WallWolo

I have a 88 camaro with 91 firebird everything (Interior, dash, wires), and I just can't get the trunk release to work with the switch. It works fine with the key and the pull down motor works as it should but I can't seem to get the power lock to work. I did have to convert the wiring harness to work for the camaro but that's the only thing that don't work and everything else does. The switch works fine (I tested the wires) and I'm assuming it goes to a relay from there and then to the power unlocker thingamajigger. I do have the old harness from the camaro and could wire it up myself but I would like everything to work without me hackin it up. There is no motor or tranny in the car and just connected all the wires to a battery or the body for ground. Bad ground maybe?? Maybe I missed something??? Any Ideas???

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

Did you attach the ground wire from the 10mm screw that attaches the sonoid to the latch assy to the ground location on the body below the pull-down unit? It must be there since the latch assy (and solenoid) is electrically isolated from ground by the guides.

Lon

WallWolo

Yeah, everything back there has good ground, but it doesn't unlock from the switch on the dash. Trunk unlocks with the key fine, and the motor works fine, just don't know were the wire is (correct wire) that runs to the power unlocker. I tested that wire that plugs into the solenoid and its just a ground (so I have two grounds going to the solenoid). I tried to follow the wire all the way to the dash but then I lose it, same with the switch (lose that one very quick). I actually tested all the wires in that harness and none of them "get power" when I hit the switch on the dash.

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

The hot wire for the solenoid is a black wire with a black square connector on the end. Go figure they'd use a black wire for hot! Many people mistakenly hook it up to ground and wonder why they keep popping the hatch release fuse.

Lon

iroc.86

from the factory they are also wired into the neutral safety switch (so you cant accidently pop it wile driving) might check that

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

Correct for an automatic equipped car. For a manual trans car the hatch release relay is grounded through the parking brake when the ignition is in run. If a manual car, pull up on the parking brake a couple of clicks.

I just re-read your original post. No motor or tranny installed and worse yet you're rewiring a Camaro with a Firebird wiring harness, yikes! There's your problem; the ignition circuit is not connected, so no ground source to the relay through it. Nor is there a ground source through the neutral safety switch in the gear selector if it too is disconnected. Finish hooking up the components and it should work. The tan with white wire is the one that must be grounded for the hatch release relay to work. On Camaro the hatch release relay is below the center console on the drivers side of the parking brake. On Firebird it is on the right-hand sid0e behind the instrument panel.
Get yourself a Firebird Service Manual (aka HELMS manual) from www.helminc.com or used on eBay. It will show the circuit diagram and give you the test procedures to diagnose it.

Lon

WallWolo

Thanks for your help. I do have a haynes manual and I grounded everything ( I think). I'll give it another look, thanks again. I only had to rewire the lights pretty much and the fuel pump (different color wires) and will have to do some in the engine bay when the time comes but other than that the wire is all factory from front to back, lets just say it was transfered to the camaro. I'm stumpped, it should work.

pezza

Mine died too, but it was wiring as all the fuses checked out ok (Cannot remember which ones I checked) Slightyly OT. I have had so many issues with this boot just wondering how easy it is to convert to a manual boot release? Anyone else done this before? Thanks

WallWolo

Well, you could actually just run a wire to the nuetral wire on the switch, its the one without power and once you hit the switch it will power up (tan w/white stripe in my car), and run that right to your unlock solenoid. Make sure your solenoid is grounded good. I just didn't want to chop wires. I'm still investigating.