D.I.Y Sedan trunk release lever.

[Danny-G]

I've noticed how many of these sedans have broken trunk release levers. Heres how to get a new one from a wagon.

Items needed.
-Wagon gas flap release lever.
-Smaller round file.
-Saw or something to cut the plastic.
-Average sized flat file.
-Paint that closely matches you're interior color. (note, the paint isn't really required.)
-Something to hold the wagon gas flap lever when you cut it.


Step 1.
Get all the required parts.


Step 2.
Put the lever in a vice as seen below.


Step 3.
Cut the lever as seen below, make sure to end the cut before it gets the side with the opening for the release arm thingy.



Step 4.
Re-position the lever in the vice as seen below.


Step 5.
Cut the lever again as seen below. Expect the now trunk release lever to fall after finishing this cut.



Step 6.
Take the flat file and smooth the longer edge out along with the shorter edge. Use the round file in the corner to retain a factory look.


Step 7.
If you're not painting it, go take the old broken trunk release lever off and put this one on and enjoy you're "brand new" trunk release lever!


Step 8.
If you're painting it, sand it lightly with the flat file, hang it or put it on a table to paint it, then spray the paint in light coats untill you have the whole piece coated evenly. Then re-coat if you feel the need to and, also if you feel the need to, clear coat it. I don't have pictures of the painting process but I think you can figure that out.


Step 9.
After letting you're painted trunk release lever dry over night, go to you're car, remove the broken one and after making sure the paint is dry install the "brand new" trunk release lever and enjoy it!


If anyone has any question feel free to ask.
Side note, this is my first D.I.Y write up so I know its probably not perfect. Hope this helps many sedan owners like it did me once I figured it out.

[kimokalihi]

Very nice. Mine is broken too but i never bothered with it since my trunk doesnt open when i pull it anyways. Do you know how to make my trunk work?

[Danny-G]

I might be able to figure it out at WCSS if I go. Its possible the cable isn't hooked up or the more likely one, the "opener canceler" thing has been moved on the trunk side of the latch.
The little stud thing with the keys hanging on it is the "opener canceler".

In the "cancel" position.

And in the working position.

Exuse the kinda blurry pictures, my camera couldn't really focus in the dark. I think the "opener canceler" was a child safty thing, like if a kid got in the drivers area and started pulling stuff the trunk wouldn't open.

[kimokalihi]

Thought of that already and I tried moving it both ways and that didn't help. When I pull the trunk release thing from the driver's seat I don't hear anything move back there.

[Danny-G]

Sounds like the cable then. I'll take a look if I go to wcss.

[free5ty1e]

Nice!

I didn't know about the "cancel" position... but I just checked and that's not my problem.

I just think my cable is seized or something. I have to really pull on it with a pliers from the drivers seat to actually pop the trunk... and haven't done it that way for quite some time. I use my key now.

Any tricks for this situation? I can't even fathom how I would get lubricant in there...

[Legacy777]

The opener cancel thing was put in as a security thing for valet and similar. Same reason they came with valet keys that only worked on the door and ignition, and not the glove box or trunk.

[Falken-18c]

yea i broke my cable in my 92l model and some reason my key dont work in the trunk i just go to pasenger side lift seat down click the lever lol its a pain in the *** lol i think its my cable theres no tension on the lever beside gas lever

[kimokalihi]

How the hell do you get to the cable? I can't even see mine.

[kleinkid]

Goin to da J/Y tomorrow.

[free5ty1e]

At this point, I think it'd probably be more feasible to install a remote trunk release. I'd like a button in the cab for that purpose anyway.

[cj91legss]

swapping the cable isn't that big of a deal. the hardest part is getting the cable out of the parts car without breaking the plastic ends off.

[Mattheww044]

my trunk release thing doesn't work either. I know the previous previous owner backed into something and kinda misaligned the latch ( i learned that when I put a new trunk on). I actually kinda like it like that until I get an alarm though. When my car got broken into they couldn't get into the trunk

[10wrxing]

Sorry to bump a old thread, but finding these parts around my area are slim to none.

Does anyone know if the later models will work with the 1st Gen cars?

Found this on eBay:
http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?nav= ... 67&alt=web

[mike-tracy]

I know for sure that the early 90s Impreza and 90-99 Legacys are all interchangeable. Beyond that I don't know.

[oldscoobyturbo]

up to 2001 sedan and coupe impreza trunk latches are the same
the release lever sticks out the side and must make contact with the cable pull lever for it to function.
the common issue is the levers get bent and no longer make contact

[RoughDiamond]

I actually had to go out and see if mine was working as well, and I figured out how it works:

When you pull the handle, the cable pulls a small hook in the receiver-latch to pull on the "opener cancel" to actually pop the trunk. That cancel pin can be hard to move due to old grease, stretched cable, ect. The pin actually sits about 1/4" from the end of the travel groove and should sit there so the trunk can latch closed. Go out and try moving that stubby pin to the left, it's tough! You can see why people break the lever handle by the driver's seat trying to open the trunk..

But once you pop the upper latch cover off and regrease the cancel pin pivot, it works like a charm.