Hi there,

I've got a '92 RS convertible (duh!). The car is stored indoors during the winter. Usually I put a dessicant or some sort of moisture absorber in the car. Last winter I did not. I have some mold (or mildew?) on the seats that I need to clean up. The problem is this:

My tonneau top release worked fine before I put the car away for the winter....now it does not. I did check the fuses and did not see a blown fuse (I do not know which fuse it is: DO YOU?), so they all went back in. I am using the manual pull tabs. Is there a good procedure for checking the solenoid (I assume that is what it is), and while we are at it, where the heck is it?

I do not have a remote trunk release nor a pull down feature. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

PS: Are these solenoids still being produced; or are they available for purchase; and if so, where?

 

The first place I would check is the trunk latch. Even if you don't have remote release or pulldown there is still an interlock that keeps you from raising the tonneau cover when you are not in park, or when the trunk lid is raised.

If the wiring to the bottom of the trunk latch is disconnected or loosely coupled when you trip the release switch nothing happens... Same thing for the neutral safety switch. To test that - with the wheels chocked and brake on put the car in neutral and see if the top will pop...

There is also a relay under the center console that might be an issue but I kinda doubt it.

I can't remember which fuse powers the release. If the above doesn't solve the problem post again and I will track it down for you.

Good Luck

Speedy

 

first i would pull off the console and beind the shift selector, you'll find a little relay (not the big one, thats for the airbag). There will be 3 wires, orange, black and brown.

-first check if orange has power. that is always live. if there is no power, then your fuse is probably blown.

-use an ohmmeter to verify that hte release switch does in fact work. most likely it will be fine.

-then check if the black wire gives power when you pull on the switch. it should. if not, and orange does give power, then your relay is probably gone.

-then open the trunk and check the motor interlock switch. (most likely case). remove the rear cover for the motor. on the right hand side you'll see a knife switch (white plastic push button switch) with a black and red wire to it. black is the feed line from the relay which you tested before. red goes to the solenoids. check this switch for continuity when you push down on it. also double check that you get power on the black wire when the hatch release is toggled.

-if everything works from that point, check for power at the solenoids themselves. they may be grounding out.

hope this helps.