1989 XJS

I remember reading something about the unique mechanism of the trunk lock.

The trunk latch and lock work on my car with the key. And while the electric lock solenoid actuates, moving the plunger, it doesn't disable the lock or prevent the latch from operating.

Can I get some insight from people about how the lock works and what might be the problem for me?

thanks!!

 

Andy
All the locking mechanism does, whether activated by the solenoid or by the key, is to block the action of the opening lever that actuates the rod that actuates the catch. It does not affect the actual catch mechanism, or the lock at all. For that matter, basically the same on the doors.


So if you were shut inside the boot, and the plastic cover was not there on the inside of the bootlid, all you would have to do is pull on the actuating rod that goes from the handle to the actual catch, and out you would get.


If your post meant that when the solenoid actuates it fails to block the opening lever from opening the boot, then this is an adjustment issue, I think.
Greg

 

then I think I have a broken latch. The solenoid moves a plunger into a slot in a collar/cylinder that encircles the latch itself. I assume that the collar is supposed to turn with the latch but it doesn't. I''ll take some pics and share to confirm.

This is the bitch of restoring a car that you didn't drive regularly before restoring. You don't know what worked or how things are supposed to work.

 

Could be, Andy, but if you operate the latching mechanism with a screwdriver so all is in the position it would be if closed and latched, and then turn the key to lock the thing with the key, you can see what this does to the mechanism. Then maybe see what the solenoid needs to do/is not doing to lock the thing (ie block the action of the opening lever).
Greg