Trunk Lid Release Problem

I own a '95 Riv. The trunk release button works about 10% of the time. I checked the contacts at the door switch/button and couldn't find a broken wire or short. Could I have a bad relay? If the relay is bad will it stop working completely or can it still work intermittently? Antone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Rivren

I had a similar problem but got lucky by just lubing the mechanism.
I took it apart in the trunk and checked all wiring and in the process lubed the moving parts, put it back together and haven't had a problem since. (About one year now.)

You can also try removing the switch from the door panel and cleaning the contacts.

Otherwise, you just have to start replacing parts one at a time, if you can't find the culprit by testing with an ohmmeter for excessive resistance in the electrical circuits of the system.

Had a very similar problem with the Fuel Door.
Lubed the solenoid and problem gone.

Without knowing the '95s intimately, I can suggest a couple of things:

-Check the connections and switch continuity at the Valet Switch in the glove box...
-Pull out the rear seat so you can hear/feel for the relay working (and also pull the relay and check the condition of the prongs/sockets

[BTW, is the condition the same whether you use the driver's door button or the remote fob button?]

Rick: Thanks for your suggestions. I'll give them a shot.

Mark: Thanks as well. I do not have a remote key fob button, only the button on the door panel.

Rivren

95 Riv 60K My trunk release does not work. I read on here somewhere that it could be tested by manipulating wires on the control box in the trunk. Is the control box rectangular about 6 inches by 4 inches? Does it have two wire plugs going in and one coming out the opposite end which goes to the trunk opener? Is this the place where the test can be performed? If it is what does one do once they find this box? I opened it up and put my test light on every wire. It had juice on a few of the contacts. Now what?
The car came with no remote control device so I can only use the one on the door. Tell me what to do next. I am trying to determine whether or not the trunk opening device works. Thanks.

I would first confirm that the door switch is working. Remove the door panel to get access to the wiring.

Be sure the switch in the glove box is set to allow the trunk to open via the door release.

The box you're talking about sounds like the Remote Function Actuator... Is it under the package tray?

I can't be sure on a '95, but the RFA shouldn't have anything to do with the operation of the regular button on the driver's door. You need to check the switch in the glove box, the relay & fuse under the back seat, and the actual actuator mounted on the trunk latch.

When mine started to not open all the time it was a bad battery,

The plastic trunk release mechanism is broken and needs replacement. Are there any other GM trunk releases that could replace it for my 95? What about the Aurora?

Check eBay... I was on earlier and saw 3 or 4 trunk releases for Buick Riviera

Ya' know, I've always noticed just how much juice this trunk-release pulls (really dims the lights if the motor's off...) I always figured it was because they changed from a solenoid to a motor, as with the door-locks. Just out of curiosity, which "plastic part" is the thing that's broken - and what's your opinion of why it's broken?

Im Having the Same Problem But My Remote Will Open Trunk

Have you checked the disable switch in the glove box?

Yes.

My Gas Door Button Stopped Working Bout A Year Ago I Just Never Looked Into It

BigRay1125 wrote:

Yes.

My Gas Door Button Stopped Working Bout A Year Ago I Just Never Looked Into It

sounds like the thing to do is pull the door panel and check the wiring & switches...

OK I know this is an old thread but my trunk release on the remote and the button on the door don't work. But I can hear the relay click each time, I even took apart the trunk motor and made sure it worked by giving it 12 volts and it spun. I put it back together all clean and still nothing. I pulled the rear seat and swapped relays and still nothing. Wiring looks good as I have voltage to the release when a button is hit. At this point I'm at a loss maybe you can can hopefully make me feel stupid and say you forgot something haha