ollie, your absolutely right! Sorry guys for not getting back to you. I have been setting up my own business as a pc tech, and have been very busy. (so if you got a problem with your pc maybe I can help!)
Right, here are the instructions for the 'Brit made Switch'
1. If you can't open your boot then, climb in the back seat, pull off the parcel shelf. Pull of the plastic cover for the boot door. (start at the arched bit in the middle, and just yank it off.)
You should see where the wire goes through the door to the switch. Trace the wire to the white connector, and unclip the connector by depressing the sprung clip on one side and pull apart.
To open the boot, place a small spade-tipped screwdriver inside the female part of the connector so that you make a connection between the two pins inside. (dont worry, you wont get a shock!)
Once you have made the connection, you will hear the door release.
2. Open the boot lid fully and stand with the dangling wire to your face. You will see two nuts on the inside of the boot lid. Using a 10mm socket, undo the two nuts to release the opening latch. There is a rubber grommit that seals the wire, so just push it through and feed the wire through.
Now you have your latch free from the car.
3. Using a star bit (not sure what size) unscrew the four star screws. Pull out the black housing for the latch. You will see loads of this blu-tac stuff, throw this away as it is as useful as a chocolate fireguard!
4. You will see a main block, with chamfered edges on one side and two wires going into it. Cut the two wires right next to the block (don't be afraid!) Remember to keep the wire you have just cut, as it has the connector on the end!
The main block will separate into two pieces by releasing some indented catches (brute force may be required, but take care not to damage the casing!
5. once you have the casing apart you will see the rubbish (French) microswitch in one side. You need to hollow everything out of this side so that you are left with just the outer casing. (you dont need any wires or connections from inside this casing)
6. You need to buy a push to make switch from Maplins (product code JB00A) £0.89
Once you have your switch you need to cut a square in the casing just big enough for the connector end of the switch to poke through.
Once you have done this, the switch should fit snugly into the casing, with the button end of the switch protruding from the open end of the casing. (basically in the same position as the old microswitch.)
Fix the switch in place using some superglue.
7. Bare about 5mm off each wire that you cut off in step 4. Twist and pass each wire through the eyeholes in each connector on the switch. Now solder the wires in place. (it makes no difference which wire goes where) You can test you switch at this point by reconnecting the two white connectors and pressing the switch. See how much more responsive this switch is! (dont press the button too many times as this may trigger the auto cut off system to prevent the relase system from overheating!)
8. Now then, you need to prevent water from getting back into the switch. To do this you need to fill the casing with the switch inside, with silicone. (any cheap stuff will do) You have to heap the silicone over and arround the button end of the switch. (dont worry, this will not damage the switch) once you have done this, then immidiately re-join the two casings back together.
9. You will need to also silicone round the entire casing and where your solder connections are. (basically where all that horrible blu-tac stuff was)
You can put the main casing back into the latch housing using the star screws.
You will still have a large cavity round where the wires are protruding, so you can fill this with more silicone.
You must now leave the silicone at least 24 hours to dry. ( dont be tempted to press the button until it is completely dry)
10. Now re-assemble everything and hopefully you should be fine.
Another solution is to connect two long wires (normal 5amp wire is ok) to the ends that you cut off in step 4, and chase the wires back to the dashboard of the car, and mount the switch somewhere in the dashboard, so that you can open the door from inside the car! (You could do both solutions!)
If anyone has any problems with the switch (or with a PC) then please post here and I will do better to reply sooner.
Good luck
From Carlos
Carlos, June 2010
