Trunk Opener Repair

It's a mechanical cable. I don't have a diagram at hand, but I think it crosses the floor from driver to passenger side somewhere near the rear seat (at least the fuel door cable has to, and I think they both do) and comes along the passenger side trunk lid hinge down to where the latch mechanism is.

If something is actually busted, you'll just have to look for the problem, which with any luck will be at one end or the other so you don't have to dig up the cable under the carpet.

But first, are you sure you haven't turned the key 90 degrees to the left in the trunk lock? That puts it in the "valet parking" mode, where the inside release handle doesn't work.

-Chap

 

There should be a little bit of "give" but no free play.

In a situation such as this, I think it's entirely credible that the cable came off of the handle near the handle end, and not the trunk end.

Let us know, how it goes...

 

My cable broke this week. The cable broke about one inch from handle. I got lucky with the repair. I bought picture hanging wire. The lightest wire I could find is rated 10 LB. I simply pulled the old cable out through the trunk then pushed the new cable in. You have to go slowly and keep the cable straight, bends cause friction inside the cable guide.
I unbolted the drivers seat, pulled up the carpet and disconnected the handle. Then I tied a knot in the end of the cable and applied some solder. With assistance, I pulled the cable back towards the trunk and locked it in place in the handle. I put everything back together in the front, then I tied another knot in the back and added solder again.
It's a little rough looking, but no one will ever see it. It works, cost about 10% of a new part, and was much less work since I reused the cable guide in place.