Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Trunk Release

My trunk wont open. I have the lock out on so I cant open it from the car and my key doesnt work (never has) the key fob wont work. It works for everything else but that. The interior light comes on when the button is pressed but the truck does not release. Anyone have any ideas?

You might want to have a new lock cylinder put in if you want to use the key. It could be a spring or a selenoid as far as the remote releasing goes.

The only problem is how do they open the trunk to get in the trunk to fix it. The dealer wasnt too sure what they could do and I would assume it will take them sometime to figure it out. Which = $$$$$$. I am going to try the key again see if some lubrication may help it work and if not then speak to them about replacing the lock first and see if that works then if not I guess we will have to get more creative. There is a signal going to the computer and the rest of the stuff still works, just not the trunk. Thanks for the suggestions.

Take out the back seat. crawl through and see if you can turn the lock out off. I believe the bottom of the back seat pulls right off, then on the bottom of the back rest you'll hee two little star looking screws, take those out, lift up on the seat and your in.

I'm guessing power to the lock is out, since the relay from the keyless entry module seems to be working.

I have trouble using the keys on both my cars, it maybe lack of use due to remote entry use. I've found I have to firmly and quickly flick the key back and forth to get it to work, a firm slow turn doesn't seem to work. Try it, you appear to have nothing to lose.
If trunk is empty you might be able to move the valet lock, or attempt to operate the seatback release lever by inserting something between the rear seats.

Good Luck.

Try all your keys, some have separate eys for ignition/doors, and glove box/trunk, try them all. One's bound to work.

If you have fold down rear seats then you are OK.
Remove the rear deck cover, oh whatever they call it.

It is glued in so need to give it firm tug. Then unclip the center stop light wire and remove.

There is a large speaker hole that was never used on the contour. You will be able to reach through and release the fold down seats.

Once you get in I don't know what to do. If you can get at the switch that will allow you to use the cable release then you are saved.

I was given a similar idea like that from someone. We are going to try it tonight. Once I get in I will post what we did just in case this happens to anyone else.

Well of course nothing worked so what I ended up doing it there is a whole in the metal in the rear deck for where a speaker would go so I cut a hole in the deck itself (carefully) and reached in and pulled the release for the seats. It worked and everything should go back and look good as new. Still dont know what the actual problem is yet, but I will post that once I take it to dealer to get it fixed. Thanks for the help.