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As the title says, my rear deck lid won't shut. I was showing someone the engine bay today and it wouldn't latch back into place after, though if you push it it goes down as if it were shut (but then springs open again).
The engine bay light is left on so I'm worried it will run the battery flat too.
I attach a picture of the latch.
Could this be a broken switch? There's nothing obviously wrong with it.
I haven't had the latch fail on me. But an easy way to figure out what's going on would be to just remove the D-ring from the decklid and simulate the latching.
I think the D ring is attached using T-25 torx bolts. This test would tell you if there's something wrong mechanically.
It could also be the switch itself in the doorsill - not sure if durametric or foxwell might give you any error codes etc for these.
I haven't had the latch fail on me. But an easy way to figure out what's going on would be to just remove the D-ring from the decklid and simulate the latching.
I think the D ring is attached using T-25 torx bolts. This test would tell you if there's something wrong mechanically.
It could also be the switch itself in the doorsill - not sure if durametric or foxwell might give you any error codes etc for these.
Thank you for the reply, and please forgive my ignorance...
Why would removing the d ring (which I can easily do, I have the tools etc.) help to diagnose the problem?
Unfortunately I don't have either of those two diagnostic tools to hand.
I assume you opened the deck lid with the electric switch and you heard it release? What happens when you active the switch in the cabin again, do you here the solenoid activate.
Seems like the locking pin is stuck and not returning to the proper position to engage with the latch when you close lid.
I don't have a 997 to experiment with but on the 996 one could leave the deck lid up and close the latch mechanism with hand/fingers (latch is locked shut position), then unlock it with electric switch in cabin.
Last edited by enthusiast; 08-15-2021 at 06:00 PM.
I assume you opened the deck lid with the electric switch and you heard it release? What happens when you active the switch in the cabin again, do you here the solenoid activate.
Seems like the locking pin is stuck and not returning to the proper position to engage with the latch when you close lid.
I don't have a 997 to experiment with but on the 996 one could leave the deck lid up and close the latch mechanism with hand/fingers (latch is locked shut position), then unlock it with electric switch in cabin.
I opened the lid using the electric switch in the driver side door (not aware of any other way?).
When I use the same switch, I hear a bit of a clicking sound but nothing happens. Nothing visibly happens in the engine bay.
I'm not really sure how to actually try to close the latch manually in the way you have described. I have tried pushing the d ring in there but it doesn't 'catch' if that makes sense.
Did you remove the light bulb from the light assembly to save your battery power?
Back to the latching mechanism... what should happen in the closing process is the 'D' ring on the lid contacts a metal jaw in the latch assembly, as the 'D' presses against the jaw, the jaw rotates or moves until a spring loaded rod/bar slides into a detent/hole/notch in the jaw. The jaw is now locked in position holding the 'D' ring lid in place.
Last edited by enthusiast; 08-15-2021 at 06:32 PM.
Did you remove the light bulb from the light assembly to save your battery power?
Back to the latching mechanism... what should happen in the closing process is the 'D' ring on the lid contacts a metal jaw in the latch assembly, as the 'D' presses against the jaw, the jaw rotates or moves until a spring loaded rod/bar slides into a detent/hoe/notch in the jaw. The jaw is now locked in position holding the 'D' ring.
Now that I have removed the D ring, the light in the engine bay is off.
That makes sense. What's happening in my case is that nothing like that happens. The rod/bar doesn't seem to be engaging. I wonder if I ought to spray some PB blaster in there? Could it do any harm?!
Would you say this sounds like a problem with the latch rather than the switch?
Maybe have someone pull the switch as ur pulling up on it with a screwdriver or a miscellaneous d ring. If it's stuck and you get it free a graphite dry lube could be useful.
I do not know if your latch assembly has electrical components inside, so cannot recommend using any liquids. Some latches have an electrical solenoid that releases the locking rod/bar/pin that in turn allows the spring loaded jaw to move thus releasing the 'D' ring.
The good news is your engine lid and latch are not stuck in the closed position (but there is an emergency release for that situation)
Last edited by enthusiast; 08-15-2021 at 06:47 PM.
I do not know if your latch assembly has electrical components inside, so cannot recommend using any liquids. Some latches have an electrical solenoid that releases the locking rod/bar/pin that in turn allows the spring loaded jaw to move thus releasing the 'D' ring.
The good news is your engine lid and latch are not stuck in the closed position (but there is an emergency release for that situation)
Sh*t. I did spray a bit of lubricant in there earlier on. I didn't go mad on it though so hopefully it shouldn't be too problematic.
Maybe have someone pull the switch as ur pulling up on it with a screwdriver or a miscellaneous d ring. If it's stuck and you get it free a graphite dry lube could be useful.
Hey. Thanks for the suggestion. What should I be pulling up on with the latch? Do you mean put the d ring in there and try to get it to catch.
08-15-2021, 04:02 PM
Rear deck lid won't close
