How Do I Manually Open My Honda Civic Trunk? (Answer)

Your Honda Civic’s trunk (or “boot” if you’re in the UK) can be opened automatically with a remote or from the driver’s seat. But like most vehicle parts, your modern Civic’s trunk can malfunction and refuse to open automatically. In such circumstances, one of your best options is to open your trunk manually.

But there’s the issue: it’s not immediately obvious how to open a Honda Civic trunk manually. But don’t fret, here’s how you do it…

You can manually open a Honda Civic’s trunk by using the emergency trunk access. The emergency trunk access is by the backseat on the driver’s side. If it’s a pull strap, pull on it. But if it’s a key slot, insert your key and turn it clockwise.

There are several other ways to open your Civic’s trunk manually. It could also depend on the model you drive. Here’ a guide on how to manually unlock your Civic’s trunk.

How to open your Honda Civic’s trunk manually

When you are unable to open your Civic’s trunk automatically, you may have to resolve to open your trunk manually.

There are several methods for manually opening your Honda Civic trunk without calling a locksmith.

Here are some methods you can use:

Method 1

Locate the keyhole on the floorboard on the driver’s side of the car.
Insert the key and turn it to the left until it clicks.
The latch will be released, allowing you to access the trunk.

how do i manually open my Honda Civic trunk — Method 1 could let you open your Civic’s trunk (boot) manually.

Method 2

Another way to manually open your Civic’s trunk is by using the emergency trunk release.

This is a cord normally seen in the car’s back seat. Pulling on this cable will open the trunk and release the latch.

Depending on the model of your Honda Civic, the emergency trunk release may differ from others. It may be a pull strap or a keyhole that must be turned clockwise using the key.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to open your Civic’s trunk manually with the emergency trunk release.

Separate the physical key from the key fob first. The button to release the physical key from the fob casing is on the back of your car remote. Slide the switch to separate them.
Next, use the key to unlock the driver’s side door manually.
Proceed to unlock the door behind the driver’s seat.
Then, get in the backseat on the driver’s side. A compartment with a plastic cover is located near the seat’s headrest.
Using the key, remove the cover. There is either a key slot or a pull strap in this compartment. It all depends on your vehicle’s model.
Pull the handle to release the trunk if the emergency trunk release is a pull strap.
But if it’s a key slot, insert the key and turn it clockwise to release the trunk.

Method 3

The trunk lid of some Honda Civic models has keyholes. Unlike the newer generations, the older Honda Civics had keyholes on the trunk lid. The keyhole lets you open the trunk without using the release lever in the driver’s seat.

Here are the steps to take:

Place the key into the lock on the trunk lid.
Turn it counterclockwise. This will open the trunk.

Method 4

Another way to open your trunk is to try to reach the trunk release from inside your vehicle by lowering the rear seats if your vehicle has that feature.

Not all Honda Civic models have controls that fold the back seats inside the vehicle. To access the controls on some models, you must first gain access to the trunk.

As a safety precaution, your Civic has a release mechanism in the trunk lock that allows you to open the trunk from the inside.

To open the trunk from inside, get into the back seat and fold the seats. Then you’ll be able to reach the release lever located inside the trunk.
Push the release lever to the left using a broomstick. This should open your Civic trunk manually.

Handy Hint: How to use the paddle gear shifters in a Civic.

Reasons why your Honda Civic’s trunk won’t open

Now, it is not uncommon for your trunk to have problems opening automatically. This issue could be caused by a problem with the latch when your key fob’s battery is dead or a problem with the trunk lock could cause it.

The trunk of your Honda Civic was designed to work both automatically and manually. You don’t have to go through the hassle of manually opening your trunk if it can be done automatically.

Simply use your key fob remote controls to open your trunk automatically. You can also open your trunk by pulling the trunk release lever on the driver’s seat floorboard.

These are some of the reasons why your Civic’s trunk won’t open (or close):

The trunk latch is stuck or broken

A buildup of dirt or debris on your trunk latch might cause it to become stuck, rendering the latch unresponsive when you try to open your trunk. You can use WD-40 oil or a silicone spray to lubricate it.

You may also be unable to enter your trunk if the trunk’s latch itself is broken. If this happens, you will need to purchase a new latch.

Handy Hint: Here’s how you can open your hood from the outside.

The key fob battery is dead.

When the battery in your key fob dies, it becomes unresponsive and is unable to send a signal to unlock the trunk. As a result, using the key fob controls to open your trunk will not work.

You’ll need to change the battery to get the controls to work again. Remove the old battery from the key fob and replace it with a new CR2032 battery, then close the key fob.

But, you can gain access to your trunk by pulling the manual release button on the driver’s seat. If this does not work, you can attempt any of the ways indicated above to open your trunk manually.

Faulty latch sensors

Faulty latch sensors are another reason your trunk may not be opening. The sensor detects whether the trunk is locked or open. The trunk will not open if they fail. To fix this, you will need to replace the sensors.