Opening the rear trunk (with Rear Update kit)

[vwduud]

When purchased from PO, my 914 already had the rear update kit ("Porsche" reflector - 911 style) installed. It was old and deteriorated so I replaced it with a new kit. Well now, years later, something has failed electrically preventing me from activating the solenoid and getting in the trunk. I have access to the power wire, as it runs through the engine compartment, to the solenoid. I have jumpered directly from the battery to this wire to the soleniod, in an attempt to bypass the interior push button - to no avail. Can anyone provide any tricks to opening the rear trunk before tearing into my new "Porsche" reflector?

[Bleyseng]

I think its two 10mm bolts that hold the latch on sooooo, take a whole bunch of extensions and tape them together. Remove the white plastic trays and stick it thru to remove the bolts. A helper can shine a flashlite onto the latch so you can see it to remove the bolts.

Geoff

[Guest]

Ahh, you're talking about the little white trays for the sunroof brackets. Have you performed this surgery before? Is it quite a challenge to get to the back of the car through these holes on an angle (with perhaps a swivel socket)? Thanks.

[Dave_Darling]

Before you do that, see if you can help the solenoid to release. That is, have someone power the solenoid while you press down on the back of the lid where the latch is. Sometimes that's enough to help the solenoid let go.

Yeah, it's a real pain to get to the bolts that hold the latch reciever on through the latch pockets. But it's doable, even without a "wobble" extension. The angle is small enough that you can usually make it work.

Tip for the future: Rig an emergency release that is purely mechanical. One setup I've seen is to drill a hole in the bottom of the trunk and pass a cable through it. Hook one end of the cable to the arm which the solenoid moves. Loop the cable up somewhere near the muffler heat-shield or somewhere out of the way. Maybe put some RTV or other favorite "goop" in the hole to keep water out. That way, when the solenoid fails in the future, you have a way to get into the trunk.

--DD

[vwduud]

Well, that may be possible. I suppose it would be easier also if you took the engine deck lid off as well, to get a better angle. After removing the two white cups, I was not able to even get a good view of the 10mm bolts holding the latch assembly in place. The shock tower boots were in the way. Dunno if any of you have actually tried doing this. If you were successful, you are more flexible than I am, and have the ability to see around things. Anyway, I aborted on that. The middle of my reflector had no mounting provision, allowing it to be pryed out a bit. If I would have had a working knowledge (actually a distance), I could have pulled this out just enough to get an "L" shaped tool in there to activate the release mechanism. Not knowing the distance I needed to travel, I inevitably pulled a bit too hard on the reflector breaking it. Good news is that I got in my trunk.

[plost]

Look closely isn't there a hole in the middle of your reflector. There is in mine and I can open my trunk by sticking a strong wire in and opening the latch manually. Works every time I need it to. Thought they all worked this way.

[Guest]

Look closely isn't there a hole in the middle of your reflector. There is in mine and I can open my trunk by sticking a strong wire in and opening the latch manually. Works every time I need it to. Thought they all worked this way.

There wasn't a hole in mine. My initial plans were to drill a hole in it. I abandoned that idea when I thought I could just bend it open to get to the latch mechanism. I was very close to doing this when I went too far and broke it. Oh well - live and learn. Thanks for the info though.

Jim

[steveinOC]

Funny, just ran into this problem Friday on a car that had been sitting
for 15 years. We hook two 12 volt batteries in series to create 24
volts. After repeatingly energizing the solenoid aand appyling pressure
to trunk lid, it finally opened. Good luck!