I took the car in to a body shop this morning, and they determined really quickly that the part that the trunk latch attaches to is badly rusted and not in stock. I think it’s a formerly-solid piece of metal that runs the width of the trunk. They told me they would try to find the part (if it’s still available anywhere; this is a 1997 Geo Metro, after all) and get me an estimate of how much it would cost to repair it. In the meantime they disconnected the sensor which tells the trunk light to turn on when the lid is lifted. Hopefully that solves the battery-drain problem. I suspect the estimate will come in at between $500 – $1000.
While at the shop I asked them to give me an estimate for a full body rust repair and paint job, just to get a datapoint. Their off-the-cuff guess was $4000. Gulp.
Postscript or addendum: The shop asked me for my e-mail address and told me they’d e-mail the estimate to me. Shade tree mechanics have certainly changed!
I very briefly lived near the sea in Hermosa Beach some years back — three months was all it took to consume my 10-speed. That and the (audio) assault of USC frat boys was all it took to convince me that living near the beach wasn’t worth it.
I’m not exactly near a beach; a mile north of Pearl Harbor and 750 feet up from it. But the car’s been parked in an uncovered driveway every night since the day I bought it, so the rain and humidity over time have taken their toll.
Email me a photo of the piece and maybe I can fabricate a replacement for you. I am a machinist.
That’s a kind thought, Doug.
I’m not sure it’s feasible to get an accurate picture. There’s a shelf of sorts at the top of the trunk (above the license plate), and the piece with the latch is under that shelf. The latch protrudes upwards from that piece through a hole in the shelf. The piece can be moved side-to-side, which is why the trunk doesn’t latch firmly, but you can’t get a really good view of it without removing the shelf cover.
Are GEO Metro’s those little cars? There’s a whole subculture of collecting and (maybe) racing them. Maybe if you tap into that you could find the part.
Check with junk yards. Whenever we needed parts for our 1995 Mistubishi, my landlord – who was also our mechanic – would check junkyards for them. He was usually successful, too.