Just bought an 09 LS 460 a couple of months ago and was so excited. Just this week, the trunk stopped opening. I've depressed the valet button in the glove box, tried the remote, release on the left side of the dash, as well as the manual key. The manual key turn and causes an audible sound as if it releases the locking mechanism but it is still not allowing it to open. I've disconnected the battery and still no luck

I've reviewed youtube and tried to open with the emergency release using a broom stick and still not working. I strongly believe either the cable is not pulling the lever mechanism enough to fully release and open.

My question is, after watching a youtube back seat removal video, is there is an opening big enough to get my fat *** into the trunk to work on the trunk latch mechanism??
In the video, all you see after the backrest is removed is a cloth panels covering the trunk access. The person doing the video presentation never removes the cloth panels to determine if I'll be able to crawl into the trunk.

 

There were a few threads about people breaking the tail light near the release and having small armed person reach in to pull emergency release. There have been several posts about the opening mechanism needing replacement, There are used mechanisms as well as tail lights on eBay and there are rebuilt units as well as brand new.

 

To the best of my knowledge, there's only the little skinny-*** (!) ski-bag pass through - the rest of the back (behind the padding) is solid metal.

 

Yup. Under that shelf cover is a solid steel crossmember.

 

There is an option within Techstream to release the trunk lock. It might work for you. It was the only method that worked for my jammed trunk on my Ls600.