Car thinks boot is open

[mini-mad-matt]

Hi,

Setting off the other day, I had the warning on the dash that the boot was open. I got out and opened and shut it to make sure. The warning stayed on. I then had a fiddle with the mechanism and with the ignition on (so I could see the display) I manually closed the catch with a screwdriver acting as the bar that it clicks into. I could then release it with the button as normal. Sometimes the warning went off, and sometimes not. I've given the mechanism a bit of a tap, and that certainly helps it to realise it's shut. The problem is, is that the warning can come back at ANYTIME, and it is setting the alarm off randomly with the car sat on the drive. I've taken to having to leave the boot only half shut, so that the car knows it's not shut initially, and therefore nothing will change to subsequently set the alarm off.
I assume there is a switch built into the lock mechanism that is somehow shorting to earth, or is misaligned.
Any advice gratefully received,

Cheers

MMM

[mini-mad-matt]

Just to add, until a few days ago, the rear washer wasn't working. I did precisely nothing about this until the actual wiper suddenly stopped mid wipe and wouldn't move. I managed to fix both by loosening the trim and fiddling with stuff randomly. Two days later, I have this boot open warning problem. I realise I could just get a new mechanism, and it looks easy to fit, but was just wondering if there was anything in particular I could do to fix it without the expense of a new mechanism.

[iwaters]

Is it possible you have disturbed the wiring when fixing the wash wipe? Check that the connectors are secured first and that the wiring isn't damaged.

It could be that the latch is sticking, happens on my passenger door occasionaly when it wont shut. I spray a bit of lithium grease in there. Use a screw driver to push the latch back a few times to work the grease in.

[mini-mad-matt]

Is it possible you have disturbed the wiring when fixing the wash wipe? Check that the connectors are secured first and that the wiring isn't damaged.

It could be that the latch is sticking, happens on my passenger door occasionaly when it wont shut. I spray a bit of lithium grease in there. Use a screw driver to push the latch back a few times to work the grease in.

Cheers for the reply. The connectors are fine, and the catch is working perfectly, so I can only assume that the microswitch inside the mechanism is knackered. Just rang my AA warranty and they say it's covered, so I'll Just get it sorted on that. Cheers MMM

[mini-mad-matt]

Was driving the car last night, still with the same problem, and something happened that have me another clue. The rear wiper wouldn't turn off. This made me think that something was shorting out in the boot wiring. So, at 10pm in -3 temps, I removed the trim panel. There was an awful electrical burning smell from the wiper motor, and it was quite wet. Water has been leaking from the washer pipe or wiper motor, not sure which though. It has also dripped onto the latch mechanism, causing the switch thing to short out and tell the car that the boot is open. I took of the latch and dried it out with a hair dryer, put it back on, an covered it with a food bag. It's certainly fixed the boot open problem, but now the rear wiper won't work. I have an AA warranty, so I'll try and get the motor replaced on that. Cheers MMM

[Two_Stripes]

Hi

I had exactly this problem with my old A3, searched it online and found out very common.

On the A3, the rear wash wasn't working. Turned out the rear wiper was leaking and this was falling onto the micro switch in the boot lock. This ended up shorting the switch out and making the car think the boot was open (discovered this when I left my car at work for 3 days to come back and find battery flat cos alarm was going off constantly)

If it is this you can buy repair plugs and wires to replace it, which I did (then cover everything in vasoline.