Good day to all! Today we will talk about such a device as an electric trunk lid or simply a rear door. Here you can call it whatever you like. The essence remains the same.
Many modern cars have a function that allows you to remotely and automatically open the luggage compartment. Everyone imagines what it is like when you don’t have to lift the lid manually. Therefore, many decide to install a similar element on a sedan, hatchback or other car body with a similar device.
The presence of an electric drive will significantly simplify closing and opening the trunk. Now there is a real opportunity to buy a universal set, connect it to your car and use it with pleasure and excellent comfort. I propose to study this issue in more detail and decide whether an electric drive is right for you.
Preparation for installation
We purchase a lock kit. There are a lot of manufacturers of auto parts on the market now, but there are no special differences between the sets. It is important that the device has a warranty card and instructions for use and connection. Also in the box you will find:
- Activator;
- terminal;
- Wires;
- Relay.
Additionally, you need to stock up on a set of standard tools: pliers, screwdriver, screwdrivers, multimeter, drill with carbide drill bit. In addition to the standard accessories, immediately buy additional wires; it is quite possible that the length of those you find in the box will not be enough for you. Black heat-resistant insulating tape, corrugated tubes, and clips for fastening the trim will also be useful, since very often the trim of car elements is attached to disposable ones.
Important! Be sure to check that the warranty card for the purchased device is available and filled out correctly. Regardless of who performed the installation, you or the service, you have the right to free repairs within a year.
Device set
Theoretical facts
There is no need to “reinvent the wheel” to automatically open the trunk. It will be enough to install ordinary springs, as is common among Lada Granta car owners. To close the luggage compartment using a button, you will already need a mechanism driven by an electric motor. Foreign cars, as a rule, are equipped with two electric drives, a control unit and a button in the cabin.
A pneumatic drive is considered more reliable, while an electric drive is a budget option.
As an example, let’s look at the principle of operation of the trunk closing mechanism of Volkswagen cars. The power rear door kit includes two motors located in the trunk lid control units and a soft-close locking hinge.
Opening the luggage compartment can be done in several ways:
- by pressing a button on the remote control;
- by pressing the same button built into the driver's door;
- mechanically using an external handle.
You can close the trunk manually or use the button on the door panel.
The electric motors of the trunk opening/closing mechanism are equipped with a force limiter, due to which they stop if there is an obstacle in the path of the lid movement. As a result, the opening process is interrupted. The limiter works in a similar way when the lid is closed, interrupting the movement of the mechanism and shifting its position slightly back.
Equipping a domestic car with an electric trunk drive
If you install an electric drive for opening and closing the trunk on a domestic car (for example, a VAZ), the basic elements of the mechanism alone, which are already far from cheap, will not be enough. You will also need to install a trunk closer. Therefore, this method of improvement is irrational.
For domestic cars, a cheaper and simpler solution is suitable, such as using an electric window drive.
To bring this idea to life, you need to buy two ESP mechanisms (for example, consider products costing about three thousand rubles), a trunk lid control button (type 21100-3710620, cost 50 rubles) and a car window closing module (brand DenUp-RWC702m, price – 500 rubles).
Electric power windows "Forward"
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In our example, power windows are installed in the luggage compartment of the Lada Priora using a simple connection. The rear edge of the ESP rail is connected by a threaded connection to the crossbar at the back of the seat, on which the shelf rests. The front end of the window regulator bracket with a welded nut is screwed to the rear window mounting beam. To do this, a groove is cut in the beam into which an M6 nut would fit.
As a result, the assembled structure works without problems when you press a button specially located in the interior or on the remote control.
Connection diagram
Using one power window is ineffective, since it can hardly cope with its task, and the trunk lid closes askew.
The mechanism of two ESPs is free of these troubles. In some cases, the lock position will need to be adjusted.
Luxury or necessity
The automatic trunk opening feature is found in many new cars. Drivers like this feature, because you quickly get used to good things. To open the luggage compartment in a car, just press a button in the cabin. The lock comes into operation as a result of the operation of the electric drive.
This feature may seem like a small thing and an insignificant addition until the cold weather arrives. In cold weather, the lock on the trunk often freezes, making opening the compartment a difficult task. You have to spend time defrosting the mechanism. In the case of an electric drive, such problems will not arise. Also, such a mechanism makes car hacking more difficult, which is also an important advantage.
Mostly imported cars are equipped with this function, and not all of them. Domestic manufacturers have only recently begun to equip their models with such functionality. Every car owner can equip his car with an electric drive for the trunk. This will not be difficult to do, but you will still have to tinker.
The principle of operation of the trunk opening and closing mechanism
How does the power rear door lift work? The electric trunk lock drive must open when the corresponding button is pressed by unwinding, thereby increasing the traction force and transmitting it to the rod. When voltage is applied to the unit, the system relay automatically repels the rod, which helps open the door. It must be taken into account that the electric tailgate drive cannot operate under load for a long time, as it may break due to overheating.
Designation of structural elements
Luxury or necessity?
Automatic opening of the car trunk is a function that most car enthusiasts who have switched to new cars are just starting to get used to. When you press a button inside the car, an electric drive is activated, which activates the lock, causing the trunk lid to open.
It would seem like a small thing, but in the cold season, the electric drive significantly simplifies the life of car owners. In models with a conventional mechanical lock, many often encountered a problem when, after washing the car, the lock freezes and cannot be opened. Someone pours boiling water over the lock, someone simply warms the key, in a word, everyone invents what they can. This will not happen with an electric drive.
The electric drive is compatible with a standard lock, and you can use two methods simultaneously when opening the trunk lid, increasing burglary resistance. The device is installed mainly on imported cars. In the assembly of domestic cars, an electric drive in the trunk appeared quite recently. Car owners who lack this convenience can easily install such a mechanism.
Kit selection
Installation will not be possible if you do not have at your disposal a set of equipment necessary for installation. Buying it is not difficult, but you need to think about which specific option is best for you.
In total, 2 solutions to the current situation are being considered. Namely.
- Factory set. Purchased from trusted and reputable manufacturers. The kit contains almost everything you need, so you don’t have to assemble different elements. But the price is naturally higher;
- Amateur kit. Here we are talking about independently preparing all the necessary components. The motorist is faced with the question of where exactly to get them and how to choose a set so that everything fits. It is difficult to do this without relevant experience and certain knowledge. But you can save a lot of money financially.
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I don’t know what exactly you will choose, but I want to give one piece of advice. Buy an electric drive equipped with an inertia mechanism. This will allow you to turn off the drive when an obstacle appears in the path of the luggage compartment lid. Roughly speaking, the drive will not pinch your hand or head when you poke around in the trunk.
So the inertial mechanism is a very useful thing.
If we talk about assembling a homemade kit, then it is important to collect several basic elements. These include:
- power window module 2 pieces;
- 2 mechanisms for lifting glass;
- wires;
- diodes;
- electromagnetic relay;
- five-pin relays;
- four-pin relays;
- Relay connection block;
- springs for the lid lock;
- power tools;
- wiring;
- nuts, bolts;
- Bulgarian, etc.
As you can see, the set is quite impressive. Therefore, consider whether it is worth trying to assemble the kit yourself. Sometimes it is much easier and even more economical to purchase a ready-made factory kit with a guarantee and all the associated benefits. Price does not always play a key role.
Device Features
To open the trunk remotely, automakers use two main methods. The first involves installing an electric drive in the cover, and the second involves the use of pneumatic drives. The latter option is considered more reliable, but also more expensive.
The lid can also be controlled using an electric drive in various ways. This can involve buttons on the dashboard, buttons on the doors, handles on the trunk itself, and remote controls. Each option, in principle, looks attractive and potentially convenient. Therefore, the motorist needs to decide for himself what kind of result he wants to get. It is important to understand that the remote control is convenient, but it can be easily lost. Plus, the installation involves a very complex set of works. Because of this, the most optimal option is to locate the button inside the car interior.
The electric drive device includes several main components. The drive with an electric motor is quite practical, reliable, durable and hardy under active conditions. Less commonly, you can find drives that use magnetic plates. The design is more complex and can create a number of additional problems. It's better not to use them.
The undeniable advantage of the device is that it is quite possible to install it yourself, and on almost any car. If you read various forums, study the work of various craftsmen, of which Moscow alone includes several hundred, as well as the whole of Ukraine, you can see clear examples of the implementation of electric drives on a wide range of car models and brands.
For clarity, I will give several examples where such a system is available from the factory or can be installed on your own:
- Audi Q5;
- Kia Optima;
- Mercedes W211;
- Volkswagen Touareg;
- Chevrolet Niva;
- VAZ 2170 (Priora sedan);
- Lada Vesta SV;
- Ford Kuga 2nd generation;
- VAZ 2114;
- VAZ 2115;
- VAZ 2104;
- Lada Granta;
- Skoda Superb, etc.
There really are a lot of options. It is almost impossible to list everything. That is, you understand that you can install an electric trunk lid on any car.
Installation of a standard electric drive on a Lada
Frets of the “tenth” family of recent years of production are equipped with an electric drive for opening/closing the trunk directly at the factory. Earlier series of cars do not have such equipment, so owners will have to install the electric trunk drive themselves.
Our example involves the operation of the electric trunk drive through a separate button in the cabin. Some alarm systems have an additional ability - to open the luggage compartment, so it is to this system that we will connect the electric drive. For installation you will need the mechanism itself and a mounting plate.
If you have an electric drive in a universal configuration, you will need to make the mounting brackets yourself.
In addition, you will need four meters of electrical wire and a switch button.
Before installing the electric drive, be sure to disconnect the negative terminal of the battery. Then we attach the lock drive and remove the protective casing, first removing the fastening clips. Using pliers, we straighten the rear end of the electric drive, unscrew the screw securing the rod, but not completely. The lock drive rod has been disassembled. Now the compartment cannot be opened from the outside, since the lock unlocking mechanism is disconnected from the lock cylinder.
Next, on the trunk lid amplifier, you should mark the locations for drilling the mounting holes for the electric drive attached to the lock. Using an electric drill, we drill holes with a diameter of 3 mm according to the marks. Then it is necessary to bend the rod and make a U-shaped bracket from 4 mm steel wire of such a width that its edges fit effortlessly into the exit points of the drive shell bosses.
An M4 thread should be pre-cut at each end of the bracket. Finally, we fix the electric drive using the prepared bracket and connect the traction lock to it.
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Through the green wire on the electric drive, current flows to the button due to the retraction of the rod. This wire is laid next to the original cable harness. We connect ground to the blue wire, which is negative. You can get power from any exposed area of the car body. The interior button is installed on the dashboard in the left corner of the mounting block.
The operating voltage will be connected to it from block Ш1 (pin 2). After assembly, you can check the functionality of the system by pressing the interior button. Everything should work smoothly.
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- It is necessary to modify the purchased mechanism, remove the motor and rotate it so that it can function along the rack. Using a grinder removes all excess;
- Using a perforated metal blank, a fastening strip is made from it;
- The rack and drive motors are fixed to the bar. This design is mounted on body panels;
- One end of the window regulator mechanism, which was not used, is mounted on the trunk lid holder;
- Then everything is adjusted together and brought to the desired position;
- Think in advance about how you will lay out the wiring harness so that the wiring does not fray or become damaged;
- The connection diagram is selected based on the selected set. Ready-made kits have a special scheme, that is, you need to act strictly according to it;
- Connection to the power source is carried out with a separate cable, which is connected to the battery;
- A separate fuse is used for the power circuit;
- A button is mounted in the cabin in a place convenient for the driver.
In terms of ease of installation, it is much more convenient to work with ready-made factory kits. The manufacturer includes detailed instructions, following which you can do everything in just a couple of hours and enjoy the result.
Whether the financial and time costs are worth it, everyone decides for themselves. After all, before we somehow managed without an electric drive on the trunk. You can continue to live without him. And if you want, then no one forbids or prevents you from installing the kit.
Do you think a car needs an electric drive for the trunk lid and what benefits does it bring? Share your opinion, experience in operating such equipment and ask pressing questions.
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Criteria for choosing an electric lock
When buying an electric trunk lid, you need to take the choice seriously. Our market offers customers many different devices in different price categories, but it is better to immediately exclude cheap options. Such a unit will not be able to work for a long time, because the low price, as a rule, is due to the same quality of production of the device. Therefore, immediately exclude Chinese options - in this case it is better to give preference to Russian or imported devices.
When purchasing a device, immediately consider how it will be controlled. For example, if it opens with a button, then you can purchase a regular device, which you can install with your own hands without any problems. But if you want the device to work from an alarm key fob, then it is recommended to take a more complex electrical device, and the connection procedure must be carried out by a qualified electrician.
Today you can find several models of devices on sale, by type they are:
- Standard. Such systems are equipped with side clamps and are cheaper.
- Reinforced. Their cost is higher, but their quality is higher. In addition, such devices will be more reliable in terms of operation.
Experts recommend giving preference to devices with an inertial mechanism. Thanks to this, a lower load will be placed on the electric motor, since when the rod hits an obstacle, it will simply turn off (video author - Sergei).
Electric trunk drive: do-it-yourself installation
Installation of this device can be considered a luxury - many car owners can do without it for years. But it is obvious that such tuning ensures ease of opening, making life easier. Automatic opening by pressing a button in winter - there are no problems with the lock icing. The second advantage is that in this case it is much more difficult to break into the trunk door.
Today, more and more foreign cars have this convenient functionality; our manufacturers relatively recently began to equip luggage lids of cars in this way. If there is no electric drive in your car, this can be fixed.
Don't waste your time - use the Uremont search and get offers from nearby services with specific prices!
The operating principle of the electric trunk
There are devices with an electric motor and on magnetic plates that interact with a relay. The first option is durable and practical; in the second case, significant modernization of the car may be necessary due to a more complex design.
If the drive will be controlled from the interior, self-installation is more realistic (compared to linking to an alarm remote control - this requires an experienced auto electrician).
Models of these devices come with side mounts and standard ones. Reinforced specimens are more reliable and of better quality, but this is reflected in the price.
Experienced car enthusiasts recommend giving preference to inertial options in order to unload the engine (the rod rests - the internal combustion engine turns off, durable due to the lack of overheating).
How to install an electric trunk?
First you need to prepare the following list: screwdrivers, drill, pliers, screwdriver, spare wires, multimeter, corrugated tubes, insulating tape and clips. Read the car's repair manual (in particular, what is responsible for the power supply).
Electric trunk installation:
dismantle the plastic cover;
secure the device to the lid;
configure the mechanical connection of the unit with the lock;
attach a metal stick;
route the wiring using standard “paths” (if you need to “go around” bypass, use corrugated tubes);
the wires are routed to the cigarette lighter (often this is advisable);
dismantle the front part of this element and install the fuse;
the button is placed in a place convenient for the user;
pull the wires to the driver's door (bottom/top - at your discretion);
the connections are soldered and wrapped with electrical tape;
one “minus” is connected to the electric drive, the second to the control relay, the third to the alarm system;
connect the battery and test the result.
Selecting a power tailgate kit
For installation you need to buy a special kit. This may be a factory option, which immediately includes everything you need. A more economical solution would be to assemble an “amateur” set, but acquiring it requires knowledge and experience. Experienced car owners advise not to save money by buying a low-quality device. By spending a little more, you will save time and effort on fixing frequent breakdowns. Another bonus is that a high-quality drive increases the market value of the car (in the long term you will even win if you decide to sell the car).
Experienced car enthusiasts recommend choosing an inertial mechanism that “unwinds” before work. The traction force increases and goes to the pushing rod (the device does not overheat). Another advantage is that the mechanism can be turned off if there is an obstacle to the trajectory of the opening element. Your hands and head are protected from unexpectedly closing parts.
The standard package looks like this:
two lifting mechanisms;
a pair of electric lift modules;
Is it convenient to turn on the electric trunk lid remotely?
The remote control or alarm control is convenient, but requires batteries. Enabling is convenient because it saves time (for example, if you have shopping bags in your hands, having a remote option makes life much easier). A system with such functionality and an actuator is more difficult to install - it requires special skills and knowledge in the field of automotive electronics. A stationary button is more reliable and easier to use (another advantage is that you can do everything yourself). If you still choose the first option, contact a car service.
Installing an electric trunk
First, they debug the operation of the lock (disassemble and bend one of its teeth - this will make opening/closing easier). When purchasing a device, it is better to choose the option with a stem.
The next step is to disconnect the battery terminals and lay the wiring (it will take about 3.5 meters), powering it to the cigarette lighter. Remove the casing and place the wires up to the front of the car interior.
Disassemble the central shaft of the machine and place the fuse away from the mechanism and the cigarette lighter (safety measure). In the process, try not to make unnecessary holes, but if necessary, drill in a convenient place.
At the final stage, the unit is directly installed. When working independently, we recommend that you read the manufacturers’ recommendations and find detailed video instructions to avoid mistakes.
Advantages of the system in winter
The operation of opening a frozen lock can take a lot of effort from the car owner. You can use boiling water, a lighter, or just wait in a warm garage. Such “dances with tambourines” take up time, and access to the trunk is sometimes needed urgently. If you are not mentally prepared for such tests, take care of yourself and install an electric trunk drive.
