7 replies to this topic

[Aksh Sehgal]

So I got to start my miata yesterday and of course it needs a jump start. I go to open the trunk and its stuck! The pull cord that usually pops it up, isn't doing anything. Any ideas?

I thinking about drilling a hole and taking a peek inside

[Tom Hampton]

Is the cable still attached to the stock trunk lever between the seats?

I wouldn't drill right away. I'd try removing the filler-neck cover on the parcel shelf, and use a flashlight and "mirror-on-a-stick" thingy to take a peak at the latch. If nothing more it should help identify where to drill in order to avoid making swiss cheese out of your rear panel.

-tch

[Steve D]

On my old car we used to have to push down on the trunk lid while pulling on the release cable. That would allow the latch to move.

[Keith Novak]

How about spray some WD-40 or similar in the lock cylinder and open it with the key?

[dmathias]

On my old car we used to have to push down on the trunk lid while pulling on the release cable. That would allow the latch to move.

Ditto

[Tom Hampton]

Once you get it open, ditch the latch and get pins!

[davew]

There are 2 body plugs in the trunk floor. they are about 3 inches in diameter and are only glued in. You can reach in with your arm and work the lock mechanism manually

Dave

[dtfastbear]

What Dave said... but there are also some very small rubber plugs that you can pop up, then stick a bent, heavy coat hanger in there to pull down on the lock mechanism. If you have a miata with an open trunk to look at as a model, it will only take a minute or two of fiddling to get it open.

Credit goes to Jeremy Hittle of Off Camber Racing who helped me at the track with this exact dilemma two years ago.

Cheers,

Dean