Trunk Release

[ellev8or]

92 PA

I usually use the remote to open trunk but this time it didn't open; I had to use the key. At first I thought it was the remote but then I checked the release button left of the steering wheel and it released the trunk. You can hear the release sound but I notice the silver latch that pulls the trunk door down after latching is not coming up when releasing the trunk door and while trunk door is open. Then when I try to close the trunk I have to slam it hard to stay shut. Is there a fuse or relay for this or since the silver latch is not rising while trunk is open could it mean that the latch is bad?

Thanks for your assistance.

[Smith1000]

Might try oiling the latch to free it up. Other option is to adjust it to where it lines up with the latch bar beter and releases better. I had a LeSabre that had this problem and it took some tinkering with the adjustment to get it to latch and release without catching.

[Tech II]

What you have, is the Pull/Down latch release......

Like you say, the silver latch should rise up when releasing the trunk, and the tension rods open the trunk lid the rest of the way.....when closing, you are suppose to "gently" close the lid to the silver latch, and then let the latch pulls it down the rest of the way....

Chances are you need a new motor/switch assembly.....

Or like Smith said, you can adjust the height of the latch so that you don't have to slam it, and just use it manually.....

[ellev8or]

I really appreciate everyone's help. Please allow me to give a little info for anyone else that may have the same issue in the future.

In specifics to the trunk release, it was the remote trunk release that was malfunctioning, not the trunk release on the dash. The malfunction was due to the blown horn fuse. There is the horn relay that's located under the hood on the firewall at the front passenger side and there's a horn fuse (25V) inside the car at the passenger front underneath the dash near the floor closest to the right wall, covered by black plastic panel; do not go through the front or top of the dash or glove box. On this fuse and relay panel the remote trunk release relay and the horn fuse is separated by two relays.

The horn fuse along with the other fuses are accessible without detaching the entire fuse and relay panel but to get the relays you may have to detach depending tools, lighting, etc.

This was the indication that the horn and remote trunk release were connected. When I would press the horn, the horn would not sound but the trunk release lamp on the dash, the information station is what I call it, would flash and light up every time I press the horn.

After switching out the horn fuse the silver latch rose to receive the trunk. I close the trunk and the silver latch sunk and closed the trunk as it normally should. I used the remote a few times to ensure it was working and now everything is fine. Just when I received two different estimates, $80 and $140, to have this fixed, it only cost me 25 minutes to do it myself. It may take someone else less time.

Thanks for listening and I hope someone finds this information helpful in the future.

[harleylady69]

Originally Posted by Tech II

What you have, is the Pull/Down latch release......

Like you say, the silver latch should rise up when releasing the trunk, and the tension rods open the trunk lid the rest of the way.....when closing, you are suppose to "gently" close the lid to the silver latch, and then let the latch pulls it down the rest of the way....

Chances are you need a new motor/switch assembly.....

Or like Smith said, you can adjust the height of the latch so that you don't have to slam it, and just use it manually.....

Thank you so much for your answer. My nephew is going to like a pick-a-part place to see if they have one. I'm disabled & on a fixed income. Do you know where I could buy one at a reasonable price? Should I check the fuse 1st? If so where is it? My battery is dead because of the trunk light staying on also.

[Tech II]

Is your light on because the trunk doesn't close all the way? Does your horn work?

First thing to do is remove the trunk hood light......recharge your battery.....is the latch stuck in the up or down position?

[harleylady69]

Thank you for responding...Yeah the trunk light wore the battery down from being opened. I did take the bulb out. This will be the 2nd time I had to replace the motor. My nephew is still looking at a couple of places, like pick-a-part, but it's getting harder to find them. I'm disabled so I really do need to get it fixed some how, mainly for my Doctors appt. From what I got out of it when I looked was the silver piece that the top piece hooks onto & pulls it down, isn't pulling it down. I also noticed that the top piece is trying to connect to the bottom, but to no avail.Any suggestions?

[Tech II]

If the pull down motor/switch is bad, you have to replace it....or....

You have another option........get a "plain" latch, and eliminate the pull down latch.....may need to "adjust" it .....

And of course, the other option, is take the pull down latch apart.....manually put it in the down position, and leave the harness to it disconnected......this will mean you will have to push harder down on the trunk, to catch the latch......