fb305svs

I recently bought a 91 firebird. It was not OEM equiped with the power trunk release, so i found the switch panel, switch, trunk motor w/ popper solenoid, and have plugged everything in, but it doesnt work.

After reviewing everything in the pontiac service manual for this car, i found that there is a relay that is not installed, but is necesary for it to work.

Here's where the issue is- i cannot find the damn relay! i've been to the local chevy parts dealer, where they looked it up on the system, and spent over 45 minutes with me trying to find the right part, only to order the only part that seemed right, but was not.

The relay is located here:


This is what the plug looks like:


So, here's my question- does anybody know the gm part numbers, or can anyone with a 91 firebird take a peak and write down all the numbers off the relay for me? I really want to get this done- its been sitting torn apart like this for a while.

TZFBird

I'm also trying this. You mean I need to find a relay for this as well?!! Awwwwwww!!!!!

fb305svs

with your car being an 88, you more than likely do NOT need this peticular relay. the 91/92 chassis harness was all different. :-/

TZFBird

Actually, I'm getting the parts out of a 91

I was looking at the wiring diagram though for the 86 3rd-gens. I think that relay has nothing to do with your problem. It actually keeps you from opening the hatch unless you are in park or something like that. So, all you need to do though is run a wire from the fuse panel to the switch, from the switch to the solinoid. That should be all that is needed. Hopefully it's a teporary switch, so that you can press and relese the button to power the relese. That is all that should be needed. I didn't look at what year you have, but I think it would be the same no matter what. Correct me if I am wrong about all this however, but that is probably going to be the method I go about this with. All you need to do is get the switch, and put power to it so you can find which prongs connect for the power to that. I have a few harnesses in my dash, but am not sure which one "should" have been used for the hatch release that was not put on my car in the first place.
Hope that who thing helped you out. Just be sure to do it right so that you don't start a fire or anything.

I'm also trying to figure out how to add power locks as well. I do need to find a relay for that somewhere in the car however.

85SportCoupeto89RS

Your just trying to put the release without the pulldown right? I have an 85 Sport Coupe that had no power options, and when I restored it I added the release to the car. All I had to do was get the release from the junkyard and the complete wiring harness. Even the harness for the hatch switch for the center console. There is a relay on that harness if I remember corectly, and make sure you grounded the release properly. Connect the only free connector to the harness under the console, connect the switch to the harness and run the very long black wire to the release and plug it into the silenoid and bolt the ground wire and you should be done. Or at least that was what I did to mine.The very first time I put it into my car it didnt work cause I didnt have it grounded properly. And it was a direct bolt in, I didnt have to cut or splice any wires.

fb305svs

Yeah i have not had to do any cuting or splicing... all the wiring seems to be there, just this relay is missing. there is a diagram in the book- i'll try to scan it later when i get home from work- that shows a relay for the system.

this car i had a new motor, and pop release mechanism, i transfered the 91 harnes in the back to it, and made all the hook ups for the popper, now i just need the relay.

Steve

85SportCoupeto89RS

That relay should be under the center console, it should be on the harness you had to put in. Did you get that harness from the donor car?

fb305svs

by chance in the camaro's is the trunk popper on the console?

its on the dash in the fb's.. :/

i did not have to install a harness- everything was already there. the plug for the pop switch, the wiring in the back, everything.

lemme see if i can scan the diagram out of the book

Skatepunk60

Yeah camaros have the hatch release button on the console in between the window switches (if ya have power windows)

fb305svs

ok, maybe this will help those who are trying to visualise this-

book diagram-

fb305svs

yeah thats my point- harness for the firebirds is in the dashes- not the console!

here's the pic of the diagram:

fb305svs

here's the pic of the actual deal:

85SportCoupeto89RS

Since I wanted to know the difference inbetween the birds and camaros setup I did some searching on past posts and found this from ElGuapo, Did this on mine (89 2.8 bird). Unless mine was a total mistake, yours should already be wired except for relay and switch.

1) Remove the passenger side bottom dash panel. The panel thats under the wannabe glovebox. Reach around and there should be a relay connector w/o a relay. Thats the release relay. Go to the autoparts store and get a Trunk release relay and put it in there. (Incidentally, its the same as a horn relay).

2) Next remove the instrument panel cover. Behind one of the switch covers (blockoffs) you should find a connector that has foam over it. It has four wires. Remove the foam, and there is your switch connector. You can do the switch one of two ways. 1) Which l recommend. Go to the dealer and buy the actual switch. It will bolt into the hole and connect to the connector. Clean and easy. 2) Connect the black/white (to relay) to one side of a switch, and the tan/white (power) to the other. Then when you press the button, POP! goes the hatch. The other two are for lighting the switch.
So basicaly you should only need to go to a parts house and ask for a horn relay, lol I must say

fb305svs

it was most definately already wired for it as i have said earlier, i am just looking for the numbers off the relay so that i can go buy the correct one to hook into the harness, and not have to cut, or otherwise hack job it.

i'm tryin to maintain the factory everything in this car

fb305svs

ttt

85SportCoupeto89RS

The GM part number is 25523703 and it runs about $12.The same relay is used for a horn relay on some GM cars also. I got this from reading through this tech article https://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/hatch.shtml

fb305svs

Wow- much thanks- i dont know how i missed it- i had looked there first to see if there happened to be a tech article- thnx man!

Steve

85SportCoupeto89RS

No prob, I wanted to know the difference inbetween the two systems and now I know

bdawg23

Old Thread, I know, but I'm trying to find some answers I have a 92 firebird with pulldown, that's already wired to a stock hatch release switch, and I have found the "relay plug" attached to nothing just under the passenger dash. I read that all you need is the relay, and the horn relay is the same. Autozone confirmed this, but the relay looks nothing like the connector. What do I do?