TRUNK LATCH

[franknitticutlass]

i locked my car keys inside of the trunk of my 82 cutty so i had to pop out the lock cylinder to get in there....i wanna just leave it out , fill it and paint it instead of replacing it since im doing bodywork anyway ....isnt there a way to open the trunk from the inside of my car with a cord or something?

 

[86Cutlass383SR]

Sure. I don't know if it was an option on g-body cars or not but many GM cars had the solenoid for the trunk latch with a button in the glovebox. Maybe someone who's done that mod could chime in. I'd like to add one to my car someday anyway.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Depending on the exact latch GM used in your car, you can just adapt the popper from a Cadillac of the 80's. Pull the switch at the same time. I also pulled all of the wiring when I did mine, but I sourced mine from a Cutlass and wanted to do it as GM would have back when the car was new. The wiring is simple. You run a wire (stock is brown) to the switch in the glove box from the accessory position in the fuse box, then run a wire from the switch to the solenoid. It should be routed through the trunk lid on the driver's side. Be sure to at least clip the connectors with a little pigtail if you do not pull all the wiring. It will make your life much easier. Also, when GM put these things in, the wire through the trunk lid was run in a hard plastic sheath to protect it from chafing. As always, be sure to grab any bolts or hardware when you get it. Oh, one more thing: there is a bracket GM used that the switch goes through on a G body, and that bracket has a speed clip on it that takes a bolt. The bolt (7mm) goes through a hole on the driver's side of the glove box and the bracket goes up top.

BTW, my solenoid has now decided to operate, but not actually pop the latch. So, be sure to science out your popper BEFORE you close up the hole! It is easier to adjust when you can just use a screwdriver to open it.