Menu toggle

Front boot stuck shut.....

MarkK

MarkK

Active member
My lovely Mrs has forced the front boot shut whilst the inner release handle was sticking out (i think) and now the release handle no longer functions and the front boot is shut permanently,am i in trouble??The car is a 1990 C4 i am worried it is going to be hard to fix[:(]$$$???Any ideas gratefully recieved...!
 
Is the cable still attached to the handel inside the car? I may of just come away. Try pulling the cable with a pair of pliers. There is an emergency cable according to PET but is hard to see where it goes maybe passenger side wheel arch??? I will look at mine and see if i can help.

Tim
 
Hi Mark,
I had a look at mine and cant see the emergency release cable as shown in PET. Also i looked in the owners manual but i cant find anything relating to this. Hopefully someone else may have more ideas. The only thing i can think of is to try and see if the cable has snapped at the end where the release handel is. Mine is a 93 model.

Sorry i cant help more, let us know the outcome

Tim
 
There is sometimes an emergency release cable behind one of the plstic inner wheel liners (Can't remember which side, I think it is the right as you look at the car). Log onto porsche964 on yahoogroups.co.uk and ask there. There was a thread about this a while ago so someone may have the solution. (Dont know why that is showing as a link, it isn't)
Cheers,

 
good advice - of course try to grip an end of the cable somewhere, failing that there may be a wire pull visible from one of the wheel liners, ie a cable threaded through wing where some electrical wires are. If you don't have the luck with either, the only other way is to drill a hole directly underneath the catch, use a coat hanger wire to pull it open etc. Most specialists know where to drill to do that, most folks who try end up with many holes and still don't hit the right spot. The wire pull is on the nearside I seem to recall. You need to take off the front wheel, remove the wheel liner and hope to see a cable end coming thought through a wiring grommet.

Good luck.
 
Just a quick thought,

Try to push down on the front boot lid whislt someone pulls the handel inside. This releases a bit of pressure from the catch. I may just be enough

It does look as if the emergency cable is located in the passenger side (RHD!!) wheel arch. You will need to remove the front wheel and also the plastic liner inside. Its easy to do its held on with M6 nuts which you need a 10mm socket or spanner for.I had mine off recently whilst fitting HID headlights but i cant remember if there was a cable or not.

hope this helps

Tim.

 
IIRC the emergency hood pull is only fitted on the later (1992+) cars. I've seen the subject discussed before and, to my knowledge, noone with an early car has ever found it. The same goes for the emergency engine lid release too (behind the left rear light lens). The problem with the front is that it's a lot of hassle to remove the liner - only to find the cable's not there!!

If the trick of relieving the pressure doesn't work you may only have the "drilling" solution left. It's not an uncommon problem but I'd be inclined to take it to someone who has the experience of knowing where to drill - otherwise you finish up with a mobile pepperpot!!

Regards

Dave
 
I had this problem on my 3.2 (hope it isnt the same for you) it involved using a hacksaw blade to side up and cut through the steel hook, when that was done i found that the spot welds that hold the cable latch bracket had broken. I had a barstool of a time doing it. good luck.
 
As Dave mentioned early cars don't have the emergency release for the engine lid therefore I'd be surprised if they have one on the front too. I had a look in the front boot of mine recently and couldn't see any other cable going to the latch.

Now as far as the rear lid is concerned, it is spring loaded and therefore if the cable snaps it should fly open. My cable snapped the day I bought the car but the lid did not come open. However a bit of pressing, pulling and general jiggling about got it to spring open. Maybe this will work on the front too?
 
the front catch is an over centre type, so i think if its shut you need to release it to get it to open so i doubt jiggling will work, however pushing it down a bit will release the pressure from the catch and might help get it open

for the 15mins it takes, it might be worth whipping the wheel off and checking for a secondary release; there is one on my '91MY car which i spotted when fitting an HID conversion kit last year
 
There no emergency release on my 1990 either.

But I did read an article in a mag once (think it was a 911&PW) that JZM wrote on how to release the front lid.

IIRC it involved removing the most forward drain plug and a bit of stiff wire and a shiteload of patience.

May be worth giving JZM a ring, the're usually quite helpful over the phone.

Rob
 
Tried all the jiggling approach,spoke to Ben at Specialist cars of Malton,and he reckoned there was a emergency release behind one of the drivers lights,at that point i completely bottled it and took it to OPC Leicester as i did not want to compound the problem,they(Leicester) have the boot open,should have the car back on Thursday (new cable)..really appreciate the replies this worried me greatly thought i would never get it open again[:eek:]Really panicked......
 
it could have been much worse; imagine if you had been on the way home from the fishmongers with a couple of fresh trout in the boot [:D]

is it possible to retro-fit the emergency cable into the wheel-arch? might be worth doing on earlier cars if its a problem..

glad you got it open

ben
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Posts made and opinions expressed are those of the individual forum members

Use of the Forum is subject to the Terms and Conditions

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed on this site are not necessarily those of the Club, who shall have no liability in respect of them or the accuracy of the content. The Club assumes no responsibility for any effects arising from errors or omissions.

Porsche Club Great Britain gives no warranties, guarantees or assurances and makes no representations or recommendations regarding any goods or services advertised on this site. It is the responsibility of visitors to satisfy themselves that goods and/or services supplied by any advertiser are bona fide and in no instance can the Porsche Club Great Britain be held responsible.

When responding to advertisements please ensure that you satisfy yourself of any applicable call charges on numbers not prefixed by usual "landline" STD Codes. Information can be obtained from the operator or the white pages. Before giving out ANY information regarding cars, or any other items for sale, please satisfy yourself that any potential purchaser is bona fide.

Directors of the Board of Porsche Club GB, Club Office Staff, Register Secretaries and Regional Organisers are often requested by Club members to provide information on matters connected with their cars and other matters referred to in the Club Rules. Such information, advice and assistance provided by such persons is given in good faith and is based on the personal experience and knowledge of the individual concerned.

Neither Porsche Club GB, nor any of the aforementioned, shall be under any liability in respect of any such information, advice or assistance given to members. Members are advised to consult qualified specialists for information, advice and assistance on matters connected with their cars at all times.

Porsche
Lockton
Pirelli
Officially approved
Oracle Finance
WEX Esso
Collecting Cars
Archant Dialogue
Back
Top