Has anyone attempted installing an electric trunk release? ... and if so, how difficult it is. Doesn't seem too hard, but I'm wondering where people have chosen to place the solenoid.
I'm mostly wondering if people mount the solenoid under the driver's seat or somewhere close to the original pull release, or if they cut the physical cable close to the trunk and run electric wires to a solenoid unit inside the trunk.
I went to the Toyota dealer a few months ago about the same thing. I was told I would have to do something aftermarket cause they don't have a system in place that will do it.
Oh well, It's on my list of things that would be cool to have but I will most likely never do
Originally posted by Tex97 I went to the Toyota dealer a few months ago about the same thing. I was told I would have to do something aftermarket cause they don't have a system in place that will do it.
Oh well, It's on my list of things that would be cool to have but I will most likely never do
Yeah, I don't think any Camry's ever came with a power release -- the Avalon might have, I'm not sure. I'm pretty sure the ES300 does... would Lexus really make you exert the physical strength to release the trunklid?
I want to hook up an aftermarket solenoid release to my Viper alarm -- the kits seem to vary from $10 to $20, not a bad deal considering the convenience. Doesn't look like it'll take more than an hour or two to put in... not so bad.
And -- it looks like I've already answered my own question -- it'll be mounted right on the trunklid and the existing cable just isn't used at all.
I did one in my 92. It's fairly easy. The kits range in price from 20 to 50 bucks,(depends on manufacturer. My kit is the dei 420( I think). Anyway, first find a mounting location for the actuator near the latch on the trunk lid. BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU DRILL HOLES OR SELF TAP SCREWS!! It comes with a short piece of cable, a clamp block, bracket push button switch, fuse, etc... I myself used a fused relay under the dash, aground wire only to the back of the car. A output capable of driving a relay should work. I will take pic of mine in the a.m.
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Originally posted by Camry9294 I will take pic of mine in the a.m.
Thanks!
Next project: finding a way to turn the stock pull release into the trigger for the electric release. (don't really want to mount another button on the inside of my car or have people wonder why the trunk isn't opening when they pull the release :p )
Originally posted by woshiagni Next project: finding a way to turn the stock pull release into the trigger for the electric release. (don't really want to mount another button on the inside of my car or have people wonder why the trunk isn't opening when they pull the release :p )
Your idea won't work. Stock is mechanical and aftermarket is electrical.
Use one of the auxilary outputs on your Viper alarm (the brain) to trigger a relay. The relay will then power the trunk release silenoid.
I'll probably fabricate some kind of spring loaded switch. I'm already planning to connect it to an aux output on my Viper, but I still want a way to release the trunk from inside the cabin.
EDIT: Just so that won't be misread... I mean a spring loaded electrical switch... ie hiding a NO SPST under the pull latch or something so when it's pulled up the switch closes momentarily.
Originally posted by woshiagni
I'll probably fabricate some kind of spring loaded switch. I'm already planning to connect it to an aux output on my Viper, but I still want a way to release the trunk from inside the cabin.
Keep the stock setup. You don't have to disconnect the existing cable to use a trunk release silenoid.
88 le is right!! Leave the pull switch, it will still function. When you install the solenoid pull cable, adjust it so that the outside trunk lock feature is still available(key all the way to the left). Here are the pics as promised:
I did one in my 2002 camry, wired it to my auxilliary on my alarm too. Its great when walking up to the car and having the trunk open for you On the gen 5's, the trunk is opened by a tension bar system. If you look where they come down the back sides of the trunk, they go into holes. You can move them to a lower or higher hole for more or less "pop" when it releases. In my case, I installed an amp under my trunk lid, and needed more lift, so I used the highest notch. If you need even more, just drill another set of holes
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On the gen 5's, the trunk is opened by a tension bar system. If you look where they come down the back sides of the trunk, they go into holes. You can move them to a lower or higher hole for more or less "pop" when it releases. In my case, I installed an amp under my trunk lid, and needed more lift, so I used the highest notch. If you need even more, just drill another set of holes 
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