Cybersombosis

Stick the key in the slot without depressing the button and turn left. The spring in the lock will bring the key back to vertical. You "should" be able to push the button to open the trunk now with or without the key in the lock. That is how my car worked when I tested it last night. Mine is also a B5.

Doug

rraj2k9

Hey Doug,

Thanks for the info but no Luck. I inserted the FOB and without pressing it, I tried turning the key and was unable to. No matter how hard I tried I was unable to turn the lock.

I even tried pressed and nothing. Tried with both my FOB and the valet key and nothing.

Now that I think about it, I don't think I have ever been able to unlock the trunk with my key, unless I am missing something.

I am going to get a needle nose plier tomorrow and see if I can move the damn locking rod so I can open the gas door.

Anything else I can try or do to open the damn trunk and the gas door.

I am getting to a point where I rather junk the car and be off with it !!!

Cybersombosis

Sounds like you may not have the original key to the car. Alot of times when cars get broken into and the thief pops the lock, the repair company has to buy a new lock set. At this point I would try locating the leak. When you turn the lock manually in the door or when you lock/unlock the car with your fob, do you hear the pump going for an excessive amount of time? If so, during this time sit quietly in your car and listen for a hissing sound. Hopefully the leak will not be in the trunk. If it is in the trunk then I don't know what to say. Take a butter knife and try to move the plunger slowly out of the way of the gas door? There is a small gap and the plunger should move fairly easily.

Also I've read that the trunk liner can be removed and the linkage manipulated manually by hand. I don't know how feasible this is with the trunk stuck shut but you may be able to do it.

Good luck.

Doug

mikeh

Had the same problem with a 2000 S4. Had to remove the back seats and crawl into the trunk.

Good luck!!

rraj2k9

Hey Doug,

I am starting to think that. But the FOB and the Valet key I have starts the car and locks/Unlocks the driver door.

One thing I did notice was that the trunk lock key insert is in the horizontal position, should it be horizontal or Vertical ?

If it's horizontal, any ideas why its in this position ?

This is how it can always been.

Cybersombosis

Ya mine is in the vertical position so maybe the lock was fixed as some point and the installer installed it in the wrong orientation. Can you turn your key in either direction when you insert it either depressed or undepressed?

On a side note, I've been having bad thoughts about being locked in my trunk and if I could get our or not for the past 4 months so this post is definitely intriguing me. I've decided to open up the insulation on the trunk lid and install a safety release so I can sleep at night. I have no idea why I'm thinking about it but I am. It's more of a safety thing for my 2 kids too as I don't want them getting stuck in there as a prank gone bad. It gives me the shivers.

Doug

rraj2k9

OK with a needle nose plier and a wire stripper I managed to retract the locking pin and open the gas door. I have full tank of gas now. At least I got the chance to enjoy the snow last night.

Doug,

I double checked the lock. It is in the vertical position. But still unable to turn the lock either way pressed or depressed. I am going to see if I can release the latch this weekend.

With the trunk closed can the liner be taken out and the latch be released to unlock the trunk ?

Every time I unlock the door via the driver door or the FOB I hear the motor whirring but I cannot hear a hissing noise, at least nothing very prominent.

The weird thing is this keeps happening. As in for the last three months or so, since the weather became really cold, the power locks would stop working and start working after a few days. So I am not sure what would cause this behavior.

Cybersombosis

What is the temperature there? Is it totally frozen? It may be that water got into the lock and it's frozen solid. The only way is to wait until it warms up or maybe put it in to a heated garage and see if it will thaw out.

As far as undoing the trunk liner, the only way is to try. I'm glad you got the gas door open.

Doug

hondarider

The trunk lid liner can be removed from inside as I have performed this rather difficult task. The air line for the trunk lid was pinched and the latch would not release. Opened it manually from inside and was then able to repair the air line.

ok2000A8

You turn the key, then push in cylinder. Try once with key slot horizontal and push. If that doesn't work, then try again with key slot vertical, then push in. Think your vintage Audi (1999) did not come with inside trunk release, either in cabin or inside trunk. It's the pushing in that trips the latch, not the key turning, so don't turn the key too hard. It's just a setting, not a switch/latch.

Doug is very corrrect with his assessment about vacuum system and leaks. I'm not that familiar with '99 A4, but vacuum pump may be behind back seat. If that's so, you may be able to "fool" system from that point, depending on where leak is.

Hope this helps, and good luck.