LaCrosse Trunk Lid - Is lid suppose to open and rise upon release?

[FJP]

Hello everyone, I have a 2012 LaCrosse eAssist but noticed that the trunk does not open and raise on its own upon release with the keyfob. I recall seeing others that, once activated, the trunk would pop open a few feet for access. Is this correct? Mine simply unlocks and you have to raise with you hand.

Thanks in advance!

Frank

 

[jeffc83]

I have a 2013 and it does automatically open...I'm sure the 2012s should too. Is there something blocking it?

 

[FJP]

All clear. There is, however, the factory spolier that is stuck on eAssist models. My experince with these types of trunks is that any counter weight will negate the balance and the trunk will not rise. Like to see if anyone with a rear spoiler has the same issue or not.

 

[92sub]

You can adjust the spring a little tighter and get it to pop-up.
Some chose NOT to have a pop-up trunk for those occasions when it might accidentally get opened...... like when the key FOB is in a pocket.

 

[mmadden2]

Hey Frank-

This has been discussed before and yes, the spoiler does add too much weight for the springs to auto-open the trunk.

That said... some of us (me included) have added a few zip ties to help compress the springs and make them a tad stronger so they will indeed lift the trunk and spoiler.

There are 2 standard notches behind the carpet trim for setting the tension- possibly 1 setting for trunk stays closed (without a spoiler), and 1 setting for trunk opens (still without a spoiler).

If your springs aren't already in the furthest rear position just use a pair of pliers to make sure the springs are hooked to the furthest rearward notches to provide the most tension. Get a good grip, don't let go.

Then I added 3 ties to only my left side and it has been working fine for about a year now. I originally thought I'd add more to the other side so the trunk wasn't being pulled harder from one side than the other but it has been totally fine on my car with zero signs of twisting, I'm too lazy to add them to the other side at this point.

Here's a link to the discussion. Kudos to InfiniteImp for figuring this out. In Post #11 he shows trying the spring hanging out past the rear of bracket housing, I didn't find that necessary, I just used the furthest rearward notch.

I show off the finished product with a video at post #27. Have fun!

 

[shoman90]

Some chose NOT to have a pop-up trunk for those occasions when it might accidentally get opened...... like when the key FOB is in a pocket.

I'm in this group.

If memory serves...wasn't their a potential gremlin about this issue and the trunk popping open while driving? ...Or was it concluded to be always human error with the fob?

 

[mmadden2]

I'm in this group.

If memory serves...wasn't their a potential gremlin about this issue and the trunk popping open while driving? ...Or was it concluded to be always human error with the fob?

Yeah, but the double-push trunk relay seems to have fixed lots of people's mysterious trunk openings.

 

[FJP]

Hey Frank-

This has been discussed before and yes, the spoiler does add too much weight for the springs to auto-open the trunk.

That said... some of us (me included) have added a few zip ties to help compress the springs and make them a tad stronger so they will indeed lift the trunk and spoiler.

There are 2 standard notches behind the carpet trim for setting the tension- possibly 1 setting for trunk stays closed (without a spoiler), and 1 setting for trunk opens (still without a spoiler).

If your springs aren't already in the furthest rear position just use a pair of pliers to make sure the springs are hooked to the furthest rearward notches to provide the most tension. Get a good grip, don't let go.

Then I added 3 ties to only my left side and it has been working fine for about a year now. I originally thought I'd add more to the other side so the trunk wasn't being pulled harder from one side than the other but it has been totally fine on my car with zero signs of twisting, I'm too lazy to add them to the other side at this point.

Here's a link to the discussion. Kudos to InfiniteImp for figuring this out. In Post #11 he shows trying the spring hanging out past the rear of bracket housing, I didn't find that necessary, I just used the furthest rearward notch.

I show off the finished product with a video at post #27. Have fun!

Just did your "fix" in about 5 minutes! Perfect! Thanks much! Thanks everyone for your responses...

 

[FJP]

Thanks much everyone (& Marc)! I did the tie wrap trick and it worked great! 🙂

 

[mmadden2]

Good deal. I keep a few small hand tools in the trunk. If there's ever a reason to want it to stop auto-opening just cut the ties and it's back to click-only mode in under a minute.

What could possibly go wrong? The trunk glitches and auto-opens itself, someone steals the suitcase full of gold coins and diamonds I keep back there, and then it rains for a week while I'm on vacation. I guess we'll see what my insurance covers if it happens.

 

[FJP]

I traded a 2012 Chrysler 300 for this last week. The auto opening trunk feature was one item I missed. I was cleaning out my 300 trunk at the dealership thinking "well this is one feature I'm not getting with the Buick."

Thanks again!

Frank

 

[mmadden2]

Why trade a 12 Chrysler for the 12 Buick?

Just curious.

My wife and I did a 4000 mile car rental in a Ford Taurus and them again in a Chrysler 300. Both times she was glad to have the Buick back after our return.

I personally enjoyed all of them. They all have they're pluses.

 

[FJP]

Had serious issues with the 8 speed transmission and brutal downshifts and "clunking". Ten service visits including a visit from a Chrysler headquarters tech and still no fix. Didn't want to get involved with lemon law - just dont have the time. So, I decided to look into a car I always found interesting. Found a 2012 eAssist with 2,700 miles for $24,000. Traded the 300 last Saturday. The 300 was unquestionably more comfortable, at least to me (it had wider seats, larger bottom bolsters, my one complant with this car), but this car saves on fuel and the transmission, while still not as good as I think it could be, is leaps better then the "work in progress" 8 speed Chrysler is using. And, this is FWD, which I prefer. Will I go back to Chrysler? Perhaps...in a few years.

 

[ADGM]

I took a different route with my trunk. What I did was unhook the spring and twisted it one full turn. The trunk now lifts completely no mater at what angle im parked. Before it would only open if the car was completely level.

 

[mmadden2]

I took a different route with my trunk. What I did was unhook the spring and twisted it one full turn. The trunk now lifts completely no mater at what angle im parked. Before it would only open if the car was completely level.

Hmmm, that's ingenious- I never would have thought of that 🙂

 

[HMTJ6821]

So now you have a torsion spring trunk lid lift kit. Genious!

Care to share just how you twisted the spring and reconnected it. It sounds a little dangerous to me.

 

[ADGM]

First make sure you wear gloves! I unhooked the spring and used a short steel rod I custom made (broken screwdriver shaft!) and a vise grip to spin it one full turn. Then re hook and your done.

 

[G-500306]

Hey Frank-

This has been discussed before and yes, the spoiler does add too much weight for the springs to auto-open the trunk.

That said... some of us (me included) have added a few zip ties to help compress the springs and make them a tad stronger so they will indeed lift the trunk and spoiler.

There are 2 standard notches behind the carpet trim for setting the tension- possibly 1 setting for trunk stays closed (without a spoiler), and 1 setting for trunk opens (still without a spoiler).

If your springs aren't already in the furthest rear position just use a pair of pliers to make sure the springs are hooked to the furthest rearward notches to provide the most tension. Get a good grip, don't let go.

Then I added 3 ties to only my left side and it has been working fine for about a year now. I originally thought I'd add more to the other side so the trunk wasn't being pulled harder from one side than the other but it has been totally fine on my car with zero signs of twisting, I'm too lazy to add them to the other side at this point.

Here's a link to the discussion. Kudos to InfiniteImp for figuring this out. In Post #11 he shows trying the spring hanging out past the rear of bracket housing, I didn't find that necessary, I just used the furthest rearward notch.

I show off the finished product with a video at post #27. Have fun!

Zip ties worked great for me--thanks for the tip! (there weren't multiple notches for the main spring connection, so the zip tie alternative was a perfect backup). 2010 LaCrosse.