How to Fix a Jammed Toyota Camry Trunk
This problem needs a higher pagerank, so I figured I would post the solution here.
If your Toyota Camry trunk won't open, one possible reason is that it is set to valet mode. Valet mode means that you cannot open the trunk using the release lever inside the car.
To set valet mode, you put the key into the trunk lock and turn it counterclockwise. You will know that your trunk is in valet mode if the lock is horizontal rather than vertical, and if you cannot open the trunk using the lever near the driver's seat.
Of course, a problem is that sometimes the Camry can get stuck in valet mode, such that you can't use your key to get out of it. (You can see how I spent part of my Sunday morning ...)
The solution turns out to be WD-40. Spray some WD-40 on your key and on the lock. Put the key in, and jiggle it around, and happiness ensues.
From an interaction design perspective, it sort of makes sense to have a valet mode. After all, the point of having a valet key is to limit the functions that an untrusted person can use. On the other hand, in the roughly 20 years I've driven a car, I pretty much never remember to bring the valet key with me, and have only valet parked at most three times. I suspect valet mode has caused more problems than actually solved.
Comments
My trunk wasn't stuck, but no one could figure out how to lock the trunk from someone like the guy who has your car all day for service and your camera equipmet is in the trunk. No glove-box switch, nothing. And then I found your "turn lock to the left" and wah-lah!! In all the years I've owned this 98, no one, not even the Toyota service guys knew this. Thanks again.
http://youtu.be/VXKhksv-v5k
P.S. I just came back from my mechanic, he thought about the valet idea, but didn't know how it worked in the car.
Thank you so much - you are absolutely correct that this should have a higher page rank. Like many others, I thought the problem was a broken lock or a frozen cable. You saved me much frustration!
The key slot was horizontal, inserted key and turned it to vertical. Trunk release now works!
Hi every one ,my trunk doesn't lock.it'is open all time .Any ideas .Thank you
If the trunk won't latch I would suspect the tiny latch spring has broken or more likely come unhooked maybe by arguing with a bunjee cord as in my case. If the car is older the best bet is to visit a junk yard as I did and find a replacement. If the car is new enough you may be able to order the entire latch assembly for $60+ but unlikely just the spring which can't be worth more than 50 cents.
Before calling the dealer, I entered "2003 Toyota Camry can't open trunk", and up came your blog.
A little lubricant in the lock and on the key, about two jiggles of the key, and as you say, happiness was upon me.
Thanks so very much for posting this information. With millions of these cars out there, I can't even image how many people you have helped.
Tried silicone lube on the lock internals (not the lock cylinder) and key got easy to move from vertical to horizontal.
Was fearful of using "valet" mode wondering if the lock might jam in that mode and not open.
Since I many times leave the car unlocked, I use "valet" mode a lot to protect my toolbox, etc in the trunk.
Just a quick note, this blog made my panicked friend very happy and saved me tremendous effort opening the trunk that was stuck in "valet" mode. I was skeptical as I read the article that it was related the problem at hand; however, the more I read, the more I became convinced this was the solution. I shot PB Blaster in the lock, went to dinner, came back, put PB Blaster on the key, put the key in the lock, wiggled the key a little, "presto", easy peasy, open! Thank you!
My 2007 Camry CE's trunk lock got two shots of WD40 at about 4pm. Many tries and jiggles later the master key turned it clockwise again (out of "valet" mode) and then the key opened the trunk as well. This was at about 8pm. Floor remote latch also working again. There's not explaining it. I've half a mind to spend some time this weekend looking at the latch and lock mechanism to see if something is marginally broken, a piece of plastic chipped off into the mechanism, misuse allowed a little corrosion to accrue, etc. Perhaps it's just a quick and cheap design and not my fault.
Thanks for convincing me to persevere!
Kathy from Newnan Ga.
THANKS !!!
Saved a lot of frustration for me!
02 Camry
Read this thread and tried it. Didn't work. I did not give up. Added more wd40. Nothing ....after a week...
I was going to give up but no. When I bought this car from a friend I think they haven't used the keys to open doors and trunk. They were stuck for years! So I know it's not broken. One Saturday I sprayed them again wiggled the key to the right and THERE! It worked!!!
I was so happy. Didn't have to go to a locksmith or dealership to replace lock or keys (a mechanic recommendation)
Good old Wd40!!!
Don't give up & keep trying.
I had been using the valet key as the master and did not know it. What I thought was my spare key ended up being the true master key. I sprayed on some WD, stuck the key in the lock and it opened the trunk immediately.
I struggled with this all night long, doing web research and what not. Who the hell needs this valet mode bullsh*t? It's just a stupid feature that ends up being a huge pain in the ass. Glad I know now. Will retain this experience for future reference if it somehow becomes necessary again. Like most folks - I did not even KNOW there was such a ridiculous thing as this "valet" dogsh*t.
My mother in law and husband were trying to get the trunk open on her car and had to hurry, a quick search and there was your blog.
I had some WD40 White Lithium Grease, and it worked immediately. Like others said, a little on the key and in the lock, just wiggle the key and it turned back to vertical. It worked right away for us.
You saved us a lot of worry and my mother in law lord knows how much money. Plus the kids got to their finals on time (One of their projects was in the trunk!).
So glad you kept this blog up all this time!!!
Thanks
2006 Camry; trunk lock stuck in horizontal valet position. I could remove and reinsert the key just fine, but it wouldn't turn at all. I couldn't use the driver's seat trunk release, either, as valets aren't supposed to have that access, I guess.
I sprayed the WD-40 at the hardware store and drove home. The key was a bit more mobile in the lock by then: I could work it around and try different angles. After a couple minutes I felt a new little click and I could turn my key!
Sarah in Omaha
I had luck with WD-40, and my spare key actually worked pretty much immediately, the primary key didn't seem to be but maybe just took some time for the WD-40 to soak in (5 minutes total).
Lubricated copiously but it would still not pop.
What worked was to hit with medium force with my fist on the trunk body near the key while turning the key with my other hand.
Lubed everything and it's working normally again.
Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions!
the trunk lock could be turned in both vertical and horizontal position. its in vertical position and the trunk still locked. I couldn't use the driver's seat trunk release.
I sprayed the WD-40 at home yesterday evening but still not yet open.
Any ideas on how i can open the trunk would be much appreciated.