I would like to have a keyless electric hatch release avaliable for my car. Did RX-7s even have power hatch locks?

Half the time, my key doesn't work in my hatch lock

 

If you had an aftermarket alarm I'm sure you could get one put in. It'll cost you though since they'll have to get an electric popper and wire it into the brain...

 

Huh. An electric popper? :P

 

Here 'ya go:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1871058420

 

What's interesting is that all 1st gens came with electric hatch latches, yet 2nd gens only had the cable operated one as an option. Weird, eh?

Basically, nearly any generic actuator can be used as long as it has a good, strong pull.

 

Only an option? I thought they all had it.

Plenty of cars came with electric boot/hatch releases. A scout around a wrecking yard should provide you with what you need. Mounting it and adapting it to the lock mechanism shouldn't be too difficult.

 

Agreed, I'd suggest the first gens. The only difference is going to be if you need two solenoids or just one (second gen has two latches at the trunk, first gens only one).

Of course you could attach the wire to the solenoid inline so you'd only need one in theory (since you only pull one wire to open both currently)

Sooo:

..............cable............................... ..........cable........
Lever--------------------------------->latch--------------->latch

becomes

....12v.........wire...........12v....wire........ ...wire...........
Switch------------------>solenoid--->latch--------------->latch

Now in theory, if you have an aftermarket alarm with any kind of acc function, that function could be tied into the switch for the solenoid, or the solenoid directly given the function method of the alarm brain.

Since I haven't taken the back apart yet, it'd be nice to know if it is a branching wire (such as a Y) or a single wire in series between the latches.

Joe

 

Something I just thought of, it was an option on the first gens. Another thing to consider is, sometimes either the switch or the solenoid can go bad (both just generally need a good disassembly and cleaning), so be mindful of what you buy.

If memory serves me I believe that the solenoid for the first gen is something like a 3"x3" square below the hatch.

 

2nd gen bases did not have the cable operated popper. I believe it was the only model that came without it. The stuff can be swapped from other models to add the trunk popper t the base (I've done it).

 

I only bought one solenoid for now, if I need another I'll know when I go to install it. I'm going to check... tomorrow? To see how the cabling hooks up. I want to say it's a series, but I haven't looked at it since I changed my third brake light bulb.

 

Door lock actuators are very cheap and 99% of them pull enough to pop the hatch or trunk.

The big advantage of a door lock actuator over the power trunk pop motor that someone posted is that they are about 1/3 of the height and 1/5th of the power requirement.

 

why do you want an electric one???

Charlie

 

I used one like that and it stopped working after about three months. It still actuates, but just isn't strong enough to open the hatch.

 

Mine had cable operated!
And yes some 2nd gens only had the key to open the hatch.

 

Hm. I think I could save a little bit more money with door actuators.

I want an electric release so that I can link it to a remote opener. So I don't have to fuzzle with keys while holding groceries. Domestic but practical. :P

 

Thought you had a Luxury coupe not a base...

don't you have power mirrors??? Power mirrors and 14 inch alloys were Luxury coupes (or GX models in Canada).

 

And all US spec models had the hatch release cable as a standard feature. Even the strippy 86 base model.

Check out the standard features in the upper right hand corner:


"Remote control fuel door, hatch, and hood release"

This from a mid 86 brochure