Electric boot release
 

Hi all.
Problem (recently) - upon activating switch on door to release boot, it unlocks the boot, makes an effort to open boot, only opens a tad then immediately closes.
Any suggestions.
Need to sort this out as I'm sticking the car up for sale soon.
Thanks, Chris

If you help it up a little, does it still go?

Sounds like the lift motor is on the way out.

Getting old, can't get it up anymore

Pop a viagra in the boot and see what happens lol

As already said it's most likely the motor's getting weak, it was a poor design, you could try oiling the hinges as they require regular lubrication

If the motor is still working (?) but struggles to get it up then it may well be a lubrication problem as 47P2 suggests. Usually motors (in my limited experience work or dont work - unless its a brushes problem which usually results in erratic behaviour). What is the drive mechanism? geared? Cable?

(having read that again I can see that this subject is open to much hilarity) :tuttut:

Did it used to lift on the offside corner of the boot slightly before it opened by any chance? that is normally the first sign of the boot hinge pins failing due to wear and then if they have gone too far it can mess up the motor driving the boot hinge open. Apparently the offside boot hinges are as rare as hens teeth at A8 Parts due to so many failing through wear so it seems to be a bit of D3 issue for those with automated boot lids :(

It's the motor wearing out, so either brushes or the coils themselves. Basically the boot lid is a bit too heavy for it, so the increased load stuffs it. Mine does it on colder days, you give it a little help and away it goes.

Mine has similar symptoms.

If you just press the release it whirrs, moves slightly but stays down.

You can open it by applying a little pressure to lift the boot to get it started but then once it is up pressing the button to close it gives the same symptoms...it whirrs, moves slightly but stays in the up position this time.

I believe it had a new o/s rear boot hinge & striker fitted some time before I bought the car and I always put the fault down to it not being aligned properly as my faith in Main Dealers is less than zero.

Reading the above however it looks like it might be the motor?

A lack of starting torque might explain why it doesn't start to lift on its own from fully shut - that boot lid is heavy - but surely it would have enough torque to power it shut from an upright position? The effects of gravity should be a big help there! :D

Is there a check/adjustment to ensure the hinges/drive mechanism are aligned properly before I think about replacing the motor?

Thanks & kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

Replying this old thread:I was able to fix mine with solder flux paste following instructions from these youtube links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G-OedMyf8o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG1v9xDpDH4

Basically if the motor is spinning but the boot lid is not moving then the clutch inside the motor is slipping. You can fix that by applying some solder flux paste on the clutch. Try applying as thinly as you can, I put too much first and had to disassemble the motor again because the clutch got totally stuck :) Anyway it works like a charm now and the total cost was £1.70, so I'm well happy +++