My car was rear-ended and now I can't get the trunk open.

[pstokely]

Any suggestions for getting it open (nothing in there besides the spare tire).

[Solon]

1. Questions first...

Is the latch jammed? What I mean is can you insert the key and turn it? If you can't do that, then you might have to drill through the key hole, and then later replace the mechanism. I had a car that was rear ended, and the funny thing was that the keyhole FELL OUT. A flathead screwdriver was needed to open the trunk.

[pstokely]

4. Keyhole is still there

I turn the key and a can't lift the trunk, I've tried popping it from inside the car and nothing happens. It will probably have to be replaced anyway, how much more damage can be done? Can a body shop help me when I get an estimate?

[Solon]

5. Sounds like the trunk crossbar is bent...

I don't know the specific design for your trunk latch but the "crossbar" I guess it is called, that the latch connects to to close the trunk, is probably bent, preventing a release. You can take the car to the body shop, in fact I recommend it, considering you don't NEED anything out of it yet. They can usually fix it. They may not have to replace the trunk latch at all, maybe just the bar or whatever that it attaches too. Usually this little bar, it looks like a hoop, at least in my car, is bolted to the trunk itself, so its generally not that expensive to replace.

[idgiehkt]

2. only a crow-bar, or something that will just

cause even more damage, probably.

sorry you had a wreck :hug:

[pstokely]

3. At least the person who rear-ended me is insured.

[pitohui]

9. this happened to me

the poopyhead bad driver who rear-ended me -- their insurer had to pay for the fix

[zanne]

6. Uh oh

This is the part of the movie where the trunk pops open and there's a dead body inside.

[Lisa0825]

7. Happened to me before.

My sister took a flat head screw driver and a hammer and busted out the keyhole part. Then I was able to open it by putting the scrw driver in the right place and flipping the little latch inside. I drove it like that for a few more years, and never had a problem getting it open. I was a starving college studnet at the time, so the body shop was not an option.

[swag]

8. I told you that the trunk was no place to put the kids.