Trunk pops open when I shift from Park into any other gear

[Mebot]

Hello, I tried searching for other threads, but can't seem to find anything related to the problem I'm having. Apologies if this problem has already been discussed.

A couple weeks ago, my trunk just popped open as soon as I shifted from Park into Drive. I got out, shut the trunk and then shifted from Park down one to Reverse and same thing. I had to drive to work and can't have my trunk flying up at high speed.

I disconnected the connector in the trunk so the trunk stays closed now, but I can only open it with a key. The fob does not work and the trunk release on the driver side door doesn't work.

I plugged the connector back in about a week later and my fob doesn't work and neither does the driver side trunk release. But I still get the same problem when I shift from Park into another gear. The trunk flies up.

I'm deducting it's a mechanical problem and not an electrical problem, but it's the weirdest thing. anyone else have any problems like this? I'm taking it into the shop on Thursday to take a look.

[fastblackmerc]

Hello, I tried searching for other threads, but can't seem to find anything related to the problem I'm having. Apologies if this problem has already been discussed.

A couple weeks ago, my trunk just popped open as soon as I shifted from Park into Drive. I got out, shut the trunk and then shifted from Park down one to Reverse and same thing. I had to drive to work and can't have my trunk flying up at high speed.

I disconnected the connector in the trunk so the trunk stays closed now, but I can only open it with a key. The fob does not work and the trunk release on the driver side door doesn't work.

I plugged the connector back in about a week later and my fob doesn't work and neither does the driver side trunk release. But I still get the same problem when I shift from Park into another gear. The trunk flies up.

I'm deducting it's a mechanical problem and not an electrical problem, but it's the weirdest thing. anyone else have any problems like this? I'm taking it into the shop on Thursday to take a look.

Why would it be a mechanical problem if it doesn't happen when the electrical connector is disconnected?

It sounds like an electrical problem to me. I'd take a good look at the electrical harness in the trunk.

[RacerX]

Any enemies have access to your keys? Horn doesn't go off when you hit the brake does it? :D

I wonder if any cabling runs over the tranny and could be chafed?

[Blk Mamba]

I thought there was another thread on here about that not long ago, don't remember who, or when.

[Mebot]

Why would it be a mechanical problem if it doesn't happen when the electrical connector is disconnected?

It sounds like an electrical problem to me. I'd take a good look at the electrical harness in the trunk.

I don't know. It seems like a mechanical problem because I don't know the schematics of the trunk release, but I feel that there might be an issue with the cable, ergo a mechanical issue. But who knows? I mean nothing seems out of place with the harness either. I'm just baffled...

[RacerX]

Check the emergency release inside the trunk. Put your girlfriend/wife in the trunk and have her test to see it's working.

[Dr Caleb]

Check the emergency release inside the trunk. Put your girlfriend/wife in the trunk and have her test to see it's working.

FFS, don't put them in there at the same time!

[SID210SA]

I know Dave had that same issue..I cant remember if he posted about it or if I posted it for him...I will look. But I know his issue is not resolved.

[Blackened300a]

I thought there was another thread on here about that not long ago, don't remember who, or when.

I remember that too. I don't remember the fix.

This sounds electrical considering you disconnected the remote lock and it stopped. Try plugging it in and shaking the car to see if that trips it. Otherwise its sounding like its being tripped by the reverse lights coming on. The wires that run into the tail panel would be the first harness to start looking at.

[TFB]

Otherwise its sounding like its being tripped by the reverse lights coming on. The wires that run into the tail panel would be the first harness to start looking at.
My thoughts as well... A easy way to confirm that is start the car in neutral(be sure it isn't going to roll) then shift to reverse to see if it opens...

[FordNut]

Sounds like the door/lock control is screwy. Maybe it thinks it is locking the doors (which is normal when you shift out of park) but it's opening the trunk instead?

[Mr. Man]

Sounds electrical to me. You may have gotten one of the few MM's with Lucus electronics:D

[fastblackmerc]

Sounds electrical to me. You may have gotten one of the few MM's with Lucus electronics:D

Or one with Lucas wiring.......

[Mebot]

My thoughts as well... A easy way to confirm that is start the car in neutral(be sure it isn't going to roll) then shift to reverse to see if it opens...



This sounds electrical considering you disconnected the remote lock and it stopped. Try plugging it in and shaking the car to see if that trips it. Otherwise its sounding like its being tripped by the reverse lights coming on. The wires that run into the tail panel would be the first harness to start looking at.


Thanks for the advice, I'll check out both ideas. I think everyone's right about it being an electrical issue. But here's a question: when I plug the harness back in in the trunk, and I press the trunk release on my fob and on the driver side door, nothing happens. I'm afraid when I take my car into the shop tomorrow, they'll charge me $$$ to re-sequence the remote. I hope not.

[CBT]

Unhook wires, use key. :beer:

[TFB]

I'm afraid when I take my car into the shop tomorrow, they'll charge me $$$ to re-sequence the remote. I hope not.
No function can be canceled or eliminated on the remote(well other than turning on-off the horn chirp when locking)... As already suggested, since the trunk doesn't operate with either keypad or remote, problem could possibly be in the RKE(remote keyless entry)module that's located in the drivers door...

Since there is no doubt some degree of microprocessor control within the RKE module, it may be a good idea to disconnect the battery overnight to see if that has any effect...

[Mebot]

Unhook wires, use key. :beer:

haha that's what I've been doing for the past month now!

[Mebot]

No function can be canceled or eliminated on the remote(well other than turning on-off the horn chirp when locking)... As already suggested, since the trunk doesn't operate with either keypad or remote, problem could possibly be in the RKE(remote keyless entry)module that's located in the drivers door...

Since there is no doubt some degree of microprocessor control within the RKE module, it may be a good idea to disconnect the battery overnight to see if that has any effect...

Good point, I'll try that as well.

[Mebot]

Found the other thread too: http://mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=56422

[BLACKMARAUDER04]

If I remember the old thread correctly, it was a short in the driver's side
sun shade visor. There is a chafed wire in the visor connection.
Disconnect your visor and look for the wire. That should fix your problem.

or This is what was said in the other post:

Found the problem. 1 stupid wire from the main trunk connector near the driver's side trunk hinge was out pulled out. Don't how it happened but it did. Recrimped a new pin and good as new. :)

[Mebot]

If I remember the old thread correctly, it was a short in the driver's side
sun shade visor. There is a chafed wire in the visor connection.
Disconnect your visor and look for the wire. That should fix your problem.

or This is what was said in the other post:

Found the problem. 1 stupid wire from the main trunk connector near the driver's side trunk hinge was out pulled out. Don't how it happened but it did. Recrimped a new pin and good as new. :)


interesting but why would the sun shade visor have any wires in it? I mean this could definitely explain a lot, since recently (in the past 8 months) i've started using an internal windhshield shade everytime i park my car. I don't want my dash or seats to start fading/cracking...

[fastblackmerc]

interesting but why would the sun shade visor have any wires in it? I mean this could definitely explain a lot, since recently (in the past 8 months) i've started using an internal windhshield shade everytime i park my car. I don't want my dash or seats to start fading/cracking...

Here's a hint.................

Flip down the visor, flip up the mirror cover................

HOLY LIGHT UP MY FACE BATMAN there are lights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's why there are wires in the visor

[Mebot]

oh ok, so i forgot about the light in the mirror, my bad cut me some slack. I've actually never opened the vanity mirror. My CD Sleeve covers that part of my visor.

[crouse]

We used to do that when I was in high school. We'd connect a wire from the horn to a headlight or a turn signal or the brake lights. LOL That was when you could open the hood from the outside of the car.


Any enemies have access to your keys? Horn doesn't go off when you hit the brake does it? :D

I wonder if any cabling runs over the tranny and could be chafed?

[RF Overlord]

I've been looking over the factory wiring manual and I'm not sure if any of this will help, but FWIW...

Without Remote Keyless Entry, this would be a very simple wiring trace. However, WITH RKE, it's exponentially more complicated as instead of a simple momentary application of power to trigger the luggage compartment release solenoid, the solenoid is triggered by the RKE driver's door module, pins 6 & 7 (tied together). To make things worse, the LCM is also tied to the driver's door module, to drive the luggage compartment lamp.

As far as the reversing lamps figuring in to all this, that is a separate very simple circuit that takes a pin from the Digital Transmission Range Sensor and provides power to the lamps. No tie-in with the release solenoid at all. The only way the two could be related is if there is a wiring harness fault. One place to check carefully is the harness on the underside of the luggage compartment lid and the connector near the left hinge. Both the reversing lamp and the lid release solenoid wiring are in there.

One more test you could try is to disconnect the driver's door module and see if the trunk lid still opens when you shift through reverse.

[tomd]

ffs, don't put them in there at the same time!

lol!!!!!!!!!!

[LSCR351]

I would check in the trunk for a loss of ground to the reverse lights.

[Spectragod]

I would check in the trunk for a loss of ground to the reverse lights.


Good call, it does sound like the lights are looking for ground.

[En4cer71]

I wish I could tell you the solution but I know of a few crown vics with that problem and they didn't have RKE, visor lights or key pads on door. Would also occur when they started the engine. Gremlins?