Opening The Trunk On A Chevy Cruze
The trunk release on a Cruze isn't as straightforward as you'd think if you've only ever worked with older GM platforms. There are multiple ways to pop it open, and knowing which one works when is the difference between being five minutes late or twenty. Most people don't realize the interior release is located on the driver's side, low on the dash near the left knee panel. It's not the big lever you'd expect - it's a smaller plastic tab, usually black, that you pull firmly. If you're sitting in the driver's seat and need to access the trunk quickly, this is your primary route. The button is recessed enough that it won't get accidentally triggered, which is good, but it also means it can feel like nothing's happening on the first pull. Give it a solid tug. You'll hear the solenoid click and the lid will pop about an inch.
Unleashing The Potential Of Your Chevrolet Cruze A Quick Guide To The Open Boot
There's also the key fob method. Press and hold the trunk release button on your remote for about a second. This works whether you're standing outside the car or sitting in it. I prefer this method when my hands are full because I don't have to fumble for the interior release while walking away from the vehicle. The downside is that if your fob battery is weak, the range drops to about three feet and the signal gets unreliable. Happened to me last winter when I was loading groceries and couldn't get the trunk to respond at ten feet out. Swapped the CR2032 and it worked immediately. For emergencies where the power is dead or the solenoid has failed, there's a manual override. You'll need to fold the rear seat backrests forward - there are levers on the top of each seat near the trunk opening. Once the pass-through is clear, you can reach into the trunk from inside the cabin. There's a small cover plate on the trunk lid itself, just above where the license plate light is. Remove it with a flathead screwdriver and you'll see the manual release lever. Pull it and the trunk opens. This mechanism is purely mechanical, so it works regardless of electrical condition. The cover plate is held in by two small clips and tends to crack if you pry too hard. Use a thin trim tool or a butter knife wrapped in tape instead of a screwdriver directly on the plastic. The exterior handle is another option if your Cruze has the chrome strip across the trunk lid. On models with the spoiler package, this handle is integrated into the liftgate trim. Press the right side of the handle and the trunk releases. On base models without the spoiler, the handle is a simple pull-type mounted below the Chevrolet bowtie emblem. Both versions use the same solenoid underneath, so if that's failed, neither will work.
Here's something most people miss: the trunk won't stay fully open on its own unless the gas struts are in good shape. The Cruze uses two hydraulic struts to hold the lid up, and they fail around 80 to 100 thousand miles. When they start going, you'll notice the trunk lid either drops partway or falls completely closed if you let go. Replacing them takes about fifteen minutes with a Phillips screwdriver and a pair of pliers. The parts run roughly twenty-five dollars each at any auto parts store. GM part numbers are 25947779 for the left and 25947780 for the right. Aftermarket replacements work fine too - Dorman makes a set that fits without modification. If your trunk lock cylinder is frozen or filled with debris, which is common in regions that use road salt, the key won't turn. I ran into this on a 2014 Cruze with 112,000 miles. The trunk would unlock electronically but the key was seized. Solution was to remove the lock cylinder, clean it with brake cleaner, and apply white lithium grease. Took about ten minutes and the key has turned smoothly ever since. Don't use WD-40 as a lubricant here - it attracts dust and the problem comes back worse within a few months. A few common problems worth noting. The trunk light sometimes stays on after closing, which drains the battery overnight. This is usually the trunk lid switch sticking open. Tap the lid firmly when it's closed and if the light goes out, the switch is the culprit. Replacement is about eight dollars. Another issue is the trunk not latching properly on rough roads. Check the striker plate alignment - it's a simple bolt pattern and can shift over time. Loosen the two 11mm bolts, reposition the plate so the lid closes flush with the body lines, and retighten.
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