98 malibu trunk button not working

check the fuse and relay for the trunk your owners manual will list where to find the fuse and relay

Greg, you may have to transfer everything from donor truck to make the swap work tranny , computers, wire harness, fuse/relay center etc. Check the attached links,forum for Dakota engine swaps,instruction and guides, Good luck
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engine swap 4 7 to 5 2 or 5 9 Dodge Dakota Forum Custom Dakota Truck Forums

2000 dakota engine swap not sure which engine would be easier 4 7 or 5 2

http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/v8/12324.html

318 Dodge dakota 0 60 v8 swap

There is a relay in the rear fuse block for the trunk release. marked trunk relay #36. It is marked on the under side of the lid. If you knew how they worked you could open it by jumping pin 30 to pin 87 in fuse box. on the side of the relay is a diagram of what pins are what . This system uses an electronic control module called ( the BCM ) body control module .When you push the inside release button , that sends a signal to the BCM ,then the BCM activates the relay opening the trunk . Well that won't help ,you won't believe where the fuse box is ! Fuse Block - Rear
In the rear compartment, behind the left wheel well. You could jump the wire at the BCM that goes to the relay. Can't you pull down one of the rear seats to gain access ?

There isn't one. Since you already did the fuses. If your up to it. Take the turn signal switch out. Take it apart and fix it, the inside of it.. You need a soldering gun and solder. There is only one thing that may op out. The horn spring. Plus the button for the horn will drop,out. Just look at the contacts and solder them up( divots have to be filled in). Plastic will melt. just watch. it works. Fixed a lot of them. You can do it...You already passed the first step..

There should be 2 strings below left speaker in trunk. Pull those and back seats will fall foward. -98 malibu 3.1

There are 3 phases to fixing your car's trunk lid release problem.

Phase 1: First check the fuse - once you know that's OK, then proceed to phase 2 (below).
The fuse for the trunk lock is
the bcm (pwr) 15A fuse in the instrument panel fuse box (behind panel at drivers right foot)

Check that fuse, as it is the power supply for the button on the dash that sends power to the actuator in the trunk.

Phase 2: Get the trunk open (without taking it to the dealership).
If you have remote keyless entry to the trunk, you could try that - but with the actuator
dead/dying, it shouldn't work.

Here are a couple of ideas to try to enter trunk while (a) actuator isn't working, and (b) all
valet lockout features (designed to deny valets access to the trunk) are in the "Lock" position:

There is the lock cylinder, which you stated is not functioning - put the key in, and it doesn't
turn. Just to be sure, consider: lubricate key with Graphite lock-type lubricant, and retry.

The trunk has 2 valet safetys...the locking rear seats which require access to the trunk to unlock, and then there is a valet switch in the trunk that locks the button on the dash from working to keep valet parking attendants out of the trunk. That may be in the lock position.

You can try accessing the center area of the fold down rear seat and see if you can unhinge the rear seat from there. Maybe reach in with your hand, or an extension-type tool.

there may be a way to fold the hinge away from the seat back so it can be removed from the hinge and give you access to the safety latch in the trunk and open it that way (white handle in trunk).
The white-handled safety latch release is desiged to prevent accidentally trapping children, and
if you can pull it with your extending-type or grasping-type tool, the trunk will open whether or
not the actuator motor is working.

Phase 3: Replace the Problem part.

Your failed part may be either (1) Trunk Release Relay, or (2) Trunk Lock Release Switch

My Satrun ION manual doesn't cover either of these parts, and the online parts houses, e.g.
http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1431624,pgname,Electrical-Switch%2B%2526%252338%253B%2BRelay,a,search.yahoo.com%2BSearch%2Bfor%2B2004%2BSATURN
fail to provide instructions. One of those times a mechanic has to t=rely on his/her native
handiness and/or experience.
To identify which of these parts is bad, locae the Trunk Release Relay (call your dealer parts
dept. for helpful tips on finding it), then operate the dashboard trunk release button with your
ear close tothe relay - if it makes a noise, the problem is the Trunk Lock Release Switch in
the trunk lid, otherwise its the relay.

Hi, you wont be able to move the wipers manually as they will be locked by the motor. There is only two obvious reasons why the motor should fail again. The new motor was a poor quality replacement or there is an underlying problem on the car like the wiper motor mechanism has excessive play or is stiff/tight and over working the motor causing it to fail. you need to have a proper check over before swapping it again.

i have a 2005 chevy malibu and i close the trunk with the keys inside and the little button on the door is stock but the car is open is and other way to open the trunk from inside of the car?

you need to make sure car is in park, parking break is on, and ALL windows are DOWN, then you should be able to put the top down. do the same thing to put the top back up too. hope this was helpful.

hi disconnect your fog light switch if this doesn,t knock them off you need to find the fog lights relay and replace it as the fog light circuit is shorted best of luck yates210456