Front Tronk Cable

[914fan]

How hard is it to replace the front trunk release cable? Are there any distructions out there?

Mine has not yet broke but is getting hard to pull.

Does the cable come with only the cable and no sheeth?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Replacing the cable itself is easy. You have to remove the T-handle, which is done from inside the trunk. There are two Allen-head screws which you remove, and you loosen the cable clamp that holds the end of the cable to the latch mechanism. Then pull the T-handle and the cable should come right out!

I believe you have to remove the lock (small set-screw in the side of the handle) to get the cable out of there. You can thread the new cable in. Adjusting the length may be a little tough...

You can probably replace the sheath after the cable is out. Not sure, I haven't done it myself. I also don't know if the cable comes with a new sheath. I would assume so, but I don't actually know.

Have you tried spraying some lubricant down the cable? Also, make sure that the cable is routed smoothly with no kinks, and that the sheath is securely held down and not moving or flexing.

--DD

[SteveStromberg]

The cable is sold seperately from the housing.

[JmuRiz]

Have you tried spraying some lubricant down the cable?

Forgive my ignorance, but how do you shoot lube down the cable? Also, do you use white grease or something, thanks!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Something like Tri-Flo (Teflon in this case can be a good thing--just not in your engine!!) or bicycle cable lube. They come in a spray can like WD-40, down to the little red straw. Use the straw on the spray head, and you can very precisely aim. Poke the straw as much into the sheath as you can, press the spray head, PSSSSHHHHT! You've just shot some lube into the cable sheath. Try both ends, and work the cable back and forth a bit to spread it all around.

--DD

[JmuRiz]

Thanks, I'll give that a try, propbably a good idea to have for my bike and motorcycles too

[Rob-O]

I've found that most times, the cable is very loose within the housing. More often than not, the reason it gets hard to make the pull is because of the pull mechanism itself. After all these years, the lubricant they used hardens up. After you pull the 'T' handle apart, you can grease the the "T" handle and the housing that it fits into. Of course you're there trying to run some lube down the cable housing anyways, so you may as well pull the "T" handle housing apart and lube that (white lithium grease) as well.

Of course we all know how fixing one thing begets fixing another on these cars....

[jim912928]

Forget the factory sheath...it's crap! You'll always have too much give in the thing. I replaced both my sheath and cable and still took two hands to open the stupid thing. I took the cable and the sheath down to the local go-cart racing shop and had a steel wound sheath made for me with the stuff they make clutch/brake cables from. After I put that in I open my trunk with 2 fingers. Cost me 10 bucks!

edit: the old cable i just threaded into the new cart sheath

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

That's a very good idea... You may actually get better action by simply getting yourself some bicycle (or go-kart as above) control cables and sheaths. Make sure of the lengths, and of the handle-end of the cable (there's something on the end but I forget exactly what).

--DD