Trunk Will Lock but not Unlock

[tuanies]

I'm sorry if this has been covered before, but I spent an hour searching and couldn't find anyone else with a similar problem.

I have a 2000 Limited AWD, all the door locks work perfectly, but the trunk hatch.

The hatch and glass lock perfectly every time, but it refuses to unlock. It used to require a few presses of the unlock button before it would unlock, but now it just won't unlock. When I press the unlock button, I can hear the actuator making the unlocking sound, but nothing happens.

It will only unlock with the key.

Now my question is, would it be the trunk lock actuator or the little rod that needs replacing? It's just weird that it'll lock fine, and from what I've read, when the actuator goes out, it just doesn't work.

 

[budwich]

If you take your panel off, the answer will likely be obvious. Locking is "gravity assisted" while unlocking has to work against gravity. Odds are the linkage ain't quite right.... or needs a "bit of lub".

 

[hworksinc]

If you can hear the actuator making a "whirring" noise, then you probably need a new actuator. I've replaced nearly a dozen in friends trucks. The linkages get a bit gummed up and the extra force strips or breaks the gears in the actuator. If the gears are only partially stripped, you can get the situation of locking but not unlocking (for reasons that budwich mentioned).

 

[Khaelbee]

I don't have power locks, but my driver door did kinda the same... it locked just fine, but to unlock it, I had to jimmy the key around in the lock to make it work. Took off my door panel, greased that thing up, works like a champ now.

 

[tuanies]

Thanks guys! I'll give it a look after work today .

 

[tuanies]

I looked into it, yea it looks like the trunk lock actuator needs replacing. Is there an easy way to get it off the hook? I have the thing completely out but it won't unhook from the thing.

I was just going to try cleaning and lubing it up before replacing it