Hey everyone,

The trunk release on my '88 SSE decided to stop working, and at the worst possible time (since I didn't have a key lock in it at the time, long story). Anyway, the release is wired so that it won't work unless you have the ignition/battery on. I've owned the car for 2 weeks and it had been working fine until 1 week into it, then it just quit. I finally got to looking at it and after checking many things, including the fuse and bower to the release itself, there's not even any power getting to the switch itself.

So, in short, I checked these things:

-Fuse
-Power to the release
-Check the release itself

All those were good - The last thing I did was check power to the switch and there was exactly zero. I have a good handle on electricity and the basics but I don't even know where to start looking to solve this problem. If anyone has any way of helping me that'd be fantastic.

Thanks,

-Andrew Z

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1997 Buick Riviera - 102,000 miles : Series II L67/4T65E-HD : Intense intake : Ported S/C outlet : Ported LIM : Yella Terra 1.8 Ratio Rockers : LS7 Lifters : PLOG : Hogan Downpipe : INTENSE 3.5" MPS : 180 degree thermostat : AL104's : AC Delco 8mm wires : Shift Kit : STS strut tower brace : Custom Rear Strut Brace : F41 Sway Bars : Monroe HD rear air shocks : HD sway bar links : DHP Tune :
1988 Buick Lesabre T-type - 127,000 miles : Series I L67 : 4T60E-HD : AL 104's : 180 degree thermostat : '97+ Ignition Coils : Intense FWI : Walbro 255 : 2.5" Stainless Exhaust : Flowmaster 40 Series : STB : 'Caddy' braces : hood louvers: Karma Kustoms Ported M62 : Non-walled LIM : YT 1.8:1 rockers : LS7 Lifters : 2.4" S/C pulley : Custom PCV Oil bypass : B&M Trans Cooler : Sinister Tune

I also run the Buick Lesabre T-type Registry

Also check to make sure the emergency release in the trunk is not caught up.

_________________

2000 SSEi - SilverBullet - 78,000 kms, 4" "straight shot" custom headlight ram air inlet, TOGs, 1.9's, Lsd, 2.9-3.4"MPS 10-15 psi, Ported GenV, EGR eliminated, OR pushrods, oil volume kit, trani cooler & shift kit, Titanium retainers, 90 lb springs, 160 Stat, 42# injectors, Fuel pump voltage increase, Wideband O2, 3" to dual 2 1/2" Magnaflows, Snow Meth/water injection, after SC temp gauge, 255/50WR17, timing commander set 15-18*@WOT, 2 speed Fan over-ride, disabled DRL, Solid motor mount, Meziere Electric water pump, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, Drilled & slotted rotors/ceramics, GXP sway bars and STB, Upgraded and rebuilt transmission with ZZP 2500 rpm stall TC, Pioneer Bluetooth stereo with sub and 800 W amps, PB 13.5 quarter, (April 2014 car of the month)

It's possible a car this old doesn't have an emergency release in the trunk. Aside from that, the emergency release is purely mechanical and cannot be causing your problem.


It would be good to have someone with an 88 or 89 (not 87 or 91) factory service manual trace the circuit for you.

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I can take a look in the morning when I get off work. What do you mean, you checked the power to the release? Do you mean that you have 12 volts to the latch in the trunk?

I do not have power coming to the switch in the glove box so there's nothing getting to the trunk either.

I appreciate you taking a gander at a manual or whatever you have. Thanks.

-Andrew Z

_________________
1997 Buick Riviera - 102,000 miles : Series II L67/4T65E-HD : Intense intake : Ported S/C outlet : Ported LIM : Yella Terra 1.8 Ratio Rockers : LS7 Lifters : PLOG : Hogan Downpipe : INTENSE 3.5" MPS : 180 degree thermostat : AL104's : AC Delco 8mm wires : Shift Kit : STS strut tower brace : Custom Rear Strut Brace : F41 Sway Bars : Monroe HD rear air shocks : HD sway bar links : DHP Tune :
1988 Buick Lesabre T-type - 127,000 miles : Series I L67 : 4T60E-HD : AL 104's : 180 degree thermostat : '97+ Ignition Coils : Intense FWI : Walbro 255 : 2.5" Stainless Exhaust : Flowmaster 40 Series : STB : 'Caddy' braces : hood louvers: Karma Kustoms Ported M62 : Non-walled LIM : YT 1.8:1 rockers : LS7 Lifters : 2.4" S/C pulley : Custom PCV Oil bypass : B&M Trans Cooler : Sinister Tune

I also run the Buick Lesabre T-type Registry

Wait, so you don't have the trunk lock in? Well, why not just slip a flat screwdriver in the latch and release it by turning the screwdriver? Thats how I get into trunks at junkyards sometimes...

There isn't an emergency in-trunk release on the 87-91 either.

As for the circuit, its super simple. One wire runs from the glovebox along the passenger side, under the rear seat, into the trunk, up the wireloom thats clipped to the trunk lid support and then to the release solenoid. When you push the button in the glovebox the circuit is completed, power goes through the wire to the solenoid and is grounded to the body of the trunk lid. The solenoid should engage and the trunk tension rods pop open the trunk. The other wire from the glovebox switch goes to the fuse panel (number 20 I think) where it is powered from a main bus from the firewall I think.

So... if you have power, then you could have a bad solenoid. If you don't have power, then you could have a short somewhere.

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-Eric
"Energy and Persistence Conquer all Things" --Benjamin Franklin
-1989 Buick LeSabre T Type: 220k miles
-1987 Fiero GT: 224k miles
-2012 Honda Civic (boring, but its a good DD)

Haha...the screwdriver thing was what I was doing until yesterday. There's a lock in it now. I understand all of what you're saying so I guess my real question was meant to find out where the power comes from that goes to the button itself in the glove box. The solenoid works (hooked it up to a battery itself to check that) so I was thinking I may have had a short. I'm just assuming now that is has to be somewhere before the button itself because according to my meter, there's nothing getting to the button. Also, the only reason I wasn't sure where the button was powered from is because it's the kind that work with the battery/ignition on only (you know - the security feature thing).

I hope I cleared some stuff up. Thanks for the help so far everyone!

_________________
1997 Buick Riviera - 102,000 miles : Series II L67/4T65E-HD : Intense intake : Ported S/C outlet : Ported LIM : Yella Terra 1.8 Ratio Rockers : LS7 Lifters : PLOG : Hogan Downpipe : INTENSE 3.5" MPS : 180 degree thermostat : AL104's : AC Delco 8mm wires : Shift Kit : STS strut tower brace : Custom Rear Strut Brace : F41 Sway Bars : Monroe HD rear air shocks : HD sway bar links : DHP Tune :
1988 Buick Lesabre T-type - 127,000 miles : Series I L67 : 4T60E-HD : AL 104's : 180 degree thermostat : '97+ Ignition Coils : Intense FWI : Walbro 255 : 2.5" Stainless Exhaust : Flowmaster 40 Series : STB : 'Caddy' braces : hood louvers: Karma Kustoms Ported M62 : Non-walled LIM : YT 1.8:1 rockers : LS7 Lifters : 2.4" S/C pulley : Custom PCV Oil bypass : B&M Trans Cooler : Sinister Tune

I also run the Buick Lesabre T-type Registry

Pull out your fuse and check power there. Yes, it only has power when the key is on.It should be a 20 amp fuse in slot 20.

By the way, do you have the locking fuel door?

Hey guys (and gals...do we have any gals?) - I found the problem. Turns out the wire that ran to the actuator/solenoid in the trunk was broken inside the loom on the hinge for the trunk. I actually ran across the problem by accident and I'm glad I was poking around where I was. There were a bunch of wires run for woofer in the trunk that I was removing, and just happen to have the seats out in the back to do it, and lo and behold, this black wire with a frayed end it sticking out of the loom in the trunk once I got there. I put my 12-volt jumper to it and the release opened a shut like it's supposed to. I found the other end of the wire and spliced it together. Works fine now.

This was all very bizarre if you ask me.

I really appreciate all the help from everyone though. I'm glad this was a stupid problem...

_________________
1997 Buick Riviera - 102,000 miles : Series II L67/4T65E-HD : Intense intake : Ported S/C outlet : Ported LIM : Yella Terra 1.8 Ratio Rockers : LS7 Lifters : PLOG : Hogan Downpipe : INTENSE 3.5" MPS : 180 degree thermostat : AL104's : AC Delco 8mm wires : Shift Kit : STS strut tower brace : Custom Rear Strut Brace : F41 Sway Bars : Monroe HD rear air shocks : HD sway bar links : DHP Tune :
1988 Buick Lesabre T-type - 127,000 miles : Series I L67 : 4T60E-HD : AL 104's : 180 degree thermostat : '97+ Ignition Coils : Intense FWI : Walbro 255 : 2.5" Stainless Exhaust : Flowmaster 40 Series : STB : 'Caddy' braces : hood louvers: Karma Kustoms Ported M62 : Non-walled LIM : YT 1.8:1 rockers : LS7 Lifters : 2.4" S/C pulley : Custom PCV Oil bypass : B&M Trans Cooler : Sinister Tune

I also run the Buick Lesabre T-type Registry

We are always glad to be of help... and glad that you found the issue and solution