If your 1998 Toyota Avalon trunk won’t open, there might be an issue with the lock itself, or it’s possible that a fuse is blown and needs replacing. You can manually release the trunk with a button inside your glove box, or you might need to replace a blown fuse.

Since there are a few issues that may cause your trunk to stop opening,

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What to do if your 1998 Toyota Avalon trunk won’t open

If you can’t get your 1998 Toyota Avalon’s trunk to open with your key or the trunk latch, you’ll want to try and narrow down the problem before you take your car to a mechanic.

Most common cause: blown fuse

If you can’t get your Avalon’s trunk open using your key fob or the trunk release button in your vehicle, it’s possible that the solenoid responsible for popping the trunk open isn’t getting any power. And if that’s the case, the root of the problem is a blown fuse.

When you press the trunk release button, there should be an audible “click.” If there’s not a click, your solenoid isn’t getting power. First, you’ll want to take an ohm meter and check the connection to the solenoid. If the ohm meter registers no power at all, then the next step will be to check the fuses connected to the trunk.

Fuses are fairly cheap and you can replace them yourself, but if you’re not comfortable doing the work yourself, you can always have a mechanic confirm the diagnosis and change the fuse for you.

Other possible causes

If your solenoid is getting power from the fuses and your trunk still won’t open, you’re likely dealing with a different problem. Here are a few other possibilities to check for:

Broken key fob: If you can open the trunk with your trunk release button or by unlocking it with the key, your key fob might need to be replaced.

Faulty door switch: If your key and key fob will open the trunk, but the trunk release button isn’t working, the door switch may be faulty.

Disconnected solenoid: If your solenoid is clicking when you push the trunk release, it may just be disconnected and not getting power to the trunk latch.

Broken latch: If you can hear the trunk clicking but it won’t open, the latch itself may be broken.

If you think one of these issues is causing your trunk not to open, you’ll want to take your vehicle to a Toyota dealership or independent mechanic to have the problem identified and repaired. They can inspect the locks, fuses, and connections to see what’s causing your trunk problems.

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How to manually open a 1998 Toyota Avalon trunk

Having a mechanic fix your trunk is great if you have time to wait on your trunk to get opened. But what if you have something in the trunk that you need right now?

The good news is you can manually access your trunk without having to get it open. The bad news is it might take you a little bit of time.

Start by finding the clips underneath the rear seats in your Avalon. Pull up on the clips to release the back seat’s cushion and remove it.

Once the seat cushion is removed, there should be 3-4 bolts that keep the backrests in place. Remove those bolts and lift the seat backs out.

Now that the seats are out of the way, you can get into your trunk.

Once you’re in your trunk, you can either remove anything that you need to or even open the trunk using the emergency latch. While this method of getting into the trunk is a hassle, it will still allow you to get anything important out of the trunk without having to wait on a mechanic.

Cost of trunk repair for 1998 Toyota Avalon

The cost to repair your Avalon’s trunk will depend on exactly what the issue is.

A new trunk actuator will average around $177 for parts and labor. A new lock latch or connection cables will run about the same price as well.

If you just need a new fuse, those cost between $10 and $20. That will be your only cost if you replace the fuse yourself, but if you have a mechanic change the fuse, you’ll have to take on another $65 (on average) for labor.

For the most part, having your Toyota Avalon’s trunk repaired is fairly inexpensive. However, if your trunk won’t open because it was damaged in a car accident or other incident (we’re talking major body damage) then you might have to replace the entire trunk lid. If that’s the case, a new trunk lid can cost anywhere from $200 to $600, not including labor costs to have the damage repaired.

MORE:

Are Toyotas expensive to maintain?

How to save on Toyota Avalon insurance

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