This is not a huge problem, but a few times while i was driving i bumped up against the trunk release button on the door, and the trunk popped. Is there a way I can create an interlock so that it will only pop when the car is in park or the car is off, etc? it is pretty inconvenient to pull over when you are driving and the trunk opens randomly. I know i know i could just be more careful, but most new cars have interlocks where this cant happen.

Thanks to all the electrical geinus' out there.

-CUSEMAX

for the record, i have a 99 SE

 

The easiest fix would be to put in a rocker switch next to the trunk release button. Just splice the wire going to the button. This way you must turn on the rocker switch them push the trunk release button.

 

haha i do this all the time too
why they put that damn button there anyways..

 

Get your gangsta lean on the other way...

 

i dont like the idea of a rocker switch next to the door, it would look awful... i wonder if i can figure out a way using a relay or something that i can hide somewhere else... gee i wish i was an electrical guru!

 

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You could wire a relay so that you have to turn on some other accessory in order to pop the trunk. It would make sense to wire it so that the door has to be open (and therefore the dome light would have to be on) in order for the trunk to pop. If you want more help doing it this way let me know.

 

Simply wire a on/off switch to the wires of the trunk popper and hide it tucked in next to the door or under the seat

 

I don't think the OP wants to have a manual switch. You could also use a normally closed relay, that disconnects the switch when the ignition is on.

 

i have mine in that free slot next to the dimmer switch on the dash...i've never hit it by accident.

 

i have never hit my trunk release by mistake. i guess since i am lefty i dont lean on it.

 

alright, here we go...

the trunk release wire you can get to at the drivers kick panel, it is purple w/ yellow, it is a negative trigger which means that when you push the button it completes the circuit via applying a ground (as opposed to a positve trigger which would apply +12v)

***someone needs to chime in on how the neutral safety switch works***

if you want to you can set it up to only pop the trunk when the door is open using a standard spdt relay, connections as follows.
86-+12v (you can go to the brake switch constant for this it is red w/ green at the brake switch i believe (double check)
85- tap into the door switch wire (red w/ white at the drivers kick)
87 and 30- cut the trunk pop trigger wire and connect the two to these pins (it doesnt matter which way)
87a- not used.

this .should. work, it may interfere with the keyless entry but it shouldnt. test it thouroughly before you hit the road, including the brake lights for proper opperation. the easiest thing to do would be to put a on/off switch somewhere though.

 

oh...electrical genius? he11 no. you wouldnt believe how complicated cars are getting, i miss the old 8 bit "computers"...sniff...

 

I used to do this all the time, now I'm just in the habit of emptying my left front pants pocket when I get in a car (usually just my cell phone).

My cousin has an old school SE-R (1992 I think) that can't be started unless you turn on the high beams by pulling back the turn signal stalk. Now he turns on the high beams every time he starts a car, it's kinda funny. Actually it's not a bad idea, I was thinking about doing that myself as an extra anti-theft feature.

 

To wire the trunk release button to where it doesn't open unless it is in park would probably be to much trouble for anyone. I work on a lot of complicated electrical equipment that has a little to do with stuff like this, although I am no "expert", but I am a certified electrical technician. I have never done this or even though of doing this. But this is what I think:

You could tap into the gauges so when the car is in park, it allows connection to the ground, depending on how the park/drive/reverse/ect indicator is wired. I know that the electrical indicators probably either get a certain voltage or signal carried to the circuit or the power source is routed through a fixed resistor. If you do want to try it like this, just tell me, and when I have a day off, I could figure it out for you.

But like everyone else has said, easier to just wire a simple switch of some sort and hide it.

 

i like that high beam trick, ive also know people who use factory or another cigarette lighter you have to push down while you start the car

 

I've also heard that you can use your amplifier trigger wire from your head unit. No faceplate = car won't start.

 

Just thought of another idea. If you have keyless entry, the trunk popper only works when the ignition is off. Maybe you can somehow modify this to apply to the trunk pop button as well.

 

Thats the way too go.

 

There's an infiniti TSB regarding the trunk popping open while driving, and it shows how to wire it to a relay which goes to a wire in the TCM, only letting the popper work when the car is in "P". I could have sworn i had a copy of it, but you may be able to find one online. It didn't seem too hard to do, and since it's a full TSB it has complete wiring diagrams to do it.

 

So who can find the TSB???

 

http://www.jatan.net/tsbs/056831.pdf

this is the only one i could find right now but it doesnt pertain to this situation. look around alldata.com at the tsbs.

 

I found my copy of it, i can send it to you if you give me your email or if someone could host it. The TSB number is ITB00-048a...it only applies to i30s.

 

I'd like to have a copy of that TSB. My e-mail is par195@earthlink.net.

Thanks, Debbie

 

To remedy this, in the 5th gen they changed it to a pull-button instead - it is still in the same place...

 

i have a 4th gen and mines a pull button

 

the I30's and Maxes are pretty much the same inside, the wire colors may be diff. but the same TSB should work, idea wise, you just may have to find the proper wire... oh and not to hijack the thread, but kcryan, nice Allante, is it the rare Northstar version?

 

That sucks man, i barely hit the button anymore, but when i did hit it, i would just press on the brakes and when the trunk opened up, i would slam on the gas pedal WOT! and then the trunk would slam shut while im driving.