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Paul Freshney
Joined: 18 Jan 2016 Posts: 12 Location: Notts.
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Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2016 10:02 pm Post subject: Continental GT: boot won't open! |
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I have a 2005 Continental GT, and as of this afternoon the boot refuses to open. Neither of the normal methods will make it budge (key, B, door switch).
The dashboard is showing the boot being open, so there is something strange going on somewhere.
I've read there is a manual lever located behind the driver's side passenger seat, but I really don't fancy taking the car to pieces! Does anyone have any suggestions - otherwise it'll have to go to Bentley Leicester...
Thanks! |
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Andrew Collier Site Admin
Joined: 29 Jan 2015 Posts: 51 Location: Hampshire, United Kingdom
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Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 7:52 am Post subject: |
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Hi,
It's almost certainly going to be electrical in nature.
I thought the manual release switch was accessible through the ski hatch between the rear seats but I've never had to look for it. |
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Robert Zannetti Guest
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Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 10:23 am Post subject: |
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Paul, Andrew is right. The manual release lever is a light grey horizontal 100mm long handle at the lower edge of the boot lid on the port side. You should be just able to reach it. Good luck. |
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Paul Freshney
Joined: 18 Jan 2016 Posts: 12 Location: Notts.
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Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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Robert Zannetti wrote: | Paul, Andrew is right. The manual release lever is a light grey horizontal 100mm long handle at the lower edge of the boot lid on the port side. You should be just able to reach it. Good luck. |
Thanks!
I can see that lever in the manual, but there is no lever on my boot. I've seen pictures via a Google search, and my boot does not match the pictures!
I'll have another look... |
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Robert Zannetti Guest
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Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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Paul, when you are looking through the ski aperture from within the car the lever appears to be quite high and only slightly to the port side. |
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Paul Freshney
Joined: 18 Jan 2016 Posts: 12 Location: Notts.
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Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2016 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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Robert Zannetti wrote: | Paul, when you are looking through the ski aperture from within the car the lever appears to be quite high and only slightly to the port side. |
There's nothing there!
I can see this lever on images from a google image search. My car does not have this level!!  |
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John Murch

Joined: 05 Jun 1976 Posts: 1567 Location: London, United Kingdom
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Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 7:07 am Post subject: |
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Is there any posibility that your battery is getting old and the voltage is down?
That might result in the boot opening device not having the guts to do the job - perhaps try it with the engine running? Clutching at straws?
John |
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Paul Freshney
Joined: 18 Jan 2016 Posts: 12 Location: Notts.
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Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2016 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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John Murch wrote: | Is there any posibility that your battery is getting old and the voltage is down?
That might result in the boot opening device not having the guts to do the job - perhaps try it with the engine running? Clutching at straws?
John |
Doubtful. I closed the boot after disconnecting the Bentley-branded trickle charger, so the battery should be fully charged.
I don't think there is anything else I can do, but give it to Bentley Leicester to fix. I'm hoping that using the manual release, then allowing the mechanism to reset its open/close cycle, will be enough. I hope! |
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Paul Freshney
Joined: 18 Jan 2016 Posts: 12 Location: Notts.
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Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:53 am Post subject: |
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Just an update.
It's now working fine!
Dad had a great idea: we put a little bit of pressure on the boot lid, hoping that might reset the boot's open/close sensor. It did, it worked. The dashboard status indicator changed immediately to "boot closed", and all of the opening mechanisms started to work again.
It's still a bit strange, and I'll keep an eye on it. |
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John Murch

Joined: 05 Jun 1976 Posts: 1567 Location: London, United Kingdom
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Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2016 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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Would it be worthwhile to spray the 'rubber' seals and the locking mechanism with a silicon spray, it may help everyone to open and close more positively.
Great to have got it going without an expensive trip to the agents. Well done.
john |
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Paul Freshney
Joined: 18 Jan 2016 Posts: 12 Location: Notts.
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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John Murch wrote: | Would it be worthwhile to spray the 'rubber' seals and the locking mechanism with a silicon spray, it may help everyone to open and close more positively.
Great to have got it going without an expensive trip to the agents. Well done.
john |
That's a good idea, thanks. I'll do at the weekend! |
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Robert Zannetti Guest
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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Paul, did you ever find the manual release? |
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Paul Freshney
Joined: 18 Jan 2016 Posts: 12 Location: Notts.
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Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2016 11:37 am Post subject: |
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Robert Zannetti wrote: | Paul, did you ever find the manual release? |
The manual release is behind the driver's side rear seat, and there was no way I'm taking that out!
I've seen pictures (like this one: http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/I5kAAOSwhcJWIpbv/s-l300.jpg) of boot lids with a manual release lever, but there isn't one on my car. It's hard to miss!
It's mentioned in the handbook, which is weird. I'm wondered if it's a US requirement that wasn't fitted to all UK-spec cars. |
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