A6 Avant 1.8T - Boot won't open

[Colin NW]

I've tried searching the forum but can't find quite what I'm looking for.

this is in relation to a 2002 A6 avant.

This morning, whilst it was still frozen outside, I tried to open my boot. I head the latch release when i pressed the catch by the rear number plate, but because it was wet yesterday, then frozed over night, the boot was frozen shut so wouldn't lift.

Now, when everything is defrosted, I still can't get it to open, either with the catches on the boot itself or the key or the remote. I hear the whirring inside but the boot won't budge. The fact that i released the boot lock this morning and then couldn't open it so coninued to use the car to drive to work seems to have buggered something up!

Is there a manual release inside the car anywhere? I think i need to get to the locking mechanism to give it a good clean and a dose of WD40 but without being able to open the boot in the first place this is perhaps wisdom after the event.

Do i need to get into the boot via the rear seats and start stripping panels?

Thank you so much in advance - if i have missed a solution to this in a previous thread I apologise, and will happily be directed to the information.

[Peter D]

PM me your email address or post it up in your thread and I'll send you the drawings. I assume you do not have a remote release. It sounds as if the link rod has popped out but the remote release does not use this. Regards Peter

[Colin NW]

Hi Peter,

Can't PM yet!

Thanks so much for your reply.

I have already opened the warning triangle panel from the inside, and removed the triangle itself. Behind there i found a small opening with a brass-coloured hook-shaped piece of metal. I was hoping that by lifting that with a piece of wire it would release the catch - as yet no luck, but then it was a guess!

Any guidance that you can give to supplement the drawings very gratefully received!

Very best, Colin

One thing that i failed to say is that the boot isn't fully latched / locked - there is a slight rattle and in the dashboard I have the signal flashing to say that the boot is open. However, it is firmly locked when i try and pull it up!

[Colin NW]

One thing that i failed to say is that the boot isn't fully latched / locked - there is a slight rattle and in the dashboard I have the signal flashing to say that the boot is open. However, it is firmly locked when i try and pull it up!

[Peter D]

Long shot. Get some helping hands at least another four and line up with your hands on the bottom of the tailgate and all give is a good sharp push to try and close it. Do not dent the tailgate. Then try and open it again. This works of a stuck door but admittedly the lock is different. Regards Peter

[NickPicks]

Mine had an issue with the release mechanism - it wouldn't open although the lock was whirring when I pushed the remote or the handle. I got it open by sitting in the boot, operating the remote unlock and pushing hard (well, kicking firmly) just as it was whirring.

I fitted a new lock mechanism. I can't remember exactly how much it was from Audi, but it can't have been that much 'cos I didn't even try fixing the old one.

[Colin NW]

Thank you all for your responses and help.

So, to (hopefully) complete the story:

In the end I had to remove all the trim from inside the boot to gain access to the mechanism. I was hoping to simply find a missing/broken link rod which would mean that I could manually actuate the lock, but it was the lock itself that had failed (first pic below shows the failed component once removed). So, to open the boot lid I had to disconnect the rods, the sensor connection and remove two bolts (3rd pic) and release the boot, whilst leaving the lock still shackled to the base. A plastic component within the lock had failed meaning that I had to manipulate the lock mechanism with a fine screw driver.

I sourced a replacement lock from eBay for £15, it arrived this morning and I made sure it was cleaned and greased.

The second and third pics show the overall set up with the new lock fitted and the new lock itself, hopefully these might be useful for someone in the future.

All now working as it should, so thanks again for the support.

[A6_Charlie]

I have the same issue