2001 Concorde Trunk release

We can use the remote or the button inside and the trunk will release and
open. BUt when you go to close it it will not lock and catch. You can
manually move the assembly back down and it will lock back. If you do the
same procedure with the key, no problem. It's just not resetting the latch
once the truck is opened with anything but the key. Any ideas?

 

I have never had the problem, but I just went outside and looked at the
trunk latch and unlatching mechanism on my Concorde - and I see what has
to be the problem, or at least can tell you what it is *not* so you can
greatly narrow it down.

Please open the trunk lid and look at what moves on the latch/unlatch
mechanism when you operate it (1) with the key, and (2) with the remote
(or button inside the cabin). You will notice that both move the same
unlatching lever, **BUT** they actuate that lever thru two independent
means, to wit: The key operates the lever by pulling a black plastic
link from the key cylinder; the remote causes an electric (solenoid)
actuator assembly to swing a shaft-mounted white plastic "bat" (for lack
of a better term) against a different lobe of the same unlatching lever.

From what you're describing, the above observation means that
**everything** is operating correctly **except** for the power actuator
(the thing that swings the little white plastic "bat").

Sounds like something in that electric unlatch module is sticking in the
unlatch state after it is actuated - either due to mechanical binding or
it is staying electrically activated (my money's on mechanical binding
since you say you can manually move it to the resting position and the
lid will then latch). Your job is to determine why that is happening
and remedy it by lubricating, repairing (maybe the bat's bent or broken
and is getting stuck against the unlatching lever), or replacing of a
part (like that actuator module - you'd probably do well to get that
from a junk yard if that's the problem - unless you want to pay $75 to
$100 for an entire latch assy. from a dealer).

Hopefully a little spray lube on the actuator module output shaft will
loosen things up.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")