Anybody know how to bypass the trunk to open when the car is in park? I can't open the trunk unless I shut the car off. I want to be able to open the trunk with the remote when the car is running.

Really ? Weird .. mine opens either or ... what kinda car u got dude ? and maybe its a fuse or your lock on your trunk is on or something ?

98 Sunfire. The trunk opens with the remote only when the car is shut off. I thought this was a safety feature like having to push on the brake before shifting out of park which I will unhook next.

yeah give that a try or check the fuses

i just wired up a trunk release button for mine. put it right between 12V and the wire for releasing the solenoid for the trunk. i did mine to a switched 12V source through so i can only open it by button if the car is on (personal preference).


1997 Cavalier Z24
Bomz Short Ram Intake
Vibrant Cat-Back
KYB GR2 Struts
Goldline 1.75" Springs
RK Sport Upper Insert
RK Sport Lower Dogbone
Custom Tune by Shane @
innovativetuning@rogers.com

15.647 @ 88.02 MPH

mine is funny about opening when the car is running. i have to push the button 6or 7 times before it opens. If i shut the car off though it will open right away.

if you guys are talking about factory keyless systems it may be in the programming of the remote control door lock receiver or the BCM to only allow the trunk to open when the car is off or something. but like whitegoose said, if you install your own circuit with a switch then you've pretty much defeated any safety system. ps, i dont rec you bypass your brake to shift circuit. theres no reason not to have your foot on the brake when shifting from park. my 87 camaro was built before it was required to push the brake, and it's really not that much of a convenience over my 2004 cavi. plus if someone in the passenger seat thinks they wanna be funny and pull the car into gear then you'll have a whole other mess of problems to deal with if you hit something/someone.

ok i went to GM service information, which is where we get all info about any GM vehicle from 98 and newer. this is copied and pasted from SI about your remote trunk release on a 98 sunfire:

Luggage Compartment Lid Release
When you press the trunk release button on the transmitter, battery voltage is applied to the luggage compartment lid release solenoid. The solenoid activates the trunk release. The remote control door lock receiver is not able to activate the solenoid when the ignition switch is not in the OFF position.

now, if the RCDLR can do all of it's functions with the key off (door lock/unlock/truck release) then the radio fuse sending ignition switch voltage to the module is probably just a signal to let the module know not to open the trunk. you could try clipping that wire near the module and see if you still have all the functions, including the correct timing/dimming for your dome light. it seems as though the interior light control signal from the RCDLR ties right into the signal going to the convenience center logic where the door jamb switches input (except the driver's door has it's own signal circuit to the convenience center). so, i dont really think it's going to change any of the functions of the car if you clip that wire. just an idea-it would be free, easy and reversible. just make sure you cut the wire in a place where you have enough slack to repair it, and make sure you tape up the open ends of the wire. if youre looking at your RCDLR the ignition input to the module is a yellow wire, pin J on the connector. let us know how it turns out if you decide to try it.

..... if you wanna try it out before actually cutting any wires, just remove your radio fuse and test all the functions of the receiver. it'll be like doing the same as cutting the wire, but you'll also be killing the turn on signal for your radio, and probably some other things until you put the fuse back in

Well I tried it tonight and it opened witht the car running and in park. Then I tried to open it with the car moving and the trunk opened??? So I don't know what is going on. But if ti starts again i will try and rewire to see what happens.

I disconnect the brake safety feature on all my cars. It is a pain. When I was puttin gthe dash back together I had to move the shifter from park and with me being in the pass. seat I could not do it. Thanks for the advice but I will take my chances.

Noah Hasenfang wrote:..... if you wanna try it out before actually cutting any wires, just remove your radio fuse and test all the functions of the receiver. it'll be like doing the same as cutting the wire, but you'll also be killing the turn on signal for your radio, and probably some other things until you put the fuse back in

I can't try this as I don't have a radio at the moment.

well yeah-it's going to open any time. while looking at the remote module wiring i found that the thing doesnt communicated at all with any other modules. it's completely stand alone. cant even talk to it with a scan tool. the only input that it has is the ignition switch voltage. and that's so it knows not to open the trunk when it gets that signal as a safety thing so you cant open the drunk with the car running. now that you've removed the circuit that sends that signal, the module can now pop the trunk any time. isnt that what you wanted?

if you wanna be specific and have the car pop the trunk while running, but only while in park or neutral then you'd need to run some kind of relay that is switched by the positive voltage signal from the neutral safety switch causing it to close the ground circuit for the trunk release.
another option would be to just run the ground wire to the emergency brake handle switch so if youre sitting still and wanna pop the trunk then just pull the ebrake to apply ground, the remote control function will continue to supply the power.

Noah Hasenfang wrote:well yeah-it's going to open any time. while looking at the remote module wiring i found that the thing doesnt communicated at all with any other modules. it's completely stand alone. cant even talk to it with a scan tool. the only input that it has is the ignition switch voltage. and that's so it knows not to open the trunk when it gets that signal as a safety thing so you cant open the drunk with the car running. now that you've removed the circuit that sends that signal, the module can now pop the trunk any time. isnt that what you wanted?

if you wanna be specific and have the car pop the trunk while running, but only while in park or neutral then you'd need to run some kind of relay that is switched by the positive voltage signal from the neutral safety switch causing it to close the ground circuit for the trunk release.
another option would be to just run the ground wire to the emergency brake handle switch so if youre sitting still and wanna pop the trunk then just pull the ebrake to apply ground, the remote control function will continue to supply the power.

I did not do anything to the car as of yet. It just started to work on it's own and now it opens witht he car moving as well. Kinda of strange.

sounds like either a short in your power/ground circuit or a bad module.

Noah Hasenfang wrote:ok i went to GM service information, which is where we get all info about any GM vehicle from 98 and newer. this is copied and pasted from SI about your remote trunk release on a 98 sunfire:

Luggage Compartment Lid Release
When you press the trunk release button on the transmitter, battery voltage is applied to the luggage compartment lid release solenoid. The solenoid activates the trunk release. The remote control door lock receiver is not able to activate the solenoid when the ignition switch is not in the OFF position.

this is not the case. like i said....i usually just have to press it multiple times or hold it in for a few seconds and it will pop. i know you were just quoting what GM wrote, but it is wrong.

yeah i dont have keyless entry on my j-body so i cant go test functions or anything.

Well tonight it did it again. Will not open with car moving or in park. Did not look yet but does anyone know where the module is located?

in the trunk of the car,left hand side behind the caret near the seat and bump for the left rear (drivers rear) tire.


1997 Cavalier Z24
Bomz Short Ram Intake
Vibrant Cat-Back
KYB GR2 Struts
Goldline 1.75" Springs
RK Sport Upper Insert
RK Sport Lower Dogbone
Custom Tune by Shane @
innovativetuning@rogers.com

15.647 @ 88.02 MPH