Esteem aside, I lost you at drivers knob and lock push button unless you're unhappy with the way the central locking is failing to unlock the trunk lid. When that happens, you push the latch trigger inward and nothing engages.

Let's assume you are not left with only a valet key, you could just use the key to unlock. To unlock, you turn the key to the right, then back toward the left, withdrawing the key in the vertical position. If you turn it to the left and pull the key in the horizontal position, you'll disconnect the lock from the central locking actuator.

Seeing what goes on is indeed difficult. Generally, outdoors, the light comes from above and you need to look upward. And, to do so, ideally you need to be about 3 feet tall, or highly limber.




The grease helps in the cold weather when the actuator isn't strong enough to lock up (or unlock). Can't imagine that to be a problem in August.





Pry between the lock actuator rod and the white nylon to release the rod.





--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

"Modern syn has swelling agents to seal any leaks." - Blindboy