Hi Steve,
I guess the starting point is to make sure the striker on the trunk (aka
boot) lid is straight. If it is bent then it is effectively shorter.
The receiver on the rear panel is designed to rotate and close around
the pin on the striker. the catch looks a little like a bottle opener
and rotates almost through 90 degrees between open and closed.
You can check this with the boot open by rolling the catch with a
screwdriver, when open it is towards the rear of the car, to close it
lever it forward against the spring (don't go mad with a big
screwdriver) and feel it click into place. When it is closed it should
partly wrap around the pin on the striker and hold it in position.
Pushing the release should make it fly back and clear the way for the
striker to lift vertically as you open the boot.
Unless the car has been hit in the rear, there should be enough
adjustment on the striker to accommodate for wear - the pin can wear but
rarely needs replacing.
If the problem persists a work around is to file the inside upper jaw of
the 'can opener' to allow the pin to sit deeper into the jaw. This would
need the striker to be moved up by the same amount that you file away.
Don't go more than 1mm otherwise the jaw will be weakened too much.
>From ones I have seen, it is generally when they are too loose that they
tend to open on their own or maybe the boot seal is incorrect.
I will mail you a couple of photos later.
Happy over-driving
--
Jeff Howarth
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