After closing my trunk the other day, I noticed the soft clamp down motor never clamped. Then trying to open it again using the switch in the door, It will not open. No big deal, I thought and removed the right passenger cushions to access the manual lever to open the trunk. Well, I pulled the black lever as far as it can go, but the trunk will not open.

Inside the dash, I can see the trunk open light on.
Connecting the VAG, I can see actuating the open switch and able to actuate the soft clamping motor on and off. But obviously not getting the solenoid to release and open?

What is left to do here? My last resort is buying another trunk and cut myself access......How hard can you pull the black lever behind the seat to release the trunk? The ski hole is way too small. The green emergency lever is electronic and doesn't of course work either, or is it another way to access the locking mechanism?

 

when pulling on the emergency cable, have someone push down on the trunk at the latch area, this should enable it to release

 

Hello Zaos. I just checked my 2008 GT Speed, and my lever is on the left side. It is assessable from the left rear passenger side and it pushes up and down. I tried the lever and it does not make any type of noise during its operation. Mine is not a pull motion. The best I can figure is the lever releases the lock. If pushing down on the trunk lid as advised while trying to release and that fails you now have scared me. Please let us know what the resolution for you turns out to be.

Ron

 

Zaos,you've been helpful to me. Stop before you cut a hole in the trunk. I was stuck this way when I left the fuse out of the trunk fuse and the trunk was closed. Obviously the handle in the trunk wont work because it is electronic. I was going to send in a little Chinese mechanic that my friend works with through the ski hole as a last result. The handle in the back left seat pulled fully -no release . Try unbolting the handle,grab the wire and its cover with a strong vise grip and pull like hell-it should release or brake-nothing to lose, Andy,

 

Hello All,
As to not confuse each other, as some of you here in the USA are stating "Left Passenger Rear Seat", YES the seat is to your left when you are in the rear facing the rear of the vehicle, BUT it is still the passenger right side seat, and YES as Tarnow1942 stated, I had to do the same on both the 05 and 06 GT's, as there is to much slack in the cable routing itself, and I mean I had to pull hard on the 06, hard enough that the little z connection piece on the end broke off and I punched myself in the mouth, felt like I knocked my teeth out, BUT the trunk was open now......


Just another piece of info I came to realize while doing my GT re-build, the 05 GT has power pull-down locking of the trunk latch (SOFT-LATCH), but no power lift and lower of the lid, whereas the 06 GT has the power open and close (lift and lower) but no separate soft latch as the 05, in the pictures you can see the 05 with the soft latch motor, and the 06 without.

 

Thanks everyone for your help

Well, still no go. Cannot open the trunk.

@Johnny, my car indeed has the soft latch and I can operate it using my VAG, but cannot unlock the trunk.

@Ron/@Andy/@Bentleytech, Yeah I followed the process in the Bentley Assist or IETIS manual how to open the trunk, but no banana for me.....It does not matter how hard I pull nor how much anyone pushes down on the trunk or massaging the car in any way. I undid the lever from the wire and pulled like no tomorrow, avoiding punching myself in the mouth, but no can-do. Its really frustrating.

However, I do have one theory on how to possibly open the trunk. As I mentioned before, the car thinks the trunk is open, even if it is physically closed.

Using the toilet plunger trick, pulling out the left rear light. Then from there I can find the connector X02605 (Luggage compartment lid latch status switch connector 2-way) and disconnect it, or short it. Whichever gives trunk closed signal. My car should then think the trunk is closed and hopefully, I just hit the trunk open button inside the car to open it?

I am thinking, the release solenoid will not release because it thinks the trunk is already open.

Otherwise, I do have another trunk!! and in right color too

 

Hello Zaos.
What year and type of Bentley are you working on. The plunger will not work on my 2008 Continental GT Speed. The tail lights are bolted in. I have changed my right rear and it would not be possible to pop it out. Can you hear any relay clicking when using the key fob? Possibly the motor has failed or the field locked up on the armature because of particles being magnetized. If you remember the old starter trick, when it would fail you struck it with a hammer to free it up. The manual documents when a fail condition exist hold the fob release for 2 plus seconds. I know you have probably tried that many times. Just a thought.

Ron

 

Hello Ron,
Yes, all the years taillights are bolted in, when using the plunger removal method, what happens is the bolts and bolts receptacle stay attached to the vehicle while these spring loaded bolt receptacles slide out of the taillight housing.

 

Hello Johnny Hotspur. I appreciate you FYI. I looked at my old cracked removed taillight and see how the bolt release feature works. I would try the plunger method before trunk damage and replacement. I know the possibility of braking the tail light during the plunger removal at a high cost of $2,000. I had a slight crack in my removed taillight, and now thinking about the removal procedure I would have attempted the plunger to see how easy the removal would have been. I think I would use the plunger and Duct tape the plunger to the lens fore a larger suction surface. I hope I will never need to try the removal.
Thanks Ron

 

Yikes!
I paid $1k for the trunk and then just the tail light is $2K. Well I will decide how to solve my trunk problem this weekend

 

....you folks are amazing and probably know more about the inner working of Bentley than anyone outside of Crewe....here Johnny not just helps but can send picture of parts under discussion....I wonder what would be result and bill if you just dropped car off at BMC and said fix it??? JimB

 

Mission accomplished

Pulled off the left tail light and got access to the X02605 connector fooling the trunk thinking it is closed and indeed, got the trunk to release using the trunk open switch in the door.

Thanks all for all your help......

 

....congratulations...that was a scary situation...what gets me is...is there not a positive mechanical latch opening lever...mine is a 2010 Speed...having hella time getting main battery out...its all freed up, now for the big lift...60lbs in awkward position...have you done this one...is it necessary to take off the trunk panel ahead of the battery panel...what is that round disc about...any help appreciated...JimB

 

Sounds great. Have you figured out what the original failure was? It could happen to you again. I will check the schematic for the X02605 connector for a reference incase I should have the same issue in the future. Thank you for the FYI on the connector and fooling the closure.
Ron

 

Hello Jim. You just need to manhandle it. The only parts I remove were the electrical panels and hold down clamps. The right battery in the same manner. If you are replacing the left you might consider doing both. The trouble is worth it in the long run. The left if not changed is do now for security. They are usually good for about 5 years. Beyond that you are gambling.

Ron 2008 GT Speed.