The boot lid switch appears to have suddenly failed this week.

I have never yet had any trouble with it since I bought the car in June 2021. I opened and closed the boot as normal before leaving work one night this week.

When I got home the same day, the boot simply would not open when the button was pressed. Pressing the boot open button on the remote key fob opens it as normal. That suggests that the switch could be the problem.

I am sure I remember reading on here that there is a way to access a test mode that makes a beep when the switch is pressed. As I can't find the thread again, does anyone know how to access this?

Also, is opening of the boot lid covered by the MOT?

Thanks for any information.

 

You will have to get a new microswitch. This will clear up your query. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/car-parts-checked-at-an-mot/car-parts-checked-at-an-mot

Ian is correct, this is the part you need, a cheap repair...

 

Another Chinese trying to pass themselves off as a UK seller on Ebay.

3 minutes ago, mjt said:

Another Chinese trying to pass themselves off as a UK seller on Ebay.

I buy stuff like this all the time. The 'Chinese seller' has a UK warehouse which simply ships the item out straight away. Nothing inherently wrong or illegal about it...

I'm not suggesting it's illegal but for those like me who try to avoid buying Chinese it seems to be deliberately misleading.

1 minute ago, mjt said:

... but for those like me who try to avoid buying Chinese it seems to be deliberately misleading.

LOL, you avoid buying anything 'Chinese'?? How's that working out for you 🤣🤣🤣

Very difficult but I keep trying.

Thanks for the replies.

Would I be better fitting a used genuine or new unknown switch?

Is it possible to disassemble the original switch and clean the contacts inside?

4 minutes ago, AntonovAN12 said:

Thanks for the replies.

Would I be better fitting a used genuine or new unknown switch?

Is it possible to disassemble the original switch and clean the contacts inside?

I simply replaced mine, working now for over a year. If you had the skills of Steve Fletcher on the Repair Shop, sure, go ahead and open the old one up LOL At least a 'new' one, you know it's new, an old 'genuine' one is still likely to fail, just like yours did, as did mine!

Thanks for the replies.

I was planning to take the rear panel off and test the switch with a multimeter before I ordered the new one.

Just my luck that it is now set to rain all afternoon and into tonight.

7 minutes ago, AntonovAN12 said:

Thanks for the replies.

I was planning to take the rear panel off and test the switch with a multimeter before I ordered the new one.

Just my luck that it is now set to rain all afternoon and into tonight.

I know it's fatal I am needing to do an oil change but it's rained all weekend.

On 2/13/2022 at 1:22 PM, AntonovAN12 said:

Thanks for the replies.

I was planning to take the rear panel off and test the switch with a multimeter before I ordered the new one.

Just my luck that it is now set to rain all afternoon and into tonight.

Sounds like a lot of work on a unit that's only £7 for a new one. And you don't have to remove any panels to remove the switch.  

But it's your choice.... 

By panel I meant the plastic cover on the inside.

I did remove this cover one night in the week and found that the failed switch is a pattern part so it has been replaced before.

The Ford originals look to be held together with screws so may be possible to disassemble. On this one, the microswitch unit is glued into place so replacement of the whole unit is the only realistic option. it is very similar to the grey one in the image below.

For anyone else reading this, be aware that the Ford units have a separate removable cable attached to them, which plugs into the wiring loom. The pattern part has the plug permanently attached. See images below for what I mean. The separate plug and cable from my car are now gone and were most likely thrown away with the original switch.

Most of the original used ones listed on ebay are without this cable. It's worth being aware of this before ordering one.

 

I contacted the Ford parts department to see how much they would charge for the Genuine switch.

The price they quoted was £71 for the switch, and £78 for that short piece of wiring.

Somehow I think I will be going for the £8 after market unit from ebay.

Now sorted. I bought a used original (and cable) from ebay for £9.99.

Is it possible to open the boot from outside the car while the engine is running and the doors are locked? I always drive with the doors locked.

Could someone possibly open the boot lid from outside while I am sat in stationary traffic?