Storage Compartment

[Layor]

Just picked up the Zed from the paint shop, he is looking great. No pics yet, getting ready for a trip down to Brighton but will post some on my return. One problem I have though is that the storage compartment between the seats is jammed/locked? Has anyone had a problem like this?
I did learn one thing though, I was unable to lower the top. Then I found that there are two knobs in the boot that have to be in a certain position before it will work. Live and learn!!!
Colin.

 

[ZedM]

I thought there was a draw-string that passed through the panel behind the seats with a pull ring accessed from within the boot (in the centre just below the shelf that you have now lowered). I think that draw-string opens the storage unit between the seats if the internal catch fails. I'm probably wrong but it may be worth a try.

 

[Stevo7682]

To ask a silly question have you tried to lock unlock it with the key .
If the key works all the locks and glove box but not the storage box my next couple of questions would be does it have roll bars and if so are they on the cars original spec of have they been added.
I have retrofitted roll bars to both our zeds and to do that means changing the original big storage box for the smaller one .
But you need to strip both down to recover the lock assembly and swap it so if your key doesn't turn it that may be whats wrong .
The vertical position is open and horizontal locked.

 

[Layor]

Thanks for the info @ZedM and @Stevo7682. I'm supposed to be getting up at 3am to go down to Brighton, but couldn't sleep so decided to check the forum. Glad I did! I had forgotten about the ring-pull, I'll try that at 3.30am. The rollbars are original Stevo, and to be honest, I haven't tried the glove box yet. But it will give me something to do if all else fails when I get to Brighton. It's not too critical, there is nothing of importance in there apart from a spare pair of glasses and a few thousand quid in loose change.
Colin.

 

[ZedM]

Let us know how you get on, what caused it and what you've done about it. It may help others in the future!

 

[Layor]

Okay, will do. I've only just returned from Brighton and I didn't have a chance whilst down there to check it out.
But the grandson was thrilled at having a ride in Zed. Asking all sorts of questions and tickled pink at making the top go up and down! He's eight going on twenty! Now he wants dad to buy him one for Christmas
The journey down and back was superb. Top down after reaching the Severn bridge and enjoying the sun all the way home!
Colin.

 

[Layor]

Finally had a chance to have a good look at the storage compartment between the headrests. I managed to get the compartment open with a little persuasion, it didn't take much at all. I unscrewed the two screws underneath the 'push button' and gently lifted the top half of the cover off. (Unfortunately I did not have either my phone or a camera on me, so was unable to take any pics. I will do that next time, and there will be a 'next time' as you will see.) This exposed the mechanism and the first thing was to check that there was a voltage getting to the motor/relay. Taking the plug out and connecting it to a meter, and locking and opening the car with the key proved that there was indeed voltage there. Replacing the plug and doing the same thing with the key resulted in nothing happening, so I loosened the five screws that held the motor/relay and the mechanism in place, hoping that if something had jammed then it might just free it. No such luck! So I finally removed all the screws and took the latching mechanism out, but was unable to remove the motor/relay. The reason for the fault became clear. The 'plunger', for want of a better word, that pushes the two latches apart was jammed fully out and would not budge, this resulted in the compartment door staying locked and the pull cord in the boot being inoperative.
Now, the reason for writing 'motor/relay' is because I am not sure whether it is a motor that pushes the 'plunger' out or a relay that does the job. In whichever case, you cannot remove the unit because of the plastic surrounding it, unless you take the whole of the back out ( or break the plastic surround). So I was unable to work on the unit to find why it failed, at least, not in the time I had.
The options I have at the moment are, leave the 'door' open and use the space or, close it and forget it, I've chosen the former as it will come in handy! I do not intend to keep it like that and will try and get another unit, but from where, I don't know. Oh, another option is to cut the plunger off, it will be a bit of a fiddle to do, but can be done. That way I will be able to use the compartment as intended but it will not lock. But, I would rather not do that just yet until I find out if it can be repaired.
Colin.

 

[ZedM]

Thanks for taking the time to bring us up to date and I'm sorry that you have not been able to resolve your problem (YET!!!). I'm assuming no other reader has had the same problem so if you do resolve it - please let us know all about it. Good luck and keep us posted.
Martyn