Power Hatch Release

[Ike66]

If anyone has installad a power hatch release before, what kind of release solenoid did you have to use. Would a kit with a 10lb solenoid be enough or do i need one of the heavy duty ones with the like 45lb release solenoid? Also any tips on the install would be appreciated thanks.

 

[delta448]

What kind of release are you trying to do? Doesn't your car have a hatch release lever?

Are you trying to rig up a remote to it or a motor to raise the hatch or what?

If all you want is to spring the latch with a solenoid, just check to see how hard it is to move the latch open with your hand. I'm guessing you'll probably want one bigger than 10lb.

 

[Ike66]

I basically just want to be able to pop the hatch open using my keyless entry system. I was just asking to see what kind anyone else might have used so i could buy it then only have to rip my hatch interior apart once, but i might just have to tear it all apart and see for myself.

 

[Defiant]

It shouldn't be much of an issue- grab dad's fishing scale and use it to lift your lever. That'll give you an idea of what pressure you're starting with. I'd be surprised if it was as high as ten pounds.

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

I have an aftermarket alarm, and I want to use the AUX line to put a trunk release. I constantly stuff crap in my trunk and it would be convenient if I can open the trunk right away as I get to my car instead of going to the front first.

I would like to keep my stock trunk latch in the front in tact. The trunk solenoid/poppers are $20 at most shipped on EBAY. I am totally clueless on this type of project. IF anyone has any experience and can chime in. Thanks

 

[eagle97talon]

im a bit confused, do your cars already have a hatch release button inside the car? I've never heard this as I have the VERY base model. i'd appreciate even just a release inside the car

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

Yes, its where the gas lid release is? I have heard of the base model RS not even having a tachometer, did they take it a step further and not have a trunk release?

 

[RWKustoms]

AZDave has done this mod. In his infamous LED tail lights video there's some type of actuator that pushes the hatch up and it goes up the rest of the way. I'll try to find the video.

 

[VPrime]

its not a "button" stock.. its a lever with a "cable" system..

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

Yea I have seen the video, he upgraded the hatch struts to some very nice strong ones.

My question is if it is possible to retain the trunk release inside the car on top of the remote release.

 

[Defiant]

Yes, you can have a powered release and the cable release, or you can replace the cable actuator with another pushbutton.

 

[spooln4fun]

I got an actuator on my trunk release to work with my alarm, how ever when it was installed the lever in the front did not work. they trimmed the sheething(sp) around the cable its self off to attach the actuator. works great but any ideas hwo to make factory work as well?

as for the lbs on the actuator, i believe its 20

 

[VPrime]

Well this isnt an idea on how to make the stock lever work... but how to rig some thing up...
get a switch and run some wire from the switch to the back and splice into the actuators wiring.

 

[skyrone]

Just throw on another cable..routing it might be a pain but it would work. when your actuator would pull on its cable it would just create slack for the other cable and vice versa.

 

[BoostedTalonTS]

I got an actuator on my trunk release to work with my alarm, how ever when it was installed the lever in the front did not work. they trimmed the sheething(sp) around the cable its self off to attach the actuator. works great but any ideas hwo to make factory work as well?

as for the lbs on the actuator, i believe its 20

ok.. lets do things right first off. -who ever installed that trunk solenoid took the easy way out. It takes the installer a bit more time to run the 12v+ lead back to the solenoid, from the relay (explained later). The best spot to install those is in the rear latch area, literally tied in with the OEM latch. In addition to having ample room for the solenoid itself, it also provided a direct application of linier force right to the latch itself, thus requiring less force (heavy/light duty solenoids... generally the lighter pull ones are smaller & more inexpensive).
As far as making it work with the manual lever again, I'd recommend just getting a new/used release cable and reinstalling the solenoid in the rear latch.


RedTurbo Eclipse:
You will need to get an additional standard automotive relay and wire it up like this:
87 & 85 Constant 12v+ (20 amp rating), so use 14-16 AWG + 20 amp fuse
86 alarms AUX channel output wire
87a has no connection
30 12v+ Solenoid (then just ground the other Solenoid terminal in the trunk).

Well this isnt an idea on how to make the stock lever work... but how to rig some thing up...
get a switch and run some wire from the switch to the back and splice into the actuators wiring.

Just to add to this... It would be highly advised to wire a low current, momentairy switch into the relay's coil side of the setup that I mentioned in my last post, rather then directly integrating into the high current solenoid circuit.

 

[synthetek]

im a bit confused, do your cars already have a hatch release button inside the car? I've never heard this as I have the VERY base model. i'd appreciate even just a release inside the car

Even the base model has the trunk release lever next to the gas tank release lever. I think most cars made in the last 20 years or so have one, new cars are even required to have trunk release levers in the trunk in case you get stuck in there some how

I bought a cheap trunk solenoid on ebay and installed it in my GS-T. The aftermarket alarm had a trunk button so I wanted to see if I could do it. I just got the cheapest one I could find (probably 10lb) and it worked, it also came with a button that I installed in the glove box so you could open it with the button, the remote, and the lever still worked.

 

[azdave]

Solenoid?

I used a basic 10-lb. actuator from ebay and it is plenty strong to unlock the release mechanism. The OEM cable release is still operative too. Be sure to do my latch spring mod if you find you have to pull the manual release twice when trying to get in the hatch. You also need a good power source for the solenoid and most people have a heavy gauge line for their amps in the trunk already so that is convenient.
The 45-lb solenoid is way overkill.

Auto hatch open?

After installing the remote solenoid I soon figured a way to upgraded to a full hatch opening system. I used a 14" Bimba air cylinder that gets pneumatic power from the air stored in my spare tire. After about 6-7 hatch openings the air pressure in my spare tire drops to about 50 PSI and then an air pump automatically turns on and brings the spare tire pressure back up to 60 PSI. Contrary to what was mentioned above, I did NOT use "extra strong" hatch stuts for the project. The struts are standard OEM units from the dealer. When I push the remote button, the solenoid pops the latch and then the pneumatic cylinder lifts the hatch about 1/3 of the way up. After that the gas struts are able to take it up the rest of the way so it looks like one smooth motion. No, it does not close by itself.

About halfway through this video is the remote trunk opening feature demonstrated.
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Here is my one pic tech topic of how to make the latch pop properly on any 2G. On the far left you can see the solenoid cable going behind the latch to the trigger lever.

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[1ghaaaaaw]

im using a solenoid off of a early 90,s hyundi scoupe power hatch release, works great off my alarm i just used the rod that i would normally use to open the hatch with my key i back and attached to to the new popper. nice thing also its a samll motor and is really cheap out of a junk yard.