DS3 Boot open fault

[Tamstein]

Hi Folks,

I have tried searching around the forum but can't really see an answer that helps. Yesterday on the way to work I got the dash warnings for the boot being open on my DS3. The boot hadn't been open in 3 days.......

The warning does not stay on constantly, it behaves a bit more like a short circuit which only adds to the annoyance with the autolocks, warning sound and information display doing allsorts of erratic things whilst going along the road. Strangely it didn't make a single chirp on the 30 minute drive home last night so I thought perhaps it was an odd one off....... Came out to the car this morning to discover it had unlocked itself again at some point through the night and sure enough the boot open warning was going crazy all the way to work.

The warnings is one thing but my biggest problem right now is that the car will not stay locked because it thinks the boot is open. I have tried locking the doors manually with the key and it still unlocks itself.

Can anyone provide any advice? I know I need to look at the loom where it goes from the hatch to the car but I can't find any information online to tell me what wires do the sensor or anything like that for diagnosis?

The boot release works perfectly fine if that helps at all with diagnosis

[xantia_v6]

Welcome to the forum. I don't know the DS3, but on older cars, the switch is below the latch plate on the car body, not in the tailgate.

[Sloppysod]

Welcome Tamstein and.......
When the C4 B7 was released the early models had problems with the boot catch, mine was okay but a neighbours friend had his replaced on warranty, his fault was opposite to yours, his wife could not open it.
May be something similar, ask your dealer, it may have slipped through the net !
Sorry I can not help any more.

[Fake Concern]

Again on a C4, Coupe this time, but most likely similar. The plastic flap over the microswitch loses it's spring and stays pushed against the switch, this makes all sorts of things like you've described happen, sometimes opening randomly and sometimes refusing to open. It can also open when you open or unlock the doors (something to do with canbus). So the first thing to try is see if the flap is pushed in and if so prise it out with a small screwdriver. I also pushed some foam rubber under it to help it pop back out after it's been used. Hope this helps, but it may be totally different in which case sorry for taking up the space!

[Tamstein]

Thanks for the welcomes and replies folks.

I couldn't see a microswitch or anywhere around the latchplate that looked to me like it would relate to it which is why I was asking really.

During lunch yesterday I didn't have any tools with me so I just pulled back the rubber cover where the wiring goes between the body and the bootlid so I could inspect the wires. They all look ok and don't show any signs of damage....... However I took the car out for a test run at lunch and no warnings. None this morning either and I have been in and out of the boot a few times (nervously!).

Very strange but if I get it again then I know where I am looking first!

[Mariovic]

Heay

I have the same problem with my DS3 1.6 HDI.. boot open warning on the dashboard.. i have purchased a used tailgate lock.. hopefully it will fix it..

How about yours.. is the tailgate lock working fine now.. no more warnings on the dashboard?

Greetings from Denmark Mario

[GiveMeABreak]

It’s not the mechanical part, but the electronic lock.

Where you open the tailgate, there is usually a soft rubber membrane that you press to unlock the tailgate. Inside this is the micro switch that makes contact when you press the rubber area to open it. These switches can fail and thus can cause the tailgate open warning.

[Mariovic]

Ok then

But the micro switch is inside the tailgate lock.. so by changing will also solve the problem.. i just took the tailgate headliner and notice the wiring to the micro switch has harden.. i tried to push and hold.. then close the boot.. the i can wirelessly lock the boot with remote car key

[Mariovic]

But there will time that it stop working again and i can't lock remotely and open boot is open warning show up again on the dashboard board

[GiveMeABreak]

Whatever is easiest for you - seems you have solved it either way. You just need to ascertain if it is the electrical supply / wiring to the switch or the microswitch or it may keep happening. If it is intermittent, then you'll need to get a permanent solution or it is going to drive you crazy.

[xrblue]

Has anyone found a silver bullet fix for this problem?, my wife's ds3 boot opens when she unlocks her car!

[GiveMeABreak]

The electronic locking unit may be faulty in the tailgate, but it needs a diagnostic first.