okfoz

The end of last year, when I was putting my convertible away I pushed the tonneau release button (hatch release button) and the Dashboard Brake light illuminates, but it does not pop the tonneau.

I have checked the relay (it clicks)
I have checked the solenoids (they work if I jump them)
I have pulled the e-brake and it still does not work.
Car is in park
Car is off

I know that there are 2 conditions to allow the hatch release to work
The Car has to be off presumably in park, OR e-brake has to be applied

If you have run into this before, what did you have to fix? I suspect a broken wire between relay and the solenoids.

Thanks

John

Drew

iTrader: (58)

Well... The relay or switch grounds thru the tan/blk wire that is grounded when you pull the ebrake, which also grounds the switch or relay. So... it sounds like your hatch release circuit is grounding the tan/blk wire. Try swapping the hatch relay with the horn relay first. Check fuses, just because, then start looking at the diagrams to figure out where the circuit might be picking up the errant ground signal.

okfoz

I replaced the relay with a new relay and it did the same thing. I am with you, it has to be either an open wire to the solenoid, or grounded out somewhere... I don't think it is unusual for this to happen as I looked at an 88 that did the exact same thing. I just wonder if someone else has had it happen and where they found the break, it might help me locate my problem without tearing the whole car apart looking and/or running new wire.

John

okfoz

solved! The problem was actually with the trunk release.

Because ASC took T-top coupes and converted them into convertibles, the factory ran a wire to the hatch for the power release. ASC rewired that, and installed a sensor switch at the now trunk pull down and then ran a wire to the 2 solenoids for the Tonneau. This way if your trunk is open, you cannot open the tonneau. The wire runs on the Drivers side, connects at the first solenoid, and then crosses under the front of the back seat bottom, up to the center console and then to the front of the seat bottom, then to the RH solenoid. The solenoid grounds out on the body.

If you have a break in the line the "Dash brake Light" illuminates because the open circuit grounds thru the light to ground...

The special plug ASC installed simply came unplugged, and I just had to plug it back in. and I Zip-tied it so it will not happen again.

okfoz

This is the plug that came unplugged... 10 min fix, once you know where to look.

John