Testing a boot release solenoid

[dickymint]

So MIL’s boot won’t open and I’ve bought the part off eBay. Don’t have the car here but would like to test the actuator works - no circuit diagram and no idea which terminal is positive or negative.

Want to use a powerscan tester to shove 12v through it.

Question is will I fry it if take the 50/50 option? If so how can I check with either the probe or a multimeter?

Thanks in advance.

[Penelope Stopit]

Yes you could fry it but this depends on what type of solenoid it is

Can you post what vehicle it is being fitted to and if it's the manufacturers fit, an image of the solenoid will help much

[dickymint]

Penelope Stopit said:

Yes you could fry it but this depends on what type of solenoid it is

Can you post what vehicle it is being fitted to and if it's the manufacturers fit, an image of the solenoid will help much

Many thanks - it’s off a Skoda Flavia ........

Edited by dickymint on Wednesday 11th July 16:00

[Penelope Stopit]

You shouldn't have a problem, I've found 2 Skoda boot/tailgate lock motor diagrams and they are both showing motors with nothing fancy inside them
When you mentioned a 50/50 chance I should have realised they were 2 wire actuators and not 5 wire.....but I didn't, 5 wire have switches inside and they would burn out if incorrectly tested. Sorry about that

[Vanordinaire]

Looks very similar to the one on my wife's old Seat Ibiza. We had problems with that for all the three years we had that car. Changed the switch and solenoid twice and chrcked every wire and connection but never got to the bottom of it.
It would just stop working and you'd hold the handle open for a few minutes and it would start working again.