Vert owners please read - trunk lid issues!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,466
Likes: 0
From: GARDENA Ca, State Of Konfusion
St. Jude Donor '05
My trunk is really heavy with the mirror. As long as I can get a finger nail under the the lid I am happy. That is too much money for me to spend just to open the trunk. But thats up to you!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 998
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere between the Red and the Rio Republic of Texas
Originally Posted by Chris69
I'd like to hear if anyone has replaced the spring itself with a heavier duty one. Good luck. 
I did replace the spring because I followed the GM engineers' "logical" way of thinking and came up with the spring replacement as a necessity. I just couldn't figure out how to keep the thing from moving towards the front of the car, which causes the tension to be reduced. I'll take another look at it and will keep your solution in mind when doing so.
Thanks!
Racer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Cedarburg WI
I have put up with the trunk lid not opening without extra help (slamming the door) for 6 years. Today, I decided to take the trunk compartment apart and lubricate the spring to see if it would help. It didn't work. So, I loosened the 2 bolts that hold the spring mechanism in place and moved it around and closed the trunk until I found the sweet spot then I tightened the bolts. For my vert the sweet spot was to move the spring mechanism to the far left (left if you are facing the trunk) and center of the bolt holes. It now works great, every time! I don't know if this will help other folks but, I wanted to share my good fortune.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 28,753
Likes: 9
From: San Jose/Bear Valley CA
CA Events Coordinator
Try this... use the key fob to unlock the trunk... then with both the windows up... slam the driver door closed real hard to increase the internal pressure of the cars cabin! 
As the trunk flies open run to the back and grab it while its up in the air.. problem solved!! 
Ok, seriously... whatever is wrong with your car, I hope you find the reason and the cure quickly and easily.
VR
As the trunk flies open run to the back and grab it while its up in the air.. problem solved!! Ok, seriously... whatever is wrong with your car, I hope you find the reason and the cure quickly and easily.
VR
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,058
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Originally Posted by FLACHUSNRET
I have an '02 vert and I have the same problem. About twice a year I spray the latch mechnism with WD40 and that solves the problem!
...same here...I have only sprayed it once so far and have had no other trouble from it since 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
[QUOTE=vetterdstr]Try this... use the key fob to unlock the trunk... then with both the windows up... slam the driver door closed real hard to increase the internal pressure of the cars cabin!
Always thought of it as just a quirk of my vette. Even having to use my little pinky to open the trunk led doesn't bother me.
Always thought of it as just a quirk of my vette. Even having to use my little pinky to open the trunk led doesn't bother me.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 998
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere between the Red and the Rio Republic of Texas
Well, I finally broke down and did the only thing I could think of to figure out why my lid wasn't popping open. I removed all the trunk panels and climbed inside the trunk with a flashlight. Let me tell you, this wasn't an easy task! 
I was able to determine that the catch piece on the deck lid is so poorly placed that, when the trunk is closed, the lock catches the very end of the catch on the lid. The spring that is supposed to add the compression leverage to pop the lid up, completely misses the base of the catch and will never hit the catch as it is currently set up. Either the catch needs to be moved on the deck lid or the support frame for the trunk locking mechanism needs to be shortened.
I will probably swing by to discuss options with my local vette expert. Once again, just another overall bad design from the GM engineers.
I was able to determine that the catch piece on the deck lid is so poorly placed that, when the trunk is closed, the lock catches the very end of the catch on the lid. The spring that is supposed to add the compression leverage to pop the lid up, completely misses the base of the catch and will never hit the catch as it is currently set up. Either the catch needs to be moved on the deck lid or the support frame for the trunk locking mechanism needs to be shortened.
I will probably swing by to discuss options with my local vette expert. Once again, just another overall bad design from the GM engineers.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 49
From: Franklin IN
Check these out!
http://www.ballsrodandkustom.com/poppers.htm
http://www.customclassic.com/catalog...ve/poppers.htm
I'm trying to get more info and I'll post it. I thought the billet ones looked good.
http://www.customclassic.com/catalog...ve/poppers.htm
I'm trying to get more info and I'll post it. I thought the billet ones looked good.
Last edited by 87bob; Aug 23, 2006 at 04:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 998
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere between the Red and the Rio Republic of Texas
OK......I just got back from visiting with my "local vette expert" and............ 
............it took him literally 2 seconds to fix my problem! 
I've spent over a year trying to make adjustments, change parts, and research solutions, not to mention coming up with alternative ways of getting that f'n thing to open!
As I previously posted, my problem was that the catch on the deck lid was not centered on the locking mechanism. Well, I explained the problem and, get this; he simply pushed on the entire locking mechanism to bend the frame just enough to realign the lock with the catch.
Now it pops open like new
and I'll never doubt him again! 
Now its on to my next fix! I hope this helps anyone that has the same problem that I "had".
