Boot release mod....
Discussion
Three days into Wedge ownership, and the first (of many I'm sure) thing has occurred to me.
To open the boot you press a button (as on many cars). But this button will only work in a certain way (as Wedge owners will know). But on many cars (like on my daily drive Volvo) you can pull a little lever at any time (unless the car is locked) and the boot will open.
The only advantage I can see for this is security (you need the keys to open the boot). But disadvantages are many that I can see. One major one is if you accidentally put/drop the keys in the boot and then close the boot: you are stuffed.
So, does anyone know how difficult it would be to re-wire the switch so it has power all the time? So you can open the boot at any time without the keys (along as the car is unlocked of course).
Finally, is there a way to open the boot if the button/locking release mechanism fails? If there is, could someone please PM it to me.
Thanks.
To open the boot you press a button (as on many cars). But this button will only work in a certain way (as Wedge owners will know). But on many cars (like on my daily drive Volvo) you can pull a little lever at any time (unless the car is locked) and the boot will open.
The only advantage I can see for this is security (you need the keys to open the boot). But disadvantages are many that I can see. One major one is if you accidentally put/drop the keys in the boot and then close the boot: you are stuffed.
So, does anyone know how difficult it would be to re-wire the switch so it has power all the time? So you can open the boot at any time without the keys (along as the car is unlocked of course).
Finally, is there a way to open the boot if the button/locking release mechanism fails? If there is, could someone please PM it to me.
Thanks.
Jumbo I have just had to have a new boot release solenoid fitted because I left the switch in the on position, in doing so it has burnt the solenoid out, two in fact because the MOT station left the switch in the on position thinking it opened the petrol flap 
... The original release button broke some time ago so a switch was fitted which is ok but I must remember to leave it in the off position ! I'm reliably told the original button can be sourced at David Gerald or an alternative Momentary push button switch can be found in Maplins .... Anyway good luck with modifying yours bud 
... The original release button broke some time ago so a switch was fitted which is ok but I must remember to leave it in the off position ! I'm reliably told the original button can be sourced at David Gerald or an alternative Momentary push button switch can be found in Maplins .... Anyway good luck with modifying yours bud JumboBeef said:
Three days into Wedge ownership, and the first (of many I'm sure) thing has occurred to me.
To open the boot you press a button (as on many cars). But this button will only work in a certain way (as Wedge owners will know). But on many cars (like on my daily drive Volvo) you can pull a little lever at any time (unless the car is locked) and the boot will open.
The only advantage I can see for this is security (you need the keys to open the boot). But disadvantages are many that I can see. One major one is if you accidentally put/drop the keys in the boot and then close the boot: you are stuffed.
So, does anyone know how difficult it would be to re-wire the switch so it has power all the time? So you can open the boot at any time without the keys (along as the car is unlocked of course).
Finally, is there a way to open the boot if the button/locking release mechanism fails? If there is, could someone please PM it to me.
Thanks.
Funny you should say that - I just wired in a new boot release switch inside my petrol filler point with a new solenoid!To open the boot you press a button (as on many cars). But this button will only work in a certain way (as Wedge owners will know). But on many cars (like on my daily drive Volvo) you can pull a little lever at any time (unless the car is locked) and the boot will open.
The only advantage I can see for this is security (you need the keys to open the boot). But disadvantages are many that I can see. One major one is if you accidentally put/drop the keys in the boot and then close the boot: you are stuffed.
So, does anyone know how difficult it would be to re-wire the switch so it has power all the time? So you can open the boot at any time without the keys (along as the car is unlocked of course).
Finally, is there a way to open the boot if the button/locking release mechanism fails? If there is, could someone please PM it to me.
Thanks.
chapperssx said:
Jumbo I have just had to have a new boot release solenoid fitted because I left the switch in the on position, in doing so it has burnt the solenoid out, two in fact because the MOT station left the switch in the on position thinking it opened the petrol flap ... The original release button broke some time ago so a switch was fitted which is ok but I must remember to leave it in the off position ! I'm reliably told the original button can be sourced at David Gerald or an alternative Momentary push button switch can be found in Maplins .... Anyway good luck with modifying yours bud
Isn't it "on" all the time when the engine is running.....? ... The original release button broke some time ago so a switch was fitted which is ok but I must remember to leave it in the off position ! I'm reliably told the original button can be sourced at David Gerald or an alternative Momentary push button switch can be found in Maplins .... Anyway good luck with modifying yours bud JumboBeef said:
chapperssx said:
Jumbo I have just had to have a new boot release solenoid fitted because I left the switch in the on position, in doing so it has burnt the solenoid out, two in fact because the MOT station left the switch in the on position thinking it opened the petrol flap ... The original release button broke some time ago so a switch was fitted which is ok but I must remember to leave it in the off position ! I'm reliably told the original button can be sourced at David Gerald or an alternative Momentary push button switch can be found in Maplins .... Anyway good luck with modifying yours bud
Isn't it "on" all the time when the engine is running.....? ... The original release button broke some time ago so a switch was fitted which is ok but I must remember to leave it in the off position ! I'm reliably told the original button can be sourced at David Gerald or an alternative Momentary push button switch can be found in Maplins .... Anyway good luck with modifying yours bud chapperssx said:
JumboBeef said:
chapperssx said:
Jumbo I have just had to have a new boot release solenoid fitted because I left the switch in the on position, in doing so it has burnt the solenoid out, two in fact because the MOT station left the switch in the on position thinking it opened the petrol flap ... The original release button broke some time ago so a switch was fitted which is ok but I must remember to leave it in the off position ! I'm reliably told the original button can be sourced at David Gerald or an alternative Momentary push button switch can be found in Maplins .... Anyway good luck with modifying yours bud
Isn't it "on" all the time when the engine is running.....? ... The original release button broke some time ago so a switch was fitted which is ok but I must remember to leave it in the off position ! I'm reliably told the original button can be sourced at David Gerald or an alternative Momentary push button switch can be found in Maplins .... Anyway good luck with modifying yours bud I was considering wiring mine so the alarm clicker also actuated it on an unlock.
Haven't got round to it yet.
I think the TVR original design makes you put the keys in the ignition so human factors-wise they are far away from the boot and the potential of being locked in there.... why not just leave them in the ignition?
Haven't got round to it yet.
I think the TVR original design makes you put the keys in the ignition so human factors-wise they are far away from the boot and the potential of being locked in there.... why not just leave them in the ignition?
adam quantrill said:
I think the TVR original design makes you put the keys in the ignition so human factors-wise they are far away from the boot and the potential of being locked in there.... why not just leave them in the ignition?
Yes but if you can press the button without the keys then when you do lock your keys on the boot you can press the button again to get them out, whereas if you need the ignition on to open the boot then you are stuffed if the keys are in the boot.....How about for those rare eventualities - run a wire from the boot switch long enough to reach battery +ve and keep it coiled up behind the trim where the seatbelt reels in - then if you do lock your keys in, uncoil the wire and touch it on the battery. Job done. You could even put crocodile clips on each end and keep it as an emergency bridging wire - I have one and they come in really useful in case of wiring faults - from now on I won't keep mine in the boot ;^)
The last time I used the emergency wire was when the headlamps on the Jeep packed in when on holiday in Belgium - it seemed that the loom had a break so I bodged up a connection temporarily which got us home back to the hotel.
The last time I used the emergency wire was when the headlamps on the Jeep packed in when on holiday in Belgium - it seemed that the loom had a break so I bodged up a connection temporarily which got us home back to the hotel.
400SE Dave said:
Thing is though, if it will always work then you have no really secure place in the car to store anything. Remember, if you pull the internal door handle it will unlock the door and then anyone can just press the button and get in your boot.
Or am I just too paranoid!!
Maybe, anything that you can fit in the boot is probably small enough to take with you anywayOr am I just too paranoid!!
400SE Dave said:
Thing is though, if it will always work then you have no really secure place in the car to store anything. Remember, if you pull the internal door handle it will unlock the door and then anyone can just press the button and get in your boot.
Or am I just too paranoid!!
I'd rather they pressed a button and took what was in the boot, instead of forcing the boot open and damaging that.....and still taking what is in the boot.Or am I just too paranoid!!
adam quantrill said:
How about for those rare eventualities - run a wire from the boot switch long enough to reach battery +ve...
Hmmm, my car has something similar that I assumed was standard on all DHCs... it involves a PP3 battery clip stashed somewhere (a PP3 has enough 9V grunt to fire the solenoid).There is also the 'other' method of opening the boot... which we don't discuss on an open forum, do we
Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff