Benton Quest

I use my car a lot. Everyday unless the weather is real bad.
I take it to work and put my case in the trunk and take it out when I get there.
The same when coming home.
Today I go to a car gathering and again open the trunk. Come home and now it will not open.
The key will go in fine, but will not turn. AAARRRRRGGGHHHH!!!!!
I can't believe it.
I read on here what I could and saw the WD40 idea.
I can't find my red tube thingy. AAARRRGGGHHHH!

Any ideas?? 1970 442.

I did try a different key.
Thanks,
BQ

Napoleon1991

If you really cant get it open you could just drill the lock out and open the trunk with a screwdriver. Thats what i had to do to mine. A new lock is only like $20 and really easy to install.

1970supremevert

do you live in a cold weather climate?maybe water got inside the mechanism? heat the key or use alcohol.. not Jack Daniels just an idea

oldsguybry

Before you try anything , look at the key . Is it all wore out ? This happened to me with my car doors ( mainly the driver door ) , I couldn't open them . I figured the locks were old , and begining to fail . It turned out that the key was wore out . I forgot I had another one in better shape / or I had one made a while ago . I tried to open them with the new key , and it worked like a charm . I could swear I tried the new key before a while back , and it did no good , but it sure works now ! It doesn't work perfect , but 10 times better then the other one . I have to giggle the key a bit in order to get the mechanism to move . My trunk is starting to do the same thing too .

Octania

Warming the lock- or the whole car- seems like a logical 1st step.

Worst case, you can open the trunk by going thru the back seat openings.

I have made a 4 ft long extension for this purpose. it unbolts the trunk latch w/o trying to crawl thru the access holes.

Benton Quest

Well, I live in the deep South.
I don't know how to get through the back seats.
I'm trying wd 40 now. I went and bought some and got a red thingy.

I'm also conversing with Gentleman Jack. He has some great ideas the later it gets!
BQ

Allan R

There's not a car in the world a fire ax can't get into...... Go Jack Go!!! JK

The south is pretty warm even right now (somewhere around the 60's where you are? Shouldn't be froze up. Before you start drilling out the lock, any chance you could swing by a locksmith and get him to try opening it? Might be the lock cylinder springs have failed.

1970supremevert

Dr Quest

please see attached pic, if you can rear the truck lock from inside the trunk after seat removal , twist the lock counterclockwise from inside the car and trunk should open ... good luck

Greg Rogers

Same as 1970 said. Its really not that hard to get thru the rear seat. Just put the ft seat all the way back, Push the bottom of the rear seat to the rear a couple inches and pull it up- It has to go past 2 hooks on the floor, you can tell when it's loose. then you can pull up and out with the bottom. Then theres 2 bolts that hold the upper cushion to the body.Take them out and you can push up and remove the upper cushion. Now you can get into the trunk and its real easy to turn the latch . Then after lid opens you can correct whatever is wrong real easy. Good luck.

Benton Quest

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to work on it some more tomorrow.
Jack was no help at all!
BQ

Benton Quest

....UPDATE......
I'm going to the locksmith.
I worked that back seat over good.
I'm 6'5" 275lbs and laid into it and it would not go back at all to unhook the bottom.
I did see the hooks, but they would not release while pushing back on the seat.
Any other advice is welcome. Jack was no help at all!
BQ

MDchanic

But "Search" is: https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...tml#post298814

And this.

Good luck!

- Eric

stevengerard

Sometimes it is really really hard, one time I was ready to give up and just pushed like all get out. I have had the trunk get stuck as well I just keep playing with the key and turn it pretty hard to the right and eventually it pops open. Just need to be careful not to break the key off.

Benton Quest

Eric.
That is good info.
I may be an over protector of my car, but the seats are perfect and I hate to damage them in any way. I thought about several options to work on it, but feel like I could damage the seat or the front seats in some way.
If drilling it out is an option, I really won't care how many keys I have for the car.
I will never need to lock my glove box or arm rest.
BQ

ROCKET VAPOR

If the trunk has new weatherstriping, try pressing down on the trunk lid while working the key to unlock.

Benton Quest

After much encouragement, I gave the seats another try.
I finally wedged my shoulders in between the front seat and the bottom of the back seat and flexed them out, and the first side popped out! I was surprised how hard that was. The other was much easier. Then the back had to come out and it wasn't so bad. I had a back piece that had to come out, then I realized the lock was too far for me to reach.
After scratching my head some, I came up with a solution. I taped vice grip pliers to an old seven iron, and after much grunting and a few choice words, I got it open. Not being a mechanical expert, I was thrilled with my success.

I now have to figure out how to get the lock out. It is shot. Will not turn at all.
I unscrewed the 3 inside bolts and the two under the outside part where the key goes in. There is a metal flat rod part that turns the latch that is in the way of getting the latch and lock out.
I need more help.

scr8p

you don't have to remove the latch. just pull the retaining clip that holds the lock in place. you may have to pry on it a little bit.

MDchanic

What he said.
You're barking up the wring tree.

If you look at the narrow inside bottom edge of the trunk lid, there is a narrow piece of steel that may be held in place by a rivet or a screw.
It slides straight out (down) about 3/4 of an inch, then the cylinder can be pulled straight out.
The retainer has a keyhole in it, so it won't pull out all the way with the cylinder in place - just about 3/4" or do

- Eric

pogo69

[QUOTE=Benton Quest;495479]
After scratching my head some, I came up with a solution. I taped vice grip pliers to an old seven iron, and after much grunting and a few choice words, I got it open. Not being a mechanical expert, I was thrilled with my success

that shot really only calls for pitching wedge

oldsguybry

I would take a small screwdriver and / or a needle nose pliers , and carefully take out the retaining clip . IIRC , they look like this ....

MDchanic

I'm nit sure about that, Bry - I recall a bigger clip with a keyhole instead of a U-hole, but maybe I'm thinking of a different model.

- Eric

oldspackrat

The clip that holds the cylinder in has two phillips head screws that need to be removed. Then the clip will pull down, you may have to grab it with a pair of pliers, sometimes they are stubborn. Pull it down about an inch or two, then the cylinder should come out. You may need to reach into the cavity to the right or left of the cylinder & help it out.

Benton Quest

Got it done! Thank goodness. The exhaust smell was getting to me driving in this AM.
Now I have to put it all back together.
Thanks so much for all help.
The lock seems a little tight, but it works.

Pogo69, I thought of wedge first, but it looked like it was a little farther. Plus it seemed like a 3 club wind in my face!

BQ

Benton Quest

This is a handy club, but it is hard to handle!
BQ

pogo69

lol...good job!

MDchanic

Well, that looks like a club that could get you out of a PINCH, anyway...

- Eric

pogo69

lol...good job!

Greg Rogers

Glad you got it.. Like anything the 1st time is the hardest. Good job.