Focus trunk latch help

Our 2003 ford focus has a defective trunk latch. The ford place was going to charge $90 labor to install a new one. I like to DIY when I can.

The car has a trunk release inside, plus a trunk release button on the remote. When you press either one, it justs makes a lot of constant clicking sounds and will not open. We have been using the key to open up the trunk.

I ordered the part for $70 and it looks pretty straightforward to install. It is a one-piece black part, with a electrical connector. It is held on by two star bolts.

Seems like I read somewhere to be sure not to change out the part where you put your key in, because if you do then your key will not work. I looked at the black piece again and noticed there were clips on the side, so maybe I can leave the metal piece where the key is inserted intact, and just change out the black piece.

I have the new trunk latch part ordered and should have it very soon.

Is there any special instructions I need to know before I start changing out the part? Any help would be appreciated.

 

but are you sure this part is the problem?

Check all the parts to make sure they move smoothly and nothing has gotten stuck in the mechanisms. You'd be surprised what I've mananged to loose in my trunk.

Also, not a Ford Focus, but my latch assembly has a setting where only the key can be used to open it. I think it's supposed to be a security feature. It's really easy to accidently trip mine, and once tripped, the inside releases don't work.

Anyway, I thought I would post this to try and give you some more ideas.

 

Ditto on the make sure you have it lubed real good & all mechanisms are moving freely. If you do have to change it, it should come with a couple of new keys.

 

i tried lubing the parts and that did not help. i got the new latch in the mail and this morning i tried to remove the two star bolts. they would not move.

i took the car to a mechanic friend of mine and he got the two bolts out. He said they had locktite on them.

good thing i took the car to him. after we got the old latch assembly out, we noticed the metal part where you insert the key was still attached.

after about 45 minutes of fooling with it, he got it pryed open with a small screwdriver. once inside i had to push on a small release button, while he turned on the metal piece where the key is inserted, and then it came loose.

he then attached this metal piece where you insert the key, to the new latch assembly. we then installed the entire latch assembly back to the trunk lid, plugged in the electrical connector, put the two star bolts back in, and we were done.

now the trunk works when you push the button on the inside of the car, plus when you push on the trunk release button on the remote. perfect!

when we looked on the inside of the old trunk latch, it wasn't the actual latch part that was bad. it was at the top, where there was a small white wheel with teeth, and the teeth looked worn quite a bit. he said that was why it made a lot of clicking sounds without opening up the trunk. that is why you could only use the key to open the trunk.

i offered him some money for his time, but he would not take any. that is a true friend. i shook his hand and thanked him for his help.

one person also posted that the new latch assembly should come with a couple of new keys, but it didn't. that's why we had to use the metal piece for the key that i already had.

hope this helps someone.

 

Having the same trouble and found a used latch mechanism, which works fine when I hook it up to the electrical feed. I'm trying to swap out the lock cylinder so, I can use my key with it, but like you said I'm having trouble getting the metal and plastic halves of the mechanism apart.

If anyone has any tips, I'd be interested. I used a screwdriver to try and pry it apart, but I'm afraid of cracking the plastic.

 

This must be common with Focus'. My fiance has an 01 and does the same thing. It had been in an accident so I thought that caused it, turns out it must just be a junky part. I guess thats what you get with a cheap car.