[CajunRider]

yeah, people advised me to do this, and i tried for over an hour. wiggling the trunk. putting my whole weight and bouncing on the car up and down (200lbs of fat) all while pressing the button or having someone pull the lever repeatedly.

So, there are other people who have had this issue?!!!!!!!???????????

I am so stressed... so I tried taking the back seat cushion (bottom part - seat). and the middle part seems like it won't come off...also there seems to be a lot of wiring going across down there so I don't want to yank anything off.....

I don't know if that'd help ...the seat back seems like it's securely on there.

THat might work--taking off the speaker deck thing.....

CAn you guess how much a dealer will charge me to get this fixed? I HOPE less than $100.... i can't afford much rigth now.

I am having the same problem AGAIN right now. Last year I paid $365 to get the dagum thing replaced and it broke again last night. I'm ready to swear off Honda.

 

[CajunRider]

I just spent 35 minutes to solve the same dang problem.
1. Reaching in the seam between the seatback and the bottom cushion, I removed the 6mm bolt that holds the bottom cushion down and peeled the bottom cushion out.
2. Using a 12 mm wrench I removed the 8mm bolt in the seat back bottom hinge between the large and small seatbacks.
3. Pulling the left side (facing back) trim a little bit, I removed the 8mm bolt on the bottom hinge of the other side of the small seat back. I had to use a snubby rachet and a 12 mm socket for that.
4. I pulled out the bottom of the seat back and reached in to pulled the seat back release on both sides.
5. I removed my groceries before they stink to high heaven.
6. Tomorrow I'll bring my irate butt to the Honda dealer who charged me $365 to replace the same dang trunk latch last October.

 

[CajunRider]

Hey Hyogen, I sent you a private message on how to contact me.

 

[CajunRider]

well..... i don't htink the speaker thing works. Besides, looking at it now it would be impossible for me to reach the emergency latch from the subwoofer hole...even if I was able to take out the subwoofer.

a million thanks to Cajun Rider.... I called him up more than 3 times and he walked me through the whole thing. I dunno how I'm gonna get my seats back in....but my trunk still doesn't open even with the emergency latch. Sigh...

No prob hyogen. My latch also broke. I got the grocery out so I won't have some stinky steaks and chicken in there. I'll replace the latch and tell you how. I'm still pissed at Honda however, 2 latches in 3 years?? The last one I just replaced last October. I've been a Honda fan for quite a few years. This time they are changing my mind.

I found out the latch was broken after all. The metal lips that hold the latch electrical/mechanical opening mechanism were simply bent. Bent them back in shape and you are good to go. I'm also upset because I know now the dealer replaced my latch mechanism needlessly.

By the way, the next time it happen,s you don't have to remove the seat back any more. I discovered that you can remove the little cap for the baby seat on the left side and stick a 6" flat bar (3/8" x 1/8" thick) into the opening and pop the latch on the backseat.

 

[CajunRider]

You are welcome hyogen. Since you have the pics I sent you, go ahead and post them here. I'm sure others can use them.

I've owned many Hondas and have been a fan. This one major design flaw is driving me nuts. If you habitually stuff things into you trunk (who doesn't?) make sure you stay away from the center latch mechanism. All it takes is a tall luggage bag and that latch will be bent and the trunk won't open when you get to the air port. DAMHIK.

 

[CajunRider]

what to do?

No, I don't have the valet lock on. I've tried locking and unlocking many times. it's not that.

I'm out of warrantee- i called the dealer and of course they want me to bring it in.

Now that you have the trunk open. Take the latch out by removing the two bolts. I bet you that you'll find the steel on the back of the latch mechanism is bent. It's made out of cheap soft steel.

Straighten the steel out by hammering on it against a flat surface. Then wrap a wet towel around all the latch mechanism except for that steel piece. Take a propane torch and heat it up until orange red. Be careful that you don't get the plastic parts too hot. Once it's orange red douse it with cold water. That'll harden that steel a little bit and prevent it from bending so easily.