Hi Damian and welcome to UKCc. Have a good look around the forum, all you need to know is in here somewhere. As for the boot release, as mentioned it may well be the solenoid is seized or/and the struts have no bounce in them. The solenoid can stick so that the latch doesn't kick out. Pull the plastic panel out of the boot slam panel and get some wd40~ sprayed in there to rinse it out.