Broken Trunk Release--FIXED
Something to watch for. Both of my trunk releases (key fob and glove box button) stopped working a few weeks ago. I finally found the problem: The power wire had broken inside the wiring harness. The break was just on the other side of the trunk liner panel where the harness is 'tie wrapped' to the body. My guess is that opening/closing my trunk bent the harness at this tie wrap, and ultimately caused the wire to break. I also found the wire for my third brake light broken at the same point.
After splicing the wires, I did the following:
--Rewrapped the harness with electrical tape.
--Put a larger diameter and thicker walled piece of spiral cable housing around the harness. I extended this cable housing into the trunk.
--Disconnected the first cable harness tie wrap from the trunk hinge.
I disconnected the harness from the hinge and used the heavier housing to eliminate the tight bending the harness had to do when the trunk was closed, and to protect the wiring harness from being pinched up against the body.
My car is a 2002 with 95,000 miles. I'd suggest taking a quick look at your harness for any visible damage. If you find your harness is pinched, or the tape is torn up, I'd protect it now, or you might end up like me, with broken wires.
Good luck.
After splicing the wires, I did the following:
--Rewrapped the harness with electrical tape.
--Put a larger diameter and thicker walled piece of spiral cable housing around the harness. I extended this cable housing into the trunk.
--Disconnected the first cable harness tie wrap from the trunk hinge.
I disconnected the harness from the hinge and used the heavier housing to eliminate the tight bending the harness had to do when the trunk was closed, and to protect the wiring harness from being pinched up against the body.
My car is a 2002 with 95,000 miles. I'd suggest taking a quick look at your harness for any visible damage. If you find your harness is pinched, or the tape is torn up, I'd protect it now, or you might end up like me, with broken wires.
Good luck.
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