So I've developed the strangest problem. About a month ago my electric back hatch/trunk lid started opening itself while I'm driving. It doesn't seem to have anything that triggers it but it does seem happen more frequently on bumpy roads. I haven't modified anything that would have to do with the wiring. Can you guys help me find out how to fix this or at least make it stop? As you can imagine, its rather embarassing to distract the people around you and have to pull over constantly.

It usually happens twice in my roughly 16 mile daily round trip.

 

perhaps the switch is broken and keeps tripping itself? Although I think that switch is deactivated while in gear... A short in the wires going to the trunk release?

 

I disconnected the switch and it still kept happening. Short is my best guess also.

 

Adjust the pull-down up or down accordingly.
Ours kept pulling down, draining the battery...DOH!!!
I adjusted ours down, no more clicking after driving or turning the key!!
Mark your starting point so you can go back to the first position.

It's a starting point any way.
Best of luck

 

I don't think it has to do with not being aligned right. Its definitely secure. It makes that click as if you turned the key or flipped the switch. Every time I hear that click, I get the thought "oh, **** not again..."

Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming!

 

You could for now, unplug the hatch motor ? i done this on mine when i was trying to fix the hatch motor just so i could use the car as it was stuck in the up position, so i managed to get it down, and then had to put the back seats down and climb in the car and lean over to unplug it.

So the hatch can still be closed properly and opened, but the motor is out of the equation.

 

I'll do that. Is it just the four wires that go through the bottom of the whole piece? Brown, Orange, White, and Blue?

 

I disconnected the pull-down motor and the hatch wouldn't close. Reconnected that and diconnected the electric release wire instead. I fell like that's more likely as the culprit. I'll be driving a bit tomorrow so I'll update in the afternoon.

 

That was the smart thing to do. Your problem is in the release circuit, not the pulldown.
http://www.austinthirdgen.org/mkport...wn_release.jpg

If it's a short, it is unlikely on the positive wire (that would blow a fuse).
You can try unplugging the relay in the center console (by your emergency brake) and see if that changes anything. Your hatch pulldown will work but the only way to open it would be with a key.

Let us know what you find out.
Lou

 

Here is the update. Everything was perfect until about a half mile from home. The hatch opened itself again while disconnected! My thoughts are that the unit itself is faulty somehow. And those aren't cheap, are they? What are my options?

 

I think new motors could be had for about $60 new. Ebay and rock auto should have them.

 

The whole pull-down assembly can usually be found cheap, I've seen them here for $40-$60. You don't need the motor, if your problem is in the actual arrest mechanism. So you could even save yourself some money on buying a pull-down with a broken motor/gear.

 

Well then, I'll take a trip to the junkyard this weekend and see if I can find anything, If not, I'll try online. Thanks guys!