remote FRUNK instead of trunk - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

PaulDash · 07-20-2016, 04:32 AM

Hey guys! There's many key fob remote topics on here but I've searched and searched and couldn't find one like this...

I have a MY99 with the (pretty standard) option 534 alarm system. My key fob has two buttons - one for door unlock (duh), the other for the trunk.

What I'd like to do is have the second button unlock the frunk instead of the trunk.

Is this possible? Where is the actuator located that does the unlocking? How hard would it be to relocate to operate at the front? Would parts from a newer MY be needed?

Meir · 07-20-2016, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulDash

Hey guys! There's many key fob remote topics on here but I've searched and searched and couldn't find one like this...

I have a MY99 with the (pretty standard) option 534 alarm system. My key fob has two buttons - one for door unlock (duh), the other for the trunk.

What I'd like to do is have the second button unlock the frunk instead of the trunk.

Is this possible? Where is the actuator located that does the unlocking? How hard would it be to relocate to operate at the front? Would parts from a newer MY be needed?

that is very interesting concept.
in theory, you will need to locate the wires that go to each actuator (i assume they are located at the module under the driver seat) and flip between them.
not to complicated.
in theory

particlewave · 07-20-2016, 02:12 PM

The '99 doesn't have a frunk actuator, so you'd need to add one and swap wires as Meir stated.
I have no idea what would be involved with the actuator, but I'd guess you'd need to fabricate some things, like a mounting plate.

PaulDash · 07-20-2016, 02:36 PM

Thanks for the ideas. So far I checked in the parts catalog and:

it looks like the actuator on MY -00 is in the door sill lining
there is a part labeled as "actuator" (996.511.127.00) for MY 01- near the lock of the front lid

Can anyone who has taken these cars apart (hello Woody!) confirm?

Could I just buy the front actuator and run wiring from the first one to this? The only other part near this location labeled as MY 01- seems to be a different "traction" cable (996.511.017.02).

particlewave · 07-20-2016, 02:38 PM

I would think that you could just move the rear actuator up front if you're not going to be using it back there anymore.

Meir · 07-20-2016, 03:47 PM

Yes. Totally missed the 99 part.
So wonder if one can get an actuator from a later model, install it on the rear latch and connect it to the front output.

PaulDash · 07-21-2016, 07:50 AM

So, looking at a wiring diagram called "BOXSTER MODEL 2001 SHEET 8 CLS ALARM SYSTEM LHD" it seems the actuators (there called "TAILGATE UNLOCKING DRIVE" and "LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT HOOD DRIVE") are controlled by the alarm system. This makes me wonder whether the alarm won't go berserk if it gets a signal to open the trunk and it doesn't detect an open circuit on the rear lock microswitch but instead detects the front opening.

Also, on the wiring diagram for MY 99, the actuator (there called "TAILGATE OPENER") is shown to be on the same plug connection (X2/2) as the luggage compartment light and not as I thought near the operating lever on the door sill. Can anyone please confirm this?

particlewave · 07-21-2016, 07:56 AM

The actuator is near the latch in the trunk, not on the sill.

PaulDash · 07-21-2016, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by particlewave

The actuator is near the latch in the trunk, not on the sill.

Thanks!

Can anyone confirm what other elements I need besides the front actuator (brackets, linkage, of course the wiring)?

Ideas on how the alarm system will behave or how to test first?

You see where I'm going with this? The frunk is much more useful to have opening from the remote: it's larger, stays cooler, and has a "huh, why is he opening the engine compartment?" factor.

itsnotanova · 07-26-2016, 07:48 PM

Paul, Adding the actuator up front doesn't look too hard. You'll lose your the ability to use the manual lever by the driver's seat though. The actuator uses the same connection to the hood latch as the manual release.

Here's the actuator

Your 99 won't have a hole for the cable to go through

So you'll need to drill a hole like the 01-04 have

I have your package ready. Let me know if this is something you still want to try.