[03-SL500-813FL]

Hello All,

New member here and I just replaced the soft close latch assembly on my 03 SL500 which had the typical cracks we have all seen in other post.
But now even though the soft close feature works the truck will pop open about a 1/2" after a bit of time. I haven't seen it happen, just once I get out of the car at destination the trunk is lifted.

Thank you for any help.
Paul

 

[Gary Knox]

I can only 'guess', but if it were my car, I'd start by raising the latch the trunk closure lock attaches to about 1/16". If that doesn't help, I'd try another 1/16". IF that doesn't work, then I'd start trying to trace for some electrical issue with the trunk opening switch on the driver's door, below the handle, or the one in the trunk lid that 'pops' the trunk open.

Good luck.

 

[okbarnett]

does it suck it down and do you hear the lock click fully when you close it, and is there any play if you press on the trunk

 

[tonyjroy]

Is the new latch lined up correctly. Could be just needs to be adjusted.

 

[cyglee]

Is the new latch lined up correctly. Could be just needs to be adjusted.

if you carefully loosen the attaching bolts to the latch and re-center the bolt heads to the original marks on the paint (in hindsight, it is good to trace the bolt heads with a thin marking pen before disassembly) you may get a better alignment of the latch. There is some allowable play in the bolt holes, and the paint marks a bit from the bolt head flanges. Hope this helps.

 

[03-SL500-813FL]

does it suck it down and do you hear the lock click fully when you close it, and is there any play if you press on the trunk

It does pull down but I'm very hard of hearing so I'll have to feel for the click this evening. Once it pulls down there doesn't feel to be any play.

 

[03-SL500-813FL]

if you carefully loosen the attaching bolts to the latch and re-center the bolt heads to the original marks on the paint (in hindsight, it is good to trace the bolt heads with a thin marking pen before disassembly) you may get a better alignment of the latch. There is some allowable play in the bolt holes, and the paint marks a bit from the bolt head flanges. Hope this helps.

Yes I traced the bolt locations with marker before removal and alignment appears to be spot on.

 

[cyglee]

Nice move with the tracing! Now, I would try Gary's idea with raising the latch closure... maybe the new latch assembly tolerance is tighter and not catching completely?

 

[03-SL500-813FL]

Nice move with the tracing! Now, I would try Gary's idea with raising the latch closure... maybe the new latch assembly tolerance is tighter and not catching completely?

I can only 'guess', but if it were my car, I'd start by raising the latch the trunk closure lock attaches to about 1/16". If that doesn't help, I'd try another 1/16". IF that doesn't work, then I'd start trying to trace for some electrical issue with the trunk opening switch on the driver's door, below the handle, or the one in the trunk lid that 'pops' the trunk open.

Good luck.

Thanks Guys I'll give this a try and I'll also be trouble shooting more as I get more Suggestions.

 

[bayhas]

Make sure you clear the PSE codes, for one reason or another, the pump is trying to close, but eventually failing, when the microswitch does not send feedback that the trunk is closed shut.

 

[03-SL500-813FL]

Make sure you clear the PSE codes, for one reason or another, the pump is trying to close, but eventually failing, when the microswitch does not send feedback that the trunk is closed shut.

I disconnected the consumer battery in the truck for a couple of minutes thinking that would reset the codes. Is that correct or is there another way to clear the codes?

 

[okbarnett]

you need to know that it has sucked down, and the lock clicks in the final down position. after that watch it and see if you see it unlock itself

 

[bayhas]

you need to know that it has sucked down, and the lock clicks in the final down position. after that watch it and see if you see it unlock itself

I dont think thats physically possible...

I am almost 99% sure the issue is mechanical, with trim getting in the way...

Sounds like the vacuum is pulling down, never reaching the click stage, and eventually the pump times out and stops sucking, thus the trunk pops up again, and stays ajar.

If the vacuum pulls it down all the way until it clicks, and micro switch is depressed, there is no way to pop it back out, unless you release the entire mechanism, aka, open the trunk...