i have a 92 firebird and as many of u know gm went cheap and diddnt put the hatch switch in all 92 birds. how hard would it be to install a switch or buy the correct peice of trim(above the heat controls) with the switch and wire it to the rear? would i have to get an older hatch release motor that is made to use the switch?

If this is gonna be too hard id rather just get another lock key made and hang it on my steering wheel tilt lever.

 

For what it's worth just added this ta my 90 R/S.I found the car had 90% of the harness there just not the switch ,solinoid, or relay and if not mistaken the correct connection at the solinoid at the hatch.I got it all at the bone yard for pennies and it was pretty much plug and play.Been tryin ta decide between useing factory switch or micro.I also have my models console cover to mount switch in but it has the power window switch holes so if i use that will need to figure out what ta stick in the holes.
It's pretty easy just take yer time and follow wires.Time consumeing but no real headaches.And since it's a relay activated solinoid ya should even be able to sub any aftermarket momentary on type switch to trigger the relay which trigers the solinoid that pops the hatch.Then ya wouldn't need the factory console stuff ya can stick the switch anywhere ya like.

 

All 90-92 Firebird's were pre equipped with all of the necessary wiring, all you need to do is to get the actuator for the hatch motor, switch and panel, and the realy which mounts under the passenger side fo the dash.

The wiring for the switch and relay are already installed into the car.

 

1991-92 style motors with the plastic frame never had a solenoid release and one is not available. If you want a solenoid hatch release you'll need to convert to the older style pulldown motor (1986-91) that has the larger metal frame. This involves cutting the 91-92 body mount from your car and swapping in the body mount from a wrecked 1986-91 car. The hatch hook will also need to be swapped too. Then you'll need to install the wiring and hatch release switch.

Good luck,

Lon

 

Dude i pulled a pull down unit from a 92 bird in nashville for my running partner ,got the switch for the hatch release and it had the release solinoid attached to the pull down unit.They look tighter than the old metal and plastic units like my 90 R/S has.Especially the tracks.Kinda wish i kept it for myself now that the wife has almost destroyed mine.And the was under the pass side ov the dash.Like prev posted.

 

I'm confused. I only have 14 of these 1991-92 pull-down motors and roughly the same amount of the 86-91 pull-down motors on hand. None of the 91-92 style have a solenoid hatch release. If you remove the manual hatch release and cable you'll see that the cable rotates a plastic wheel that has a rectangular slot. The slot fits over a rectangular post (as you'll see on many house door locks) which turns the lock to release it. Compare that to the 1986-91 style which HAS an optional solenoid release. Remove the manual or solenoid hatch release from the pull-down unit and you'll see a large square hole. Inside the hole you'll see a tang that is on the latch release pawl. That tang is pulled by a lever that the cable or solenoid pulls to release the latch. The two systems are COMPLETELY different and not compatible. Sorry, no plug 'n play, not even close.

Lon Salgren
Top-Down Solutions

 

thanx for the info guys but i think i may just not deal with all the hastle and just get a 2nd key made and hang it on my steering wheel tilt lever? ive heard that gm didnt put the switch and solenoid in to save money on production but i cant see how that stuff would save enough cash that it was worth all the complaints and frustration that customers had back in the early 90s.

 

I have an update. I worked on a customers 92 Firebird pull-down unit this week. As I wrote before the 1991-92 has no solenoid hatch release, but some, (including his) did have a hatch release switch.To my surprise pressing the switch powers up the motor. You should be able to add the switch. The pull-down unit is already wired. It wouldn't surprise me if you find the connector behind the trim panel just waiting for you to plug in your new switch.

Lon

 

that changes my mind a bit?

 

Not to hijack, but is the same wiring present on an '88 Camaro? My car didn't have any power accessories (save for the power hatch) originally. I converted to pw, and now I have a hatch switch in the console that isn't plugged into anything. Would it be hard to hook it up?

 

The wiring was present on my 88 Firebird Formula, but not on my 90 Camaro RS convertible. It may be because ASC uses the wiring for the tonneau release switch. It's not hard to add it to a Camaro. I swapped the wiring from a Camaro coupe into my convertible. I hid the trunk release switch button though. You'll need to undo the center console top piece (not just the padded cover) to take a look.

Lon

 

Nope, there's no wiring there; I've had the entire console, seats, and carpet out before. Without the wiring, how hard would it be to fab something up?

 

Harder than getting the wiring from a doner car.

Lon

 

so i guess their is no facts on what cars have and dont have the wiring.

what is the easiest way to check for the wiring? check behind the the peice of trim that has the rear defrost switch on it? or tear the hole console out?

-its kinda wierd cus my 92 bird has electric windows and defrost but not the switch?

 

Yeah, I know a donor would be easier--it's not that big of a deal.