Possible Remote Trunk?

When I was taking a look at making my rear seats able to fold (groan), I saw that the trunk hatch has a suspicious looking wire running directly to it.

Now, I know that remote trunk access was a possible (key word) option; I have the stupid dummy plastic button in my glovebox.

Now that I've started using my trunk, I find that the only way to access the trunk (traditonal key) is agitating. Sometimes you just want to make life easier on yourself, you know? :)

So, after being taunted by my friends' cars which have either folding seats or remote trunk access, I thought I'd look for a way.

I was considering looking into aftermarket kits, but then I took a look at the latch, and saw this one wire suspiciously attached. At first I dismissed it, for what can you do with only one wire? Until I thought (duh) that the car itself is the return.

So, the wire is either part of the remote trunk that was just included (hopefully) or it is a toggle switch for the trunk light, since I found that the trunk light operates separately from the interior lights (opening trunk does trigger dome)

So while I hope it isn't the toggle for the trunk light, it probably will be :(

Even if it is, could you tell me how to add some form of remote trunk access to my car?

I've included some pics of this wire. (you know your trunk is roomy when you can climb inside)

Thanks for all your help
(especially on the dash dissasembly back in august)

--VrmlBasic

http://cablespeed.com/%7Eklang/Ride_Pics/1.JPG
http://cablespeed.com/%7Eklang/Ride_Pics/2.JPG

Get a long wire (20 feet) and strip the ends so the metal is exposed. Now, unhook that wire in the trunk and stick one end of the wire in the harness to touch the connector, or use a metal probe of some kind or clip to touch it. Touch the other end of the wire to the positive post of your battery and listen for the telltale motor sound of your trunk release motor. Do you hear it? If so, it is ready to be rigged up. You have two choices. One, find where the wire goes and hook it up to a button which will give you power when you push it (preferably with the key off--ie hot all the time). You can get the button from a junkyard out of a 92-94 (or maybe 95 or newer as well). Note that I mean the in-dash button, not the glove box button. Your second choice is to run a wire yourself from the trunk switch into the passenger compartment and under the carpet or trim and up to the fuse box area, where you hook the wire to one side of an in-dash trunk release button (get at junkyard--it goes just to the left of the steering wheel along the lower dash), and the other side to a fused always-on power supply (the orange wires in the fuse box seem a good choice).

Good luck.

From what I can see in those photos, you don't have the power trunk release feature, and you don't have the auto-pull down option, so that narrows it down to your trunk ajar switch, as you mentioned. You can get a trunk release actuator at a junkyard (EASILY installs to those 2 bolt holes you see on the bottom of the latch in your picture) The wiring is just a matter of splicing to a power source, preferably the circuit that is made to control the trunk release feature.
After that, a keyless entry system can be connected to your trunk release circuit so you can open it with a key fob!

Would the circuitry for the remote trunk release actually be in the vehicle if the actuator/solenoid and button are not?

Would the motor/solenoid that I scrap automatically stop actuating, or does it need some sort of controller to have it stop trying to unlock the trunk when it already is?
(like the infamous power antennas that I wish I had :(

So get a button, get an actuator, and get some wire. Sounds easy enough (until you try it, but that's the fun, right?)

Alright...thanks for the help.

BTW, I've noticed that 94+ lesabres have a drop down glovebox, and a retarded looking black square for the airbag where the straight box once stood.

So does this mean that there is enough space behind the passenger panel to install a drop box? I mean, while I'm already @ the junkyard I might as well get all my retrofitting done, right? :wink:

You can't beat 2 gloveboxes, especially when your center console is NON EXISTANT (no top, so it has to stay down)....man, anyone with a lesabre would cry if they saw the condition mine came in....it was neglected badly... :)

Thanks again,
--VrmlBasic

You'd be looking at a lot of modifications to fit the '94+ type glove box to your car. The '92s dash has a sound insulator, wire harnesses, vac lines and air ducts down there..not to mention the dash would have to be cut and have a striker plate bolted in and what not. Now if you got ahold of a '94+ lower dash panel, it MIGHT bolt right in place. Otherwise, dust off your hand held cutting tool and cross your fingers before you take that project on.:D If I were you, I'd just get another center console at the boneyard. You're refering to the armrest storage, right? You can find these all over the place, and chances are you'll find the color you need. Save that lower dash area for a flip-down monitor and throw a DVD system in there:)

Yeah, I've gotta get another center console....I have one that is stuck shut (which came in the trunk of the car :rolleyes:), and the one that is currently in the car has no lid, or cupholder.

I wondered how a car could be devoid of cupholders, till I did the most depressing thing a car owner can do--I read the manual, and saw all the options I could have had.
(I'm not in need of a holder, but it would be cool to have.)

While I don't know if the lower dash would bolt in place (is it the correct size?), I did realize this morning that the Vintage LeSabre has the pull lever for the emergency break, while the _other_ lesabres have the dual step levers, meaning that I'd still have to cut :(

Also, when I looked down the dash (took the manly glovebox out) I did see that there was much obstruction down there, so that killed plans. Wouldn't the duct for the rightmost vent still be in the same place on the _other_ lesabres? They couldn't raise it because it would be in the airbag space, right?


Well, I'll just spend my time making other improvments to my ride, like expanding the accessory circuit.

So I'll pick up a new console (5 minute fix) and work on remote trunk...after years of neglect the LeSabre will ride again :)

--VrmlBasic