Trunk pop up
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 297
Likes: 91
From: Uniontown Ohio
Trunk pop up
Just added an 03 to the garage by my 65 C2. When using the remote or the button on the dash to open the trunk, it opens but doesn't pop up high enough to get my fingers under the lid to lift it open. Should there be a spring or popper to open it and inch or so? C5s are very different than C2s, so I can use some advice from owners who have had them longer than I have.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 8,342
Likes: 489
From: WI
It should pop up and stay up enough for you to finger it.
After popping, what happens if you press the button again? I ask because there's a midway of the trunk being closed but not fully, the popper will still pop from that point. You definitely have a malfunction, though.
After popping, what happens if you press the button again? I ask because there's a midway of the trunk being closed but not fully, the popper will still pop from that point. You definitely have a malfunction, though.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 297
Likes: 91
From: Uniontown Ohio
It should pop up and stay up enough for you to finger it.
After popping, what happens if you press the button again? I ask because there's a midway of the trunk being closed but not fully, the popper will still pop from that point. You definitely have a malfunction, though.
After popping, what happens if you press the button again? I ask because there's a midway of the trunk being closed but not fully, the popper will still pop from that point. You definitely have a malfunction, though.
Where is the popper located?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 414
From: New Jersey
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,864
Likes: 4,667
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 1,339
From: Havre de Grace Maryland
This is what I use. I also added some velcro at the bottom of the latch. Works great.
Trunk Lid Assist Spring Kit 1997-2004 FIT C5 Corvette - GLOCKPLATES
Trunk Lid Assist Spring Kit 1997-2004 FIT C5 Corvette - GLOCKPLATES
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 490
From: Denver, NC
Just added an 03 to the garage by my 65 C2. When using the remote or the button on the dash to open the trunk, it opens but doesn't pop up high enough to get my fingers under the lid to lift it open. Should there be a spring or popper to open it and inch or so? C5s are very different than C2s, so I can use some advice from owners who have had them longer than I have.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 50
Likes: 8
From: Chicagoland IL
I had a similar situation with my '01 vert. I lubed the hinges and changed the struts. Still would not pop up far enough to grab it. I used some silicon spray (on a rag) and wiped down the trunk latch. That did the trick. Pops up about 1 1/2 inches now.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,892
Likes: 981
From: Whitby Ont.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 627
Likes: 181
From: west coast of Canada
I tried all of the preceding. Compression spring works okay. Shutting a door works well. New struts didn't do it. Lubing everything in sight didn't help. I'm going to try Ed Ramberger's advice.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 377
From: SW Ohio
This is probably the fix. It's worked on my last two corvettes and needs to be done once a year-ish.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,011
Likes: 508
From: Hilton NY
It helps to clean all the dried up 20 year old grease out of the latch and regrease with synthetic grease, the same as the parking brake handle and hood latches. The gas springs don't do much to open the trunk due to the angle when closed, the small spring on the latch does the lifting. The latch opening must also be aligned to the hasp so it doesn't bind, the same is true of the tonneau cover latch.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 621
Likes: 596
From: Ohio
Same experience, lubing the latch was what made the largest difference compared to new struts.
...that's what fixed mine also
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,892
Likes: 981
From: Whitby Ont.
wow, who'd a thunk it. Brake cleaner is your friend, sprayed it all around that trunk release on my Z and boom pops up like half an inch, I don't have to go back and make sure the windows are up and close the door to make it pop anymore, perfect solution. Thanks to these guys on the farm everybody has a solution for something.
