Alright so you guys might think I'm a huge idiot for what I'm about to say but umm..
I just recently bought my Fiero and I was looking at the engine and then I went inside my house for a bit, then a friend came to pick me up and I was In a rush and I closed the top with the keys inside And inside there's this little button that you push to open it But it never worked even when the car was on
take your title or registration and a photo id to your local GM dealer and have them cut you a key by vin#. The key shouldn't be more than 5-6 dollars.
i think you are referring to the trunk release button .it activates the coil of a relay that pops the trunk open .the trunk latch has an electric solenoid that pulls the latch open .the relay is up under the dash near the steering column .find the relay , pull it out of its socket , look at the diagram on the side of the relay and locate the pins for the normally open contacts .find them on the relay socket and jumper them out with a stripped wire .the trunk should open.my relay crapped out and i just jumpered to the switch bypassing the relay .works fine .
If the button that you are talking about is a electrical switch you may be able to take the switch out or apart and jump the wire to release the trunk. You can get a car battery and ground the negative to the steel frame. Jump the trunk switch with the positive wire. Otherwise most engine deck lids have a keyed release and unless you have a extra key for it that works you may need the lock smith.
i think you are referring to the trunk release button .it activates the coil of a relay that pops the trunk open .the trunk latch has an electric solenoid that pulls the latch open .the relay is up under the dash near the steering column .find the relay , pull it out of its socket , look at the diagram on the side of the relay and locate the pins for the normally open contacts .find them on the relay socket and jumper them out with a stripped wire .the trunk should open.my relay crapped out and i just jumpered to the switch bypassing the relay .works fine .
Originally posted by David Hambleton: I'm thinking my '86 & '88 open irrespective of the parking brake if the ignition is off... my '84 ignition has to be on or the parking brake on...
We're both partly right. The power to the trunk release is hot at all times, but what I forgot is that only the manual transmission cars need the parking brake pulled to complete the circuit. The automatics only need the transmission lever to be in the Park or Neutral but not the parking brake.
We're both partly right. The power to the trunk release is hot at all times, but what I forgot is that only the manual transmission cars need the parking brake pulled to complete the circuit. The automatics only need the transmission lever to be in the Park or Neutral but not the parking brake.
Sorry! My 2 previous 85's, my 86 and my 87 manual transmission cars don't need the brake pulled if the ignition is off. Only when the ignition is on do I need to lift the handle.
I'm thinking my '86 & '88 open irrespective of the parking brake if the ignition is off... my '84 ignition has to be on or the parking brake on...
Hmmm... I should have checked before I posted...
'84 SE 2.5L 4 spd: power trunk release works only if the ignition is on; parking brake is irrelevant. (I recall thinking that being able to open the trunk while driving isn't a good idea... maybe that's why it was changed to require the parking brake on as noted below.)
'86 coupe 2.5L 5 spd: power trunk release works anytime the ignition is off; parking brake must be on if ignition is on.
'88 Formula 2.8L 5 spd: same as '86 coupe 2.5L 5 spd.
Originally posted by fierofool: Sorry! My 2 previous 85's, my 86 and my 87 manual transmission cars don't need the brake pulled if the ignition is off. Only when the ignition is on do I need to lift the handle.
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Originally posted by fierofool: '86 coupe 2.5L 5 spd: power trunk release works anytime the ignition is off; parking brake must be on if ignition is on. '88 Formula 2.8L 5 spd: same as '86 coupe 2.5L 5 spd.
If that's the case, then either I'm reading the electrical diagram wrong, there is an error in the FSM, or your cars have been modified from stock. Here is the wiring schematic from the '88 FSM, which is identical to the one in the '86 FSM (I have both).
The diagram clearly shows that there is no way for the trunk release relay to energize unless the parking brake is applied with the manual transmissions for '86-up. It also shows that for the automatics, the gear selector has to be in Park or Neutral. In either case, it doesn't matter whether the engine is running or not since the power is available at all times.
Go make a spare set of keys! Just in case. Electrical systems can fail. lol This also goes for the guys (like me) that don't have the trunk release and don't trust ourselves to not accidentally lock them in the trunk. :-D
If that's the case, then either I'm reading the electrical diagram wrong, there is an error in the FSM, or your cars have been modified from stock. Here is the wiring schematic from the '88 FSM, which is identical to the one in the '86 FSM (I have both).
The diagram clearly shows that there is no way for the trunk release relay to energize unless the parking brake is applied with the manual transmissions for '86-up. It also shows that for the automatics, the gear selector has to be in Park or Neutral. In either case, it doesn't matter whether the engine is running or not since the power is available at all times.
I occasionally find differences between the cars & their respective '84 & '88 FSMs, & the '84 to '88 complete parts catalogue. I have the manuals as I like to 'research before repair' but sometimes the manuals seem more like 'estimates'.
The '84 SE is as rec'd from the factory by me. Owner's manual & FSM match the function & there's no release relay.
The '86 didn't have the trunk release until I added the solenoid, relay & switch & plugged them to the existing harness connectors. The '86 owner's manual matches the '84 owner's manual: " The release button is operational whenever the battery is connected and the ignition is on." However, in the '86 the brake has to be on if the ignition is on, but the release works if the ignition is off, whether the brake is on or not.
The '88 owner's manual was updated to include auto trans & parking brake info, but the '88 works just like the '86. The '88 Formula was kept as an unaltered museum piece (5200km) until I got it in 2008.
So to summarize, I suspect I have 'factory supplied' functionality & the documentation doesn't reflect what was made. I sometimes wonder about domestic versus export issues for vehicles & documentation. I've also been wrong before... so I can't be wrong anymore!
[This message has been edited by David Hambleton (edited 02-28-2014).]
my 88 5speed I do not need the brake to be engaged. actually looking at that circuit , "hot all times" with the brake engaged would keep the relay engaged at all times... be a good way to kill the battery. (or maby fuse the relays in place after being engaged so long? lol.)
my 88 5speed I do not need the brake to be engaged. actually looking at that circuit , "hot all times" with the brake engaged would keep the relay engaged at all times... be a good way to kill the battery. (or maby fuse the relays in place after being engaged so long? lol.)
The relay only gets power when the release button is pressed. Seems like the relay is normally closed; opens when the key is on, but closes again when the parking brake is applied. (Explains why my '86 & '88 open without the brake on & no key in.)
[This message has been edited by David Hambleton (edited 02-28-2014).]
i just wanted to say you are welcome .my car is so far modified that most of the time i can not remember the everyday things .and dont be upset by our arguing that is just the way us old guys get along .i am glad you are here .welcome
By those schematics, the switch takes the load of the trunk solenoid and the relay coil. Looks like the relay is only used as a safety feature to keep you from using it at the wrong time. No wonder the switches burn out. Seems that it would be better to have battery power at the relay. Key power to the switch. And safety features complete the ground for the coil(thru brake switch or neutral switch) That way only the relay coil load would be at the release switch.
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