Hi,

I bought an Audi as listed above a little while back, fixed up a lot of the problems on it however the boot is completely stuck. It will NOT open with the key (manually) or elctrically with the button on the fob. When you put the key in the boot lock it spins all the way counter clockwise and doesnt do anything. If i push the keyfob down for the boot and put my ear to the bootlid i can hear a very faint click from the actuator ( however I know this will need to be replaced as it sounds very weak). At the moment I cannot get the boot open so I cannot replace that. The roof works fine and goes down and back up, however i recently tried a manual reset on the roof using the special Audi key that is in the fuse area of the dashboard which actually threw up a warning light on the dash that the boot was open, that has since gone away and the roof is back to being okay however boot still will not open at all. I have tried looking for a manual release inside the boot by half opening the rear roof cover that goes up with the struts but i cannot see anything to manually release the boot. ( i know it wouldnt open anyway if that part of the roof was open but it was just to get a look inside as the skihatch covers the back seats so i cannot see in). This is my first AUDI and i got it knowing it had issues but if anyone can point me in the direction of what to try that would be amazing. I am not a mechanic just like to mess around with cars as a hobby here and there and this car i would love to get up a working perfectly!

 

Roof works fine

I disconnected the position sensor and sprayed contact cleaner on it, it moves freely (sensor on the convertible roof beside the strut)
central locking works and unlocking with keyfob 

sorry for the novel, thanks in advance for the help!

https://www.google.com/search?q=audi+a4+emergency+boot+release&sca_esv=de3ec7a2649b146b&sxsrf=AE3TifNpupzTEjPf19UlrSx2tsykZpo3JA%3A1757579333376&source=hp&ei=RYjCaMv_FOmkhbIPz_OmuQM&oq=audi+a4+emerg&gs_lp=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&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-hp

The above is the emergency boot entry method

Hi @phil1888 appreciate the reply! My model is a convertible so seats don’t fold on this one, there is only a small ski hatch. 
 

Is there any pull tabs on the convertible models? 

Hello Paul,

Possibly a daft question, but is there anything preventing you removing the back seat backrest - sometimes anchored at the base and ‘slid over’ hook type brackets at the top. Appreciate you will still have to work through any cross bracing, but…. 
Alternative? Try a largish local bodyshop for advice. They would have to work through this situation. 
Regards,

Gareth. 

 

1 hour ago, Dabiggsy said:

Hi @phil1888 appreciate the reply! My model is a convertible so seats don’t fold on this one, there is only a small ski hatch. 
 

Is there any pull tabs on the convertible models? 

I'm not 100% sure as mine is a convertible aswell, there may be a removable panel on the boot lid if you can access it when ur deck is open

58 minutes ago, Magnet said:

Hello Paul,

Possibly a daft question, but is there anything preventing you removing the back seat backrest - sometimes anchored at the base and ‘slid over’ hook type brackets at the top. Appreciate you will still have to work through any cross bracing, but…. 
Alternative? Try a largish local bodyshop for advice. They would have to work through this situation. 
Regards,

Gareth. 

 

Hi magnet,

 

I have never removed seats before I’m sure I could try that and see how it goes. Was hoping for a simple solution like maybe a hidden tab I didn’t know about or a rooftop sensor affecting the boot or something similar. I think the roof tray in the back has a sensor would that affect the boot not opening? The boot won’t even open won’t even open with the key inside (plastic one and main key for ignition). I have sprayed wd40 in the lock still nothing. I have tried thumping the back of the boot where the actuator is but nothing. Absolutely wrecking my head 😂 this model doesn’t have valet button which I have read online. I’d say the lock is just disconnected so I may have to open the back of the convertible part and just pull the cover off and open it that way but could that !Removed! the convertible if I do that? Or maybe disconnecting the battery while I do that should be okay? 
 

thank you 

Did you find any fix to this?

I have the exact same problem.

Thanks.

7 minutes ago, Tobias Fisker said:

Did you find any fix to this?

I have the exact same problem.

Thanks.

My boot was sealed shut due to water ingress. That’s why it feels impossible to pull open. Open the convertible roof to the point where the rear body part lifts up (where the roof goes into)

Once that’s open stick something between the plastic trim where the latch is and just keep prying around until you lever it open. I then replaced actuator in the boot and it works good. Lock is broken but key fob works

Hi - just wondered how you got access to boot and of this worked as have same problem. Did you have roof open part way to get in to boot as I have 2004 cabriolet and cannot get into boot another way. I thought the boot was locked automatically if roof was partially open so not sure how mechanism opens. Thanks

3 hours ago, Al M said:

Hi - just wondered how you got access to boot and of this worked as have same problem. Did you have roof open part way to get in to boot as I have 2004 cabriolet and cannot get into boot another way. I thought the boot was locked automatically if roof was partially open so not sure how mechanism opens. Thanks

Hi, Yes open the boot half away until the rear section opens fully. Then basically lean over into the boot half hanging out of the car and wedge a pry bar / long socket adaptor into the trim where the boot lock mechanism is and just try pry it open as the water creates a tight seal on the rubber and locks it like cement. is your keyfob not working either? therefore the actuator is broken and will need to be replaced. try manually unlock it just twist the key around left and right with some force (not enough to snap the key) and pull up at same time. Then again try the pry bar. You may damage the trim a little but at least boot will be open. took me a little bit of time to wiggle the socket adaptor in between the trim and boot itself from the inside but youl get it with some patience. youll start to understand what i mean once you try it

also if the roof is not opening due to the boot thinking its open already just manually open the roof with the key behind the dashboard trim. Its a big T shaped tool with red grip. Plenty of videos on youtube.

Uploading Attachment...
here is an image to kind of help draw a picture. thats supposed to be a hand going where you need to pry. haha!

Edited April 13Apr 13 by Dabiggsy

Very helpful thanks! Yes the key fob can't open the boot, when I press the button I can hear a whizzing sound but boot doesn't open and when I put the key in boot lock it won't turn (after I've sprayed penetrating oil) so think the actuator has gone. Will give it a pry tomorrow!

You must have done art at school 😀

31 minutes ago, Al M said:

Very helpful thanks! Yes the key fob can't open the boot, when I press the button I can hear a whizzing sound but boot doesn't open and when I put the key in boot lock it won't turn (after I've sprayed penetrating oil) so think the actuator has gone. Will give it a pry tomorrow!

Yeah so the lock has become disconnected inside the boot hence why it’s spinning and not opening. Try pry it open and if you do a little bit of damage not the end of the world, my boot works perfectly now

I had a go and couldn't get the boot open - even if I did it would hit the metal part of back of car that goes vertical when you open roof - I'm at a loss what to do other than take to garage