Lonsal, you seem to be THE convertible guru...
I recently completed an engine / tranny swap into my '88 IROC convertible.
Everything runs fine except for the tonneau/hatch release, which I can open any time I want and at any speed.
I know the switch is supposed to be tied into the parking brake switch, but specifically how?
I currently have power to the yellow / orange wires at all times.
Thanks if you can help!

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/conv...u-release.html

 

The tonneau release has a relay at the base of the parking brake. The tonneau is supposed to pop with the switch if the ignition is off, or with the ignition on the parking brake must be applied at least a few clicks. The relay has to be grounded out for the switch to open the tonneau. You see that yellow wire from the relay in your diagram? That yellow wire becomes a tan with white stripe wire that is supposed to be hooked to a terminal on the parking brake so it is grounded when you pull up on the parking brake a couple of clicks. Since you're converting from an auto to manual, it appears that the tan/white wire from the auto gear selector needs to be relocated to that ground tab on the parking brake.

Lon

 

Lonsal, thanks for the reply but that tan/white wire is already connected to the relay.
I'm wondering if the bridging of the purple and white wires is the cause of my problems???
Any suggestions?

 

That tan/whiye stripe wire has always been connected to the relay from the factory. That wire is the source for ground for the relay. For some reason it is grounding all the time which it shouldn't. Pull the connector from the relay and test it with a multi-meter from that tan/white wire to ground. If the engine is off it should show ground. When the engine is on it should be open. If wired properly pulling up on the parkign brake a few clicks will ground it. If it fails to show an open as I've described you need to trace that wire and find out where it is grounding out. Your alternative is to cut the existing tan/white stripe wire and run a new jumper from it directly to the ground tab on the parking brake. Doing so will mean from this point forward you'll have to pull up the parkign brake a few clicks before you can pop the tonneau with the switch. Did you relocate the tan/white stripe wire that was originally connected th the auto's shift selector to the ground tab on the parking brake?

Lon

 

Lonsal, again thanks for the help!
I opted for "option B" and I rewired the circuit right at the parking brake.
I owe you and many others on these boards a great debt in answering what must seem endless stupid questions.