[boothboy]

I don't think so. When you depress the brake petal it activates a solenoid that releases a spring loaded metal stop. First thing to do is to make sure you have a working brake light system . If you don't the release won't work. If you have a bad brake light switch READ the instructions that comes with the new switch. It's critical that you install the switch per instructions. You only have one shot at it. There are ways to un-lock the system and you might find them in your owners manual. Ford explains it in it's manual, Dodge doesn't and they un-lock differently.
BB

[123pugsy]

Gotta love the new technology.

[MARTINSR]

You want a "new technology" story? I'll try to make it quick.

About two years ago.......2006 Volvo S40 rear ended, we repaired, trunk lid wouldn't latch a month after the customer got the car back.

We replaced the latch. Still nothing, wouldn't shut and latch every time. Open and close it five times, three times it latched, two times it didn't.

Found wires broken in the harness going from the trunk, repaired them, it worked, sent the car on it's way.

Last week, car comes back same thing, trunk won't latch. If you manually push on the catch with a screw driver it will catch twice just like it should but if you just give a gentle pull back with your finger the catch flips open. Ordered a new latch ($170) and installed, shuts once, then never again! With a screw driver this latch won't work at all. The catch goes in and out like the handle is being pulled! Call up and get another latch coming, it's defective apparently.

Next day, New latch comes with the delivery guy showing me how it works before he leaves, taking the "defective" latch with him. With a screw driver you can latch it and the catch stops at the two points and you can NOT pull it open (duh, just like ever other trunk latch on earth) install new latch, shut the lid, same thing! One latch, then never again and the latches catch goes in and out manually like the frigging latch release is pulled and held! It's electric only, there is no manual handle other than a cable for the locked in the trunk emergency handle. With the wire harness unplugged, same thing, nothing! We dig into the wire harness and find another wire broken off deeper in it. Pull the whole friggin thing out and repair it. Hook it back up, NOTHING. Cycle the ignition and trunk release on the remote and still NOTHING. Work late trying to figure the thing out with three techs kicking around what the heck could be going on.

Next morning the tech working on the car come to me telling me it works! They opened and closed the lid a few times and now it is working! WTF!

Ok, this was with the original latch we replaced two years ago. So now I have that second replacement latch that isn't working. It's out of the car and you can push on the catch and it swings in and out like something internally is broken so I can't return it like that. So I install the new latch on the trunk so that it can be cycled thru like the other one and get it working. I hook it all up and NOTHING! Go thru all the electrical crap and NOTHING. As I am trying to shut it I clicked on the switch on the trunk to OPEN the lid and it clicked loud,..........you SOB, I knew it as soon as I heard it, I shut the lid and it latched! You have to hit the open button ON THE LID before the latch would set it's self and work! I removed the latch and returned it to Volvo and the original new latch we installed two years ago was put back in.

We replaced the harness just to be sure the problem was handled and it left late Friday night.

Now mind you, this was all after a couple of phone calls to Volvo talking with a tech over there, they didn't have a clue! When I called them up to tell them I got a "Yeah, I seem to remember about that one time".

To get the trunk to shut we had to "open" it with the latch, who would have thunk!

Brian

[deadbodyman]

Originally Posted by 123pugsy

Since you learned about em, can the shifter be moved with a dead battery?

LOL,only if its in neautral....there are other ways to move one like disconnecting the linkage and manually moving the tranny lever... but its easier to jump it...if thats possible

[deadbodyman]

Finally found some free time for some personal work.
Pulled my 85 Z-28 in the shop and started stripping it... got the nose down to the metal ...not too bad only two, thick, el cheapo paint jobs over factory paint.

[John long]

Originally Posted by deadbodyman

Finally found some free time for some personal work.
Pulled my 85 Z-28 in the shop and started stripping it... got the nose down to the metal ...not too bad only two, thick, el cheapo paint jobs over factory paint.

Did you loose interest in the Plymouth?

John L

[deadbodyman]

Originally Posted by John long

Did you loose interest in the Plymouth?

John L

Not at all ...I'm doing this one to sell so I can hire some help on the plymouth...I need a 40hr weeek on that to get it where I need it...its all apart waiting for a ton of welding and painting so I can put it back together again and really get cooking...

[123pugsy]

Got the buckets in epoxy.

Also made up a nifty jig for cutting the rivets to reassemble them.

Last pic is two test pcs riveted together.

[MARTINSR]

Cool idea there with the rivets.

Brian

[deadbodyman]

I agree.....what we need is a thread dedicated to little tricks just like that.....but I always need longer rivits so now show me a trick to stretch them....

[MARTINSR]

Well I was a busy little beaver today! First was working on my granddaughters Christmas present. Got it sanded and reprimed, it's ready to paint and looking great. Then came the TV, man can't live without a tv for goodness sakes. Mine got worse and worse until it wouldn't turn on at all. My wife did a little research on the net, I pulled it apart and went to Radio Shack and bought the condensers with my son and came home and he soldered them in. I was back on the couch with a beer in time to see the last quarter of the Niners game.






Then I got to the Gran Sport and pulled apart my extra speedometers to pickout all the best parts to put another one together being the one in the car is crap! Darn thing doesn't work so I have to swap it out,



Now I am off to get the Christmas tree!

Brian

[deadbodyman]

Man I havent even turned on my TV in two years ..I had the cable disconnected when the rates went up .I watch the shows I watch on line...I was thinking of getting a giant monitor to hook up to my lap top though.my wife can watch TV on her phone mine dont even have a camera in it.Oh well Christmas is coming ....

[BruceKoukalaka]

Got around to firing up my old rat chaser, ('83 GMC high sierra)it's been sitting outside in back of my garage for a couple of weeks without being started. It does not like the cold weather. GMC=garage my crap!

[123pugsy]

Got the buckets back together. Made up liners from some thin stainless.

[sportcoupe]

looking good; i wish i had more metal skills. I spent 35 years in a cabinet shop so I was able to replace all the wood in my chevy but had my friend do the metal parts. sc