Spinning boot barrel mod/fix by using just 1x screw.
No replacement parts needed.
One day my key would just turn around in the boot barrel without actually opening the boot.
The cause of this problem is due to the alloy metal end piece within the barrel breaks in two places.
There is a large black plastic triangle piece that has two plastic lugs which slot into the alloy section, the two plastic lugs also break.
This then causes the key barrel to just keep turning without unlocking the boot, this is due to the broken lugs not able to turn the triangle piece section that triggers the micro switch to unlock the boot catch.
IF YOU CANNOT SOURCE A REPLACEMENT LOCK.
THEN THIS HOW TO WILL SHOW YOU HOW TO FIX YOUR MECHANISM BY USING JUST 1x METAL SCREW.
YOU DONT EVEN HAVE TO TAKE YOUR BARREL & MECHANISM OUT FROM THE BOOT.
ALL CAN BE PERFORMED WITH THE BARREL/MECHANISM STILL IN SITU (still fitted to boot).
1: Removed the boot door-card by popping out the black plastic fixers. You will see the boot barrel mechanism top right of boot.
2: Pop out the metal striker bar from the red clip that is attached to the large plastic triangle end piece.
3: With a small flat headed screwdriver carefully removed the cir-clip and carefully lift the black plastic triangle end piece downwards (you may find the metal alloy broken pieces and the black plastic lugs will just fall out).
4: The metal alloy end piece will stay in its position, you will not have to disturb this section at all.
5: Remove the spring from the black plastic triangle piece and inspect the two lugs. You will most probably find one or both plastic lugs have broken off, this is why your key barrel just spins (you will just see a footprint where the lugs were attached).
6: Drill one hole exactly to the centre on each lug footprint, use a small precision drill bit. Please Note: Only one hole will be used, this is because I found the cir-clip would cover the other hole, even when adjusting the cir-clip over to one-side).
7: The screws must not be to long, no longer that the black collar moulding (you can just see the tips of each screw).
8: Only one screw will be needed. Remove both screws from the black plastic triangle piece.
9: Now refit the spring back into the black plastic triangle piece, making sure you hook both ends of the spring over the plastic edge moulding.
10: You can now reassemble the black plastic triangle piece back onto the barrel lock mechanism in the boot. Just offer-up the triangle piece over the barrel centre pin and line up the ends of the spring to the lower gaps in the metal alloy end piece (the piece that has broken where the plastic lugs would normally slot in). Everything just slots in carefully, once all in place you can refit the cir-clip.
11: You will find the cir-clip will cover one hole, you can rotate the cir-clip but one hole will always be covered. So choose a hole that suits you and screw in the small screw. The screw is now in position where originally one of the black plastic lugs would normally be, this screw will now act as one of the lugs as a stopper to turn the triangle piece to strike the micro switch when the key is turned.
12: Job done.
Disclaimer:
You are responsible for any work or modifications carried out on your car and you undertake any such work at your own risk.
The 75 and ZT Owners Club nor the original author of this How-To can be held liable for anything that may happen as a result
of you following this How-To.