(G) Boot Not Unlocking

Hi guys,

First post here: hello!

I have an '07 Panda 1.2L, had it for two years as my first car and I'm pretty sure it'll be around forever!

My question is; my car is very hit-and-miss as to whether the boot with unlock when you pull on the handle to open it. Sometimes, usually when I'm in the car and someone is putting things in the boot, it'll unlock fine; other times when coming back with shopping, I unlock the car and the boot is still firmly locked. I have to use the boot button on the car key to unlock it.

Any ideas as to how to rectify this??? This is only a recent development, like half a year in the making, have I accidentally caught a 'permanently locked' button somewhere or?? I don't want to keep using the car key every time I need access to the boot space!

Thanks in advance!
-Jess

when it fails


instead of just pulling


push the black plastic under the boot lip away from you before pulling it.



If this works its just dirt stopping the microswitch operating correctly

I took the whole handle off mine and tried to clean it out. It's much the same and still has to be pushed to reset the switch. I could not see any way to disassemble it to properly clean inside.

Hi Jess, and welcome
Mine did the same, taking the handle off and thoroughly cleaning the switch with warm soapy water and a toothbrush really helped. Mine was packed with muck.
There's a great guide to the process here

could it just be partially frozen? i had that issue the other day. once the car thawed out, it was fine.

i think there are reasons that the boost doesnt open for security. if you could just open your boot at any point someone could walk along in a traffic jam and open your boot and steal something.
im not sure of the exact conditions for this to happen, but have found that sometimes the boot wont open, and then just turning the car off and opening the drivers door allows it to open as normal

Thanks for your messages guys! I'll try them out when the boot stays locked again: so far it seems to be on its best behaviour and it consistently unlocking when needed :|

Once again, thanks for helping!

-Jess

The boot will open itself if the micro switch is clogged. Push toward the boot door resets the switch and pull to trigger the switch.

If cleaning the handle (as shown in the Panda guides) does not work, the best option is to cut one of the wires to the switch. This permanently disables it meaning you have to use the key but at least the door stays locked.

I have had mine off the car - not difficult just be careful how you lever off the internal door trim. I cleaned and hosed out around the switch and applied WD40 to chase out the water but its much the same (push to reset and pull to unlock).

The final fix is a new door handle but I can live without the lekky switch.

The Alessi on here had new switch internals .. from a non.fiat source

The switch works fine on mine. The issue is the handle wont reset, so the switch has to be pushed back after the door had been opened. It's no doubt got dirt stuck somewhere, but there is no visible way to extract the moving part of the handle to free things up.

Fyi @JessPanda

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/4541...4=#post4295284

To add. In my case changing my door micro switch wont do anything because the switch works fine. The issue is door "handle" sticking Nobody has found a way to dismantle that out wrecking it.

Cutting a switch wire and using the key seems to be the best option.

Morning guys!

A little conclusion for yous and for anyone else with boot problems - resetting the boot handle by pushing it away from you before pulling it to open seems to have done the trick!! My dad and I would not have thought about that in a million years.

Thanks for your help!

-Jess

My microswitch totally corroded inside.

I just got standard little weatherproof pushbutton and mounted that on the handle.

the wirings not difficult, does require drilling a hole for the switch though.

the other option could be to go japanese and wire up a switch in the cabin.

Progress..

Previous FIAT city car had a cable release.. a bit like the bonnet

Great idea Ben. The microswitch "can" be replaced but it's not much use when the handle itself is sticking - as mine does.
The wires are there and waterproof momentary contact switches are cheap. You could run another switch in parallel with figure 8 speaker wire to a convenient spot by the driver's door.