Hello,

I'm a complete newbie here, and in need of some help & advice.

My Mk1 Focus Zetec has a problem with the hatchback lock, & despite a search a search of the forum posts, I don't seem to be able to see that anyone else has raised this. However, due to my mechanical & technical ineptitude, I'm willing to be proved wrong. Anyway here goes:-

I can open the boot with the internal release, the remote key & (usually) with the key itself, BUT, I am unable to close/lock the thing without first pressing the boot release key button on my key. If I attempt to just close the boot, it literally just bounces up without engaging, and using the key in the lock to try & lock it does no good at all, but after clicking the remote release on the key, it will easily close.

Given the symptoms, I am of the belief that this is not an electrical fault or something wrong with the central locking etc, but have no idea what is actually wrong. Hopefully, someone will see my plea, know exactly what the problem is & provide an easy, cost effective (cheap or free!) fix.

Thanks in advance.

Mark

First thing i would do is give the lock internals a good spray with WD40 via the straw poked up inside the latch and leave it for a bit to penetrate the components. Sounds like something is sticking inside the lock mechanism. If the WD40 works then you need to follow that up with a spray of white lithium grease to provide longterm lubrication to the components as the WD40 will actually degrease everything and cause further problems over time. Try it and report back if no change.

Misaligned catch? The bottom catch has two bolts that when loosened allow the catch to be moved up or down left ir right if its not centered it will hit the lock edge and bounce back up.....if you remove the plastic trim covering the boot sit in the boot and slowly lower it you'll get a better view as to whether its hitting

Has it been in an accident or possibly been hit recently? First thing one of my friends knew that their car had been hit in a car park was that the boot opened, but wouldn't shut again due to the impact!

Hello All

Apologies for my late reply, due to work etc. Also, the car has been in the garage following a catastrophic clutch failure & a pipe that snapped (& is only available via main dealers at £450! - luckily after exhaustive searches a secondhand replacement was found for less than 5% f that), so I have not been able to look at it. I do not believe the car has been hit, & the catch looked properly aligned when I looked at it, so I think it will be the WD40 & grease solution first. However, I cannot help the feeling there is a simple explanation to it, especially as the boot close perfectly easily once I click the lock with the remote key.

Once I've tried it, I'll post my success or failure here.

Tbh it sounds like a solenoid failure.

If you look at my guides link under my posts on a pc there is a guide on how to swap a boot lock mechanism (including swapping over the key barrel so that all locks still match).

Buy a replacement lock off ebay and see how you get on.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=231579193573&alt=web