what makes the trunk light come on?

[toolboy62]

My trunk light works, but only when you turn it on by the switch. One would assume that it is supposed to work when you open the hatch, but I can't find anything that looks like a light switch. Before I go nuts trying to trace wires, can someone tell me what I'm supposed to be looking for?

thanks,

nate

(who really, really hates when electrical stuff doesn't work)

[P0WER]

On mine, there is a small metal peice at the right hatch strut (as looking from beind).
It's close to the connection wire. This peice moves down AS the hatch opens and touches the strut chrome peice thus grounding it and completeing the circuit

[toolboy62]

Is this part of the strut itself? If that is the case I likely am missing something as the PO of my car replaced the struts before I bought it.

thanks for the reply...


nate

[AaronM]

Originally posted by toolboy62
Is this part of the strut itself? If that is the case I likely am missing something as the PO of my car replaced the struts before I bought it.

thanks for the reply...


nate

Yes, it's part of the strut design. Just like the connections for the defroster are part of the strut design.

I'll try to get some pictures later today for you.

[toolboy62]

thanks, I think I have it (mostly) figured out. Went to troubleshoot it today and found the light all crispy and busted up. Also the wire that should have come from the hatch strut was nowhere to be found; the only wires hooked up to it were +12V and ground. I could see where the other wire had been, the tab was busted off but someone had soldered the wire to it. So I've put the light on the list of things to order; and I guess finding the wire that used to be soldered on there is next on my "things to do" list.

Unfortunately it looks like my pass. side strut is a factory part, but it has been "modified" somewhat; the wiper that is supposed to contact the strut shaft is pried away. Maybe the PO was having an issue with the light staying on? who knows...

anyway, thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Yeah, I know this is stupid to be working on when my car has more serious issues, but it's just the principle of the thing. It's there, it should work, it doesn't, it bothers me.

On the upside, I managed to fix my parking brake today merely by adjusting the shoes. Life is somewhat good. I say somewhat, because I found a year-old CV boot all dry rotted and ready to spew everywhere. I won't name where I got the axle from as I'll give them a chance to work with me on this one before I get all bent out of shape (it wasn't Pelican. I did get the other one from them, and it's fine.) Also all the bolts on that CV joint were working loose, but only that CV joint? Weird. I tightened them up, thinking that that might have been my vibration at highway speed, but that's not it. Unless the joint is bad, and it vibrated the bolts loose? I couldn't crank them too tight because I only had an allen wrench on me, my triple squares were at home and I was working at my friend's garage...

nate

[Don 944 LA]

Duh.... Opening the trunk ..

Are you a blond ?????