handle no longer sprang back. I didn't know how to remove the handle so also used a small flat screwdriver to prise it back out and then with the boot lid raised in the fully open position I squirted WD40 into the mechanism whilst leaving the boot lid open for 10 minutes to allow gravity to take it's course and let it to soak in. Seems to have done the job. I also changed the number plate bulb which was intermittently showing as a fail, blimey that was a b*gger of a job, especially in the cold.

BTW - how do you remove the handle / microswitch mechanism?
 
Loosely related: I've just discovered I have a boot light in my Punto Abarth! After struggling without it on my previous 500 Sport and again on Punto, I was absolutely delighted to find that I had one! It lost contact so it wasn't working, but after a bulb wriggle... I was blind but now I see!;):D Little things in life, eh...:rolleyes:
 
On the 500 Sport, all the wiring was in place for the boot light - you only needed to dig it out from under the trim and plug in the boot lamp which is a standard Fiat/Alfa Romeo part costing about £12. (It is used in the Alfa 159 as the glove box light - don't ask me how I know)
Stupid economy from Fiat but at least you can now find things in the boot!
 
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