My Car – Mondeo MkIII Estate
I had a problem similar to others where the boot lid would only consistently open using the key fob. Ocaisionally it would work with the dashboard button and the rubber pressure pad on the boot itself, but was very intermittent.
The solution to this problem is to take the rubber pressure switch out, and lubricate the microswitch held inside. This little switch gets stuck in the ‘pressed’ position and prevents the microswitch from resetting, thus you can’t open the boot unless you use the key fob. As the dash button and pressure switch are linked together, this also prevents you opening the boot with the dash button.
To do this fix undo two screws inside the handles of the boot trim. Prise the boot trim off in about 10 locations (It’s fairly stiff and feels as if your gonna snap the thing but keep trying) You can also remove the rear window trim for more space around the window area.
Undo four 10mm bolts which hold the fixing containing the number plate lights and boot release pressure switch onto the tailgate. This unit should then come away from the boot lid on the outside.
Follow the wire from the boot release pressure switch to the main wiring loom near the rear windscreen wiper assembly. Unclip the small connector (should be one black wire and one black/blue wire). Squish and remove the little rubber bush thing that holds that wire onto the boot lid and pull the wire through to the outside of the car.
Now release the boot switch by pressing the plastic clips in with a pair of plyers and push downwards. This should release the boot release pressure switch.
The boot release pressure switch is made of 3 parts. A rubber casing, a metal plate with springs and a plastic moulding with a switch in it. Remove both the rubber casing and the metal plate and if yours is like mine was, the when you push the little white end of the microswitch fully down, it gets stuck.
To fix this I applied a bit of lubricant (grease/oil/silicone grease) to the switch area and with a pair of tweasers pulled the switch in and out repeatedly for about 5 mins until the switch freed up.
Reassemble in the same order and hopefully like me, you’ll have a boot which works when you want it to.
Trink, March 2009