Has anyone converted their trunk light switch...

[ksawatsky]

Has anyone converted their trunk light switch into a switch for a dash-mounted indicator that the trunk is closed? If I forget to lock my trunk it sometimes shakes both latches loose and the trunk flops open on bumps. I was thinking that the light switch that most of us have disconnected (to eliminate the potential battery drain) could be used to switch a little led on the dash to indicate an unlocked trunk. Just thinking... Of course, I could just make sure my trunk is always locked, but I don;t seem to be very good at that...

[anishemaya]

It never even occured to me to do that. However it does seem like a good idea. Especially since I lost the top of a saddle bag on the interstate due to not locking it and ensuring it was locked.

[HMB Don]

When the Trunk latches begin to come undone, it is time to check around the weather strip around the trunk lid. With time and the weight of the speakers on top of the trunk, the weather strip on the trunk compresses. With age and miles the trunk will get loose and the latches come undone. My trunk weather strip has yet to get that worn, I removed everything from the top of the trunk a few years ago. things work much better with out the extra weight on the trunk lid.

The trunk light, I come out to go to work one morning and I had a dead battery. The trunk light, it had come loose. I tightened the screw, forgot about it for about a year. While doing my pre rally service I found the screw was a bit loose. I took it out and put a bit of red plastic gasket maker (International Harvester brand)on the screw, have not had a problem again, that was three years ago.

I have lost both of my saddle bag covers; I paid my dealer for new covers, now I lock the covers and the trunk. I lock the trunk even when I have it parked in the garage, just so that I keep in the habit of locking at least one latch.

Now I'm going to check the trunk light screw making sure it is tight. Thanks Guys for the reminder!


Don Medina
President
NorCal Voyagers Club
AVA Member of the year 2010
2002 Voyager

[Mr Jensee]

Do what I did and was recommended on this site. Make some tethers for your lids from some weed whacker string. Use an electrical ring connector crimped to each end and put these on the front and rear of each bag attaching them to the little screws on each latch. Make them long enough that the lids can hang on the side of the bags when open. You will never lose a lid again.

[Chris near Kansas City]

Has anyone converted their trunk light switch into a switch for a dash-mounted indicator that the trunk is closed?

If someone had disconnected their battery probe, you could wire the switch to run the now unused battery light.

[ksawatsky]

you could wire the switch to run the now unused battery light

That's what I love about forum communities like this one -- creativity comes from multiple brains mulling the same issue. What an awesome idea! I think I'll try it and let y'all know how it works...

[Martin & Karen]

Hello Voyager's, I have fitted a small switch on the side of the trunk light and leave it switched off most of the time, this way I can leave the trunk lid open while we are stopped, picnic'ing, etc, saves the battery eh.

Kind regards Martin.

[SilverBullet]

Hello Voyager's, I have fitted a small switch on the side of the trunk light and leave it switched off most of the time, this way I can leave the trunk lid open while we are stopped, picnic'ing, etc, saves the battery eh.

Kind regards Martin.

Ahh very good idea.. this is the best solution. Retain functionality but as an option. I will be doing this myself soon.

_

[DaveC]

I converted my trunk light to a power outlet and run a battery charger off it , for my AA rechargeable and my GPS. I had the switch get "mi-aligned and this causes the light to remain on. I believe the idea your considering would have to be a micro switch that is attached to the clasp area. Or making the clasp the switch I would run it through a PNP to get the indicator to be on when opened and off when latched.