Hi folks...its been about a year since we were working on the Z...and were back at it...we have a problem....

We need to drain the turpentine (er..I mean fuel), and replace the fuel pump...in order to do so, we need to be able to open the trunk...

The problem is...the trunk wont open...the key wont even turn and the switch on the console wont work.

The relay under the console works, and we can hear a "pinging" from the trunk area...the mechanic says its the overload circuit breaker tripping, because the motors are probably locked up (the car sat for 5 years).

So how can we get the trunk open when the key wont turn and the switch wont do it either?

We popped both sail panels, and the center cargo light, but couldnt see anything jump out at us to get it open?

91 z28

 

Huge screwdriver into the lock cylinder, smash with hammer, then twist and it'll open. Or figure out why the key won't turn, I assume you tried some lubricant? You may have to sacrifice your rear plastic interior panel and rip it out then unbolt the motor.

 

DO NOT DO THIS!


Open it from the inside. Pop out the courtesy light and with a flashlight you'll see a little thing toward the right that you can turn with a screwdriver and release the latch. I had to do it on a '92 I parted out. Took all of 1 minute from the time I entered the back seat until the latch was popped.

 

Yeah, we tried some lube in the lock, didnt seem to loosen it any...

Thanks for the tip...we popped the cargo light, but apparently he missed whatever gadget it is to pop the latch...Ill take another look...thanks!

 

In this case a little finesse is a much better route to take. If you use the old screwdriver and BFH method, you'll end up bending the s h i t out of the sheet metal where the lock cylinder goes. Just be patient and you'll eventually see the thing he mentioned. You could also try to reach the lock cylinder retaining clip with a long screwdriver or some other tool from the inside. If you can get that clip off, you can just pop out the whole lock cylinder and then use a flathead screwdriver through the cylinder hole to twist the latch assembly just like the lock cylinder does. A third option would be to use a battery charger and apply direct current to the wires going to the release solenoid.

 

If it has a pulldown motor you can reach behind the trim panel and grab the cable that connects to the lock cylinder.Pull on it hard toward the passengers side and it will pop the hatch.I have done this in many a junkyard car

 

Yup yup yup this works did this this weekend myself.

 

I found this out myself one day at a local u pull it.I watched a guy pop the hatch open and then he showed me how he did it.Has come in handy many times

 

Well, turns out the solenoid that operates the latch is frozen solid...

No one mentioned having to take off the silver cover plate in order to see the slot for the screwdriver

Turns out that you have to take a 10mm wrench (I think) and take off the one bolt through the cargo light hole, then the silver plate comes off, revealing the manual latch release which can then be operated with a flathead screwdriver...

Now all I gotta do is locate a replacement solenoid assembly

Thanks for your help folks!

 

I'm glad you pointed out the specifics on how to do it that way. I'm headed to the junkyard on Sat. to pull some parts off a thirdgen there and have to do the same thing.

 

I just want to reiterate...

Not against any of the advice here...maybe my car was a bit different, I dunno...

But when I popped the cargo light, I looked and looked and didnt see ANYTHING that I could manually work with a screwdriver....

It was only after my uncle removed the silver plate directly behind the cargo light (with I think a 10mm socket) that you could easily see the slot for the screwdriver...you cannot see it unless you remove the silver plate...and...if I recall correctly, the slot for the screwdriver is on the passenger side of the latch itself (left as you look into the hole), not on the right as suggested above...

(I call it a silver plate, cause thats what it is...I suppose it is the mounting bracket for the solenoid...which you also cant see without removing it...)

Sorry Im not too mechanical with the whole shop talk

 

I would have mentioned it. Removing the manual latch release (black) or solenoid release (silver) by undoing the 10mm screw is the correct method for the early 1991's. Underneath the latch release mechanism is a large square hole. Use a large screwdriver to move the tang to release the latch. Later 1991-92 use the method mentioned in the older posts. I sell used solenoids for the 1986-91 hatch pull-down units (TDS 404080, $15). Just click on my link over there--->

Lon

 

Ive already found it from TDS and will be purchasing one shortly

 

That's great that you're purchasing a new one from Lon. He's one of the good guys. He runs a great business and his customer service is second to none!

 

Thats excellent news.

Last night I bought the solenoid, 2 sets of end links for the rear sway bar, and 2 packs of the lube for the bushings.