Trunk problem - interesting

[bigdog]

On a run to SoCal last week-end, 4/11 to 13, I had a problem with my trunk. Specifically, when I hit the trunk button on the remote, the left buttress popped up and the trunk latch released but the right (passenger) buttress didn't pop. I figured that I must have done something wrong so I resecured the trunk and left buttress - retried the button - and still, the right buttress wouldn't pop.

All kinds of things were going through my mind - I jammed something during our last stop or closed the trunk wrong (we opened the trunk to put some fresh yams in if anyone cares).

I found out the trunk wouldn't open when I went to get all our clothes and stuff out. Hmm, what to do? I contacted a local dealer - Saturn of Whittier - in SoCal and ran it over to them on Sat. They fiddled (technical term) for a couple of hours and wanted to keep it thru Tuesday. We had to return to NCal on Sunday so that wasn't an option. Picked the car up (WASHED ! ! ) and finished our week-end (with a stop to by clothes and toilet stuff) and headed home.

I delivered my SKY to my dealer (Saturn of Concord) on Monday and let them play. They got the trunk open and found the problem - and I didn't cause it! Whew. . .

It turns out that there is a small plastic washer/spacer at the end of each cable (there are two - one for each buttress pin). If you lose one or it breaks the pin will not release. No how, no way, short of prying it open. In the course of getting the buttress pin to release, by prying, the chrome trim ring was scratched and a dent was put in the trunk. A 'dentless' guy was able to un-dent the trunk - I saw it and I couldn't tell and I am very fussy about the appreance of my SKY. A trim ring and new cable (with a metal washer/spacer hopefully) is on order.

Even with access to the 'kidnap escape' handle in the trunk or access through the bulkhead there is no other way to have gotten that pin to release. The pin and clip are behind the trunk liner and sort of boxed in by sheet metal - so getting the pin jammed by mistake is nigh on impossible.

Props to Saturn of Concord stepping up to the scratched ring and dent. I really didn't notice the scratches until my service guy pointed it out.

Sorry for the lengthy story but this might save someone from banging, pulling, jamming, prying or going off half cocked if this happens. I'm sure that if I had pried the pin open and scratched the car that would have been mine to fix and I would have gone ahead and reclosed the trunk only to have the buttress pin stick again.

If Saturn peeks in on this thread, maybe they can spend and extra penney an put a metal spacer at the end of the release cable.


Thanks for reading

[Bogie]

pics?

pics? (again to meet forum length etiquete)

[southphillylakes]

Do you know how they open it ?

[bigdog]

I'll get pics if I can today if I can, hopefully before they button it back up. If not I shoot the area and draw pictures.

They used a pry bar. It looked like a flathead screwdriver witht fork in the blade, maybe an apholstery tool?

[southphillylakes]

I don't have my SKY with me to look at, are the washers easy to repalce ? can I buy locally ?

[darrylba]

[quote=bigdog;307894]On a run to SoCal last week-end, 4/11 to 13, I had a problem with my trunk. Specifically, when I hit the trunk button on the remote, the left buttress popped up and the trunk latch released but the right (passenger) buttress didn't pop. I figured that I must have done something wrong so I resecured the trunk and left buttress - retried the button - and still, the right buttress wouldn't pop.


Welcome to the trunk problem club. I still love my sky though. No problems recently

[bigdog]

Originally Posted by southphillylakes

I don't have my SKY with me to look at, are the washers easy to repalce ? can I buy locally ?

Easy to replace? No

The washer/spacers are a b1tch to replace. You'd need to remove the trunk deck liner, find where the cable attaches to the solinoid, remove the cable, slide the washer/spacer on and re-thread the cable, re-attach it and then adjust it - making sure that the clip operates, then button up the trunk deck.

I don' know how much the washer/spacer would cost - 50 cents? - but I would sure let the dealer do it. Preventive maintenance might be the way to go but I'm sure you'd be charged for the labor.

Mine is being fixed as a warrentee issue since it is/was a defective part.

[bigdog]

Originally Posted by darrylba

Welcome to the trunk problem club. I still love my sky though. No problems recently

Thanks (he types with sarcasm). I have heard about the trunk getting stuck - I even got something caught in the latch once- but I haven't heard of this particular problem. Oh, well, I guess I might be the lucky first!

Parts are in and my SKY should be back home tonight with a well tested trunk/buttress release!

[southphillylakes]

Originally Posted by bigdog

Easy to replace? No

The washer/spacers are a b1tch to replace. You'd need to remove the trunk deck liner, find where the cable attaches to the solinoid, remove the cable, slide the washer/spacer on and re-thread the cabel, re-attach it and then adjust it - making sure that the clip operates, then button up the trunk deck.

I don' know how much the washer/spacer would cost - 50 cents? - but I would sure let the dealer do it. Preventive maintenance might be the way to go but I'm sure you'd be charged for the labor.

Mine is being fixed as a warrentee issue since it is/was a defective part.

Maybe they will have to issue a safety recall is it happen again. The trunk must be able to open with the inside handle.

[ooomph]

Originally Posted by bigdog

(we opened the trunk to put some fresh yams in if anyone cares).

friends don't let friends buy yams... yams are the source of the problem, the Sky is known to be a yam hater or yam-ist.

[Celt03]

Originally Posted by ooomph

friends don't let friends buy yams... yams are the source of the problem, the Sky is known to be a yam hater or yam-ist.

hmm ... my Saffy likes yams ... she opens her trunk very willingly for yams ... but for some reason she does seem to have a problem with broccoli ...

[GoThunda]

Wow Pete recall a few months ago when Ed and I couldn't get in our trunk either? It had the guys at Saturn scratching their heads for a few days, they did finally get into the trunk and they replaced the wiring harness in ours. Now I have had a new top put on and called them this morning to let them know that I will be bringing it back to them yet again to have this looked at again we have horrible wind noise and the top just doesn't look right!!!!!!! Ah we love our Sky!!!!!!!!

[Blue Sky Redline]

Thank goodness for trunk monkeys!

[bigdog]

I stopped by the dealer to 'borrow' my car for the Roseville SKY show at Saturn of Roseville held yesterday, 4/20. They McGivered the release cable that let me access the trunk and stow the top - I'll post pics of the offending cable showing the release cable as it should look and the McGivered side tonight.

[bigdog]

Here are the pics of the cable release locations where the spacer failed. The first shot is of the trunk without the liner showing the pin latch locations. the second and third shots are closeups of the cable ends - one good and one temp.I included one shot, the last one, of the buttress pin trim ring. The scratches don't show well but they're there.

The McGiver'd cable fix was a zip tie. It really wasn't close to being right, not enough of the clip held the buttress pin in to be very secure.

I picked up the car this afternoon and all is well and well tested !