Just bought this 1983 z28 a few hours ago and when i tried to open the trunk.. the key doesn't even move and i didnt want to risk snapping my only key from the pressure.. But what can be the problem? I noticed the trunk lid had alittle play in it like it was opened and wasnt closed all the way.. I tried sitting on it but nothing.. still has the wobble and still wont open. Whats wrong?

 

Also.. Did camaros have that pulldown motor thing that was used on the newer third gen camaros?

 

if its power hatch you could open it that way & then take the panel off to see whats going on with it. i had a bad solenoid in mine but i wouldnt think it would effect it opening from the outside

pop the light out in the panel in the trunk & you may be able to unlock it with a screw driver

 

Did they make power hatches for the 83 z28?

Its weird becuase when i put my key.. it like doesn't even feel like its in all the way but it really is.. Maybe my key is to worn down.. Imma see if i can go get some copies made tomorrow and see if that helps at all.

 

They did make the trunk release but if yours has one there should be a switch in the dash somewhere.

Went to electric pull down (trunk release on some) around 86 or 87

 

Probably just your keys, mine do that, I gotta wiggle and pull it out a hair to get it to open my hatch and pass door.

 

sorry if i sount misleading, i meant power hatch release. not power hatch pull down


its just a 5 or 6" solenoid & has a cable on it to unlock the trunk = power hatch release

but if it isnt you can still unlock it from the inside through the hole where the light is.. its hard to explain but you will know what i mean if you look through & see it

 

Ill go check it out now

 

I didn't see any lights or anything in the trunk area.. so i had no idea were to look. :P

 

theres just 1 square light, its like 3" wide & 1 1/2 inch tall through it you should be able to unlock it with a screw driver

thats how i unlocked my 84 z28's

but now my iroc's power hatch pull down is messed up & where its different i couldnt unlock it the same way lol

 

As a last desperate attempt.. I went to the store.. bought a copy of my key.. put it on a vice grip and tried to get the lock to turn.. but no luck.. the key just bent like a pretzel and that was it. lol. I guess i'll have to replace my lock but i dont really have a need for a trunk anyway.

 

Did you think that possibly you dont have the right key? Maybe the other locks got changed, but the trunk lock is the original?

Does the car have t-tops? See if your key works the t-top locks. If it doesnt, you are missing the original key.

Also, you might want to try to get some WD-40 or PB Blaster into the lock hole. Maybe its just seized up from moisture. Use the little hose and stick in there and give it a shot. Or even soem of that graphite lock lube stuff.

Otherwise, i dont know how you'd get in. There are a few rear compartment covers on ebay right now going for cheap. Worse comes to worse, you can cut a hole in yours to get to the lock assembly, then replace it.

J.

 

I actually got it open.. I had to crawl in the back.. take the plastic panel off.. Unbolt the lock panel and the trunk popped up.. Put the lock panel back on and took off the lock cylinder since it was seized.. now i can break into my trunk with a screw driver. :P I need to get that fixed though.

 

told ya it would work, you could have just pushed down on the clip where the solenoid was though instead of unbolting

hawks third gen has locks in a full set for like $40
i went ahead & changed all my locks so i wouldnt have mismatched keys & crap lol

 

Mine was getting like that. I took a can of WD-40 with the red stick, stuck into the key hole and sprayed a bit, then I took hte key put it in and kept on turining it, sprayed it one more time, and it was like new.

 

A lot of them get seized, cause with power buttons, and keyless entry,
a lot of people don't use the keys anymore. Then when their keyless entry batteries die they can't get the key to turn.
Lesson of the day, use your key every once in a while.

 

never thought about it in that way but good idea

 

WD and other is to runny, you want to spay in white lithium grease before winter or once a year. It doesn't go away, and keeps the water/moisture out that does that as it takes up space, where wd n other just run out or dry up.

WD is just fish oil, PB blast works much better.