Interior release for rear hatch: electrical and mechanical methods

mini hummer e · 11-25-2004, 02:16 AM

I just want to say that this site has helped me do so many things to my E. I have a question. I had on one of my old cars a solenoid hooked up to my rear hatch and my remote so I could just hit a button and the rear hatch would unlock and pop the hatch open enough to just open it without using the handle. My question is this possible to do with the element? And can most alarm installers do this or is it a custom fabrication type of thing? :confused:

Sheniferous · 11-25-2004, 03:11 AM

i installed a selenoid for the rear hatch that's controlled by my alarm remote...

however, the shocks on the E don't allow the hatch to "pop-up" automatically. i intially tried to put springs where the rubber feet things are on either side of the rear hatch, but in order for the springs to provide enough power to pop the hatch, the hatch wouldn't close properly with any kind of ease. i was going to add a 2nd selenoid on a delay to pop the hatch after the 1st one pulled on the latch, but i haven't had time....

.... and the original latch opening selenoid was installed over a year ago. guess i'm just lazy. i'll post some pix when i have time.

mini hummer e · 11-25-2004, 01:34 PM

I was thinking about putting either some kind of torsion spring at the top or finding a way to put springs on the inner shock tube to help assist that way. What are your thoughts ?

Sheniferous · 11-25-2004, 02:58 PM

here's some pix of the installation location, relay, cable and welded mount, and selenoid.

click these two video links to see it in action. the second video shows why this is great for camping... i can open it up from the inside!

(right click and choose "save as")

http://www.ed2film.com/Element/inside.AVI

http://www.ed2film.com/Element/open.AVI

BriBoy01 · 11-25-2004, 08:29 PM

Shen looks nice and it would be REALLY nice while camping. Did you do the install yourself? I noticed the beep when it popped is it hooked into your alarm system?

deckeda · 11-26-2004, 04:18 PM

Shen, your second video gave me an idea. When back there, rather than fish around for the keys and the remote (but yeah, keep that feature), how about a button installed in the back of the E that does the same thing?

Sheniferous · 11-26-2004, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deckeda

Shen, your second video gave me an idea. When back there, rather than fish around for the keys and the remote (but yeah, keep that feature), how about a button installed in the back of the E that does the same thing?

you could do it quite easily by wiring a switch into the selenoid directly.

oh, and i don't know who asked, but yes it is tied into my alarm system!

RainDriver · 04-10-2005, 07:32 PM

The guys at the factory forgot to put in a way to open the rear hatch from the inside. I picked up a generic hood-latch control cable, popped off the upper rear hatch trim, drilled a hole in the flange that sticks out, fitted the cable, and attached the 'working end' of the cable to the hatch latch, strapping it in place alongside the existing handle cable.

Works a charm, cost $10, took about a half-hour. No more climbing over the front seats to get out when sleeping in back.

Genom · 04-10-2005, 07:37 PM

Wow, I must say that is a very cool and useful mod...I'll say that some mods added in the name of convenience here leave a little to be desired, but this one is really nice and actually serves a purpose...I may have to do this one myself since I've been in need of an inside rear hatch release a handful times.

lwclancers · 04-10-2005, 07:38 PM

Nice idea :)

11-25-2004, 02:16 AM	#1
mini hummer e EOC Rank: Hydrogen Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3	Interior release for rear hatch: electrical and mechanical methods I just want to say that this site has helped me do so many things to my E. I have a question. I had on one of my old cars a solenoid hooked up to my rear hatch and my remote so I could just hit a button and the rear hatch would unlock and pop the hatch open enough to just open it without using the handle. My question is this possible to do with the element? And can most alarm installers do this or is it a custom fabrication type of thing? :confused: Last edited by ramblerdan; 06-17-2010 at 10:40 AM.

11-25-2004, 03:11 AM	#2
Sheniferous Moderateur Extraordinaire 2003 4WD EX AT Shoreline Mist Metallic (SMM) Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 2,294	Re: Hatch Question i installed a selenoid for the rear hatch that's controlled by my alarm remote... however, the shocks on the E don't allow the hatch to "pop-up" automatically. i intially tried to put springs where the rubber feet things are on either side of the rear hatch, but in order for the springs to provide enough power to pop the hatch, the hatch wouldn't close properly with any kind of ease. i was going to add a 2nd selenoid on a delay to pop the hatch after the 1st one pulled on the latch, but i haven't had time.... .... and the original latch opening selenoid was installed over a year ago. guess i'm just lazy. i'll post some pix when i have time. __________________ Honda Accessories: Roof Rack, Cargo Cover, Table Legs, Cabana Tent & Poles, Side Steps Aftermarket & Homemade Accessories: Billet aluminum grille, Silverstar headlights, Cyberwhite Fog and Driving Lights, Hardwired 400W power inverter, Extra 12v socket, Homemade nylon privacy curtain, Rear sunroof sunscreen, Tires: Yokohama Geolandar H/T-S 225/70/R16 SEARCH, RTFM, POST.

11-25-2004, 01:34 PM	#3
mini hummer e EOC Rank: Hydrogen Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3	Re: Hatch Question I was thinking about putting either some kind of torsion spring at the top or finding a way to put springs on the inner shock tube to help assist that way. What are your thoughts ?

11-25-2004, 02:58 PM	#4
Sheniferous Moderateur Extraordinaire 2003 4WD EX AT Shoreline Mist Metallic (SMM) Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 2,294	Re: Hatch Question here's some pix of the installation location, relay, cable and welded mount, and selenoid. click these two video links to see it in action. the second video shows why this is great for camping... i can open it up from the inside! (right click and choose "save as") http://www.ed2film.com/Element/inside.AVI http://www.ed2film.com/Element/open.AVI __________________ Honda Accessories: Roof Rack, Cargo Cover, Table Legs, Cabana Tent & Poles, Side Steps Aftermarket & Homemade Accessories: Billet aluminum grille, Silverstar headlights, Cyberwhite Fog and Driving Lights, Hardwired 400W power inverter, Extra 12v socket, Homemade nylon privacy curtain, Rear sunroof sunscreen, Tires: Yokohama Geolandar H/T-S 225/70/R16 SEARCH, RTFM, POST. Last edited by Sheniferous; 11-25-2004 at 03:03 PM.

11-25-2004, 08:29 PM	#5
BriBoy01 EOC Staff 2003 4WD EX Eternal Blue Pearl (EBP) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: West Virginia Posts: 672	Re: Hatch Question Shen looks nice and it would be REALLY nice while camping. Did you do the install yourself? I noticed the beep when it popped is it hooked into your alarm system? __________________ 2003 4wd EX Eternal Blue Pearl Honda Element! 2003 Flagstaff 176Ltd. 2004 Seadoo GTX 4TEC Supercharged PROUD Member of the EOC MISFITS established 14, July 2005.

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11-26-2004, 04:18 PM	#6
deckeda EOC Rank: Oxygen Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woodstock, GA. Posts: 770	Re: Hatch Question Shen, your second video gave me an idea. When back there, rather than fish around for the keys and the remote (but yeah, keep that feature), how about a button installed in the back of the E that does the same thing?

04-10-2005, 07:32 PM	#8
RainDriver EOC Rank: Oxygen 2004 2WD DX MT Fiji Blue Pearl (FBP) Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 283	Inside Rear Hatch Latch Install The guys at the factory forgot to put in a way to open the rear hatch from the inside. I picked up a generic hood-latch control cable, popped off the upper rear hatch trim, drilled a hole in the flange that sticks out, fitted the cable, and attached the 'working end' of the cable to the hatch latch, strapping it in place alongside the existing handle cable. Works a charm, cost $10, took about a half-hour. No more climbing over the front seats to get out when sleeping in back. Attached Images __________________ '04 blue E base 5-spd '93 VW T4 2.4D Karmann coachbuilt RV '92 VW GTI bone white, bone stock

04-10-2005, 07:37 PM	#9
Genom MØÐΣ®ΔTΩ® 2004 4WD LX MT Sunset Orange Pearl (SOP) Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lawn Guyland, N.Y. Posts: 3,761	Re: Inside Rear Hatch Latch Install Wow, I must say that is a very cool and useful mod...I'll say that some mods added in the name of convenience here leave a little to be desired, but this one is really nice and actually serves a purpose...I may have to do this one myself since I've been in need of an inside rear hatch release a handful times. __________________ Element "Hidden Satellite Antenna Trick"---Dune Buggy Photo Gallery They call me James...

04-10-2005, 07:38 PM	#10
lwclancers Chief Has Been Element Owner 2010 4WD EX 5AT Citrus Fire Metallic (CFM) Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Winchester, VA Posts: 4,822	Re: Inside Rear Hatch Latch Install Nice idea :) __________________ 2010 CFMEX4WDAuto 2004 NBPEX4WDAuto - RIP 8/13/05 2005 Accord Hybrid w/ Nav - Desert Sand Metallic

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