Power trunk opener switch and connector

[TA301]

The connector with the orange wire has a single inlet while the back of the switch has two prongs. What gives?

[aussieta]

one side goes to constant positive
other side goes to trunk solemoid
basic normally open switch

[Wallington]

Are you talking about the button in the glovebox?

Trunk solenoid is grounded to body, live wire goes to button and continues to solenoid, only links when button pressed to pop it.

Firebird 1978 Accessories Wiring Power Trunk Release by Ben, on Flickr

[TA301]

Yes, the yellow button switch in the glove box. When I connect the orange connector and press, trunk does not open regardless of which prong it is connected to. I was wondering why it has two prongs when the connector has only one.

[Wallington]

??
You've lost me. The trunk pop switch has two terminals, one comes from the live power source, the other goes to the trunk solenoid. It doesn't matter which is which, it doesn't know the difference. It only activates and completes circuit to trunk when button pushed, and solenoid pops.

[aussieta]

i think op has only connected the orange wire
may not have the black wire or even have the solenoid

[TA301]

Evidently, the black connector from the trunk release solenoid is missing or I can't locate it on the harness. That explains why it does not work. I installed a new dash rebuilt by Just Dashes and have everything connected except the trunk release.

[Wallington]

If it's not original then likely not added to the harness. Easy to run an extra wire back, even just to test. Common plug if you want that too.

I added a NOS one to mine, came with some parts but no harness. Easy to add. I see a guy on ebay was selling his own harnesses, essentially he was grabbing a roll of wire and adding a plug to each end and calling it done! Not sure if he had any sales.

It's also an option, not sure it was ever part of the harness. I'll add a relay to mine, allow keyless trunk option from key remote to pop. Leave the glove box button and key as a back up.

[TA301]

i think op has only connected the orange wire
may not have the black wire or even have the solenoid

Correct. Can't locate the black wire. I had the original dash rebuilt to new. I will check to see if the black wire is hiding somewhere in the vicinity of where it should be. The car has the remote trunk release as original equipment since new.

[TA301]

If it's not original then likely not added to the harness. Easy to run an extra wire back, even just to test. Common plug if you want that too.

I added a NOS one to mine, came with some parts but no harness. Easy to add. I see a guy on ebay was selling his own harnesses, essentially he was grabbing a roll of wire and adding a plug to each end and calling it done! Not sure if he had any sales.

It's also an option, not sure it was ever part of the harness. I'll add a relay to mine, allow keyless trunk option from key remote to pop. Leave the glove box button and key as a back up.

Car has the remote trunk release factory installed and worked before the restoration started. Yes, I saw that harness on ebay as well. I will look carefully to find the harness. At the very least, I will remove the door sill scuff plate on the passenger side to enable me to trace that black ground wire since it is located there.

[TA301]

Found the ground wire/connector. During the restoration process, somehow it had ended up ziptied to the harness at the driver's side! It was really hard to access it but I managed to free it and reroute it to the switch. It has a butt connector with a red wire that is branching out of it. That wire has been cut and existed when the aftermarket alarm system installed back in 1992 used it. Upon connection to the switch, the trunk does not open when the switch is pressed. I am going to remove the butt connector and splice the black wire and hope it works.

[aussieta]

the aftermarket alarm would have had a remote trunk release

[Wallington]

Half the alarms in 1992 were based on a simple voltage drop, didn't even offer unlocking, just on and off prior to getting your key out.

[aussieta]

i have had alarms with remote door and trunk from early 1990
viper brands

[Wallington]

And the other half didn't.

[aussieta]

And the other half didn't.

wheres that like button