How To Replace Your Trunk Latch Actuator (Trunk Repair)

Here is a video of me replacing my broken trunk latch actuator on my 2008 Dodge Avenger. I am aware that I was calling it an "actualator" throughout the whole video. My bad lol.
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[@elviseltravieso]

I’m ordering a replacement trunk latch for my avenger also. Thanks for the video.

[@LMA629]

Thank you so much for this! Auto shop was going to charge me $550 for this. I got the part for $20 and it looks like a quick 5 minute job

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Woah $550 just for this is insane! It's a super quick and easy job

[@railwayhd]

Good job! the music fits the work, nice and smooth.

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Thanks so much! :)

[@bmsamson]

Didn't really solve my problem, which is with a European car, but I couldn't stop watching. Love your string solution, but glad you finally effected a more long-term solution. My tip -- when you do a project like this, reward yourself with some of the money you save and get some tools.

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Hi Bennett, thanks for the comment 🙂I'm slowly starting to acquire more tools

[@chidinmaagbaeze1203]

My problem is trying to remove chair to enable me have access to the trunk

[@Trained4life]

You saved me from a trip to the dealership! Thank you

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Glad I could help!

[@gijane1996]

"stealership"

[@joannefisher949]

I thought I was the only one using string and a clip! Thank you so much for this!!! Dealer said it would cost about 300.... Have to say, it does sound like 80's porn music... lol

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Haha the string does the job! But yeah 300 is expensive and its pretty easy to do yourself :) As for the music, I guess I will need to be more careful with my music selection in the future lol

[@dFreemZ]

@joanne fisher I just started having three same issue today and dealer quoted the same price. Did you do it yourself or let the dealership replace it?

[@ohdatsBD]

The string idea...I need that 😂😂😂

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Definitely more cost effective than buying the new unit lol

[@liciale6122]

I AM CURRENTLY USING A STRING.

[@stewiehead]

What size bolts are on the top latch for the trunk

[@Snowvdo]

I want to disengage the power to the truck motor. If I disconnect the blue plug will it prevent power to the trunk motor.

[@jonhines6295]

That's funny. I did exactly the same thing and have been using box twine to open my trunk for over 3 years. It's a pain because anytime my trunk is really full, the twine sometimes gets hung up and won't release the trunk lid and I have to go in through the back seat, pull out a bunch of stuff and then release manually. I've been part lazy and part just didn't want to throw money at parts and have it not work. I just had to replace the alternator and the mechanic said it was probably the actuator. He gave me a quote of $271 to fix it, $105 for labor and $171 for parts, but it looks like I can order the parts online a lot cheaper. I can certainly handle installing the actuator, I just didn't want to have install the alternator as it required jacking the car up, unhooking the battery and unbolting the a/c compressor to get the alternator out. I figured it was worth $105 labor to have someone else do it and warranty it. Thanks for the video. BTW...I'm sure you've probably had to replace a battery on the Avenger by now. What a pain! I bought mine brand new, so it's 12 years old now and have had to replace the battery 3 times. Requires taking off drivers front wheel, inner fender skirt and then going up inside the fender behind the front bumper to get to the battery. What genius designed that? First time I had to buy a battery was a real eye opener. AutoZone will do a simple battery install, but wouldn't touch my Avenger. I've also had little plastic piece in the shifter break causing the car to get stuck in PARK. Watching KZbin, I was able to figure out the problem and at least get it into gear, but took it to the Dealer for that as it was still under warranty. Later, a recall was issued for that problem.

[@TobiasHolenstein]

I had the same experience as you with using the string when my trunk was full. It made things a bit difficult lol. A few years ago I also had to have the alternator replaced and I also had my mechanic do it. As for the battery, as soon as I realized what it entailed I decided I would never be doing that myself either. I've always had my mechanic do it. I can't believe how difficult they made it to do such a simple thing as replacing the battery. It's crazy. As for the Trunk Latch Actuator, it is super easy, I don't think it's worth taking to a mechanic for that. Just out of curiosity, have you ever had issues with your window regulators? Between my drivers side and passengers side, I've literally had to have mine replaced about 6 times because they keep breaking. I remember there being a recall for something with the shifter, like you were talking about, but I never experienced the problem. I did however have a solenoid patch go out on the transmission, causing me to be stuck in first gear. Luckily my warranty took care of that one.

[@jonhines6295]

@@TobiasHolenstein Since watching your video, I have ordered an actuator which is supposed to arrive next Monday and I will install myself. The battery is not that difficult to install, but it is a pain in the butt, but not worth paying someone to do it. Regarding the window regulators, the only issue that I have had is that one day, out of the blue, the front passenger window just fell down into the door. It had been kind of popping before that when it reached the top position and seated into the gaskets, but I wasn't expecting the window to fall in. I took it to a local shop and they said that both the motor and switch needed to be replace. Around $300 if I remember correctly. The only other issues that I can think of are my radio reception is pretty poor. In fact, the radio quit working for over a year, but when I replaced the battery 3 weeks ago, it magically started working again. WEIRD! The other thing was the yellow ring on the top of the oil dipstick broke and I couldn't get the dipstick out. I don't remember how know, I think I watched another KZbinr, but I finally got the dipstick out. I had trouble finding a replacement locally so I used some packing twine again to tie around the dipstick so it would fall in or fly out, but keep moisture from getting in the tube. I finally ordered a new one and replaced it, so I don't have to worry about that anymore. Mine has 105k miles on it, so when I replace the alternator this week, I had him replace the serpentine belt while it was off as a precautionary measure. Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks again for the video on the trunk latch.

[@TobiasHolenstein]

@@jonhines6295 Gotcha. I wasn't sure how common the window regulator thing was, but it sounds like you've had better luck with it than me. If I can think of any more questions I will let you know. Thanks!

[@carlosdj4884]

I replaced mine 3 years ago, and now it shows TRUNK AJAR...so the car alarm goes off all the time annoying all my neighbors and myself during the day and nights. I even use the remote couple times to avoid walking out back. unfortunately theves got in and stole everything out of the car n trunk one night... still wondering if I left it unlocked accidentally by remote. I'm going to try ecology for the auto wrecking yard I saw they have one for about 30 bucks it's most certainly worth giving a try versus the $250-300 a dealer wants.

[@Stephanie-si8rs]

All good, but how did you remove the foam covering this assembly (and everything) in the first place? it is stubbornly stuck to the metal frame

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Mine doesn't have any covering on the inside of the trunk lid. So I'm not really sure how it will be to remove it. But if it's anything like the rest of the interior trunk trim, I'm guessing it might be fastened with those little plastic push fasteners. If that's the case, I've found that they can be removed by sticking a flathead screwdriver into each side of them and popping them out. They break really easily, so try to be a little careful, but the good news is that if they do break they are pretty cheap to replace

[@TyRuTheTruth]

So I have a 2008 Dodge Charger and I replaced the whole trunk but it will not close I can’t use the key because it’s from a different vehicle can I just replace the whole motor like you did

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Do you have the wire? Like the one that I plugged the unit into? As for the key, I guess you would have to get a new one programmed and then it should work with your car

[@danielquiroz4734]

Hajaha

[@BreakingNVain]

You're the man! Appreciate it so much!

[@TobiasHolenstein]

My pleasure! Thank you!

[@miguelangelgatica4944]

Ima have to try this for my acura mdx 2010 the latch from the driver side dont work when i pull nore in my key fob i have a string attached to it too

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Best of luck! I hope it works

[@richiespeed3565]

Good job Keep the green string handy you never know how long replacement parts last these days

[@TobiasHolenstein]

That's a good point, I'll be sure to keep it in the car

[@kimb9585]

Doesn't surprise me that it's a Dodge!! My avenger trunk has been messed up for years. I went with shoe strings lol

[@TobiasHolenstein]

The struggles of owning a Dodge haha

[@drastic2009ifly]

This was super helpful

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Glad it helped!

[@chidinmaagbaeze1203]

Please can u guide me on how to remove the back seat, that is the resting part of the seat,so l can gain access into the truck

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Hi there should be a loop on the sides of the back seats that you can pull and the seats will be able to fold down. If you don't see the the loop it might be wedged in between the crease of the seat and the side of the car

[@jay-wh1ql]

I had a question I have a Hyundai and the trunk opens half way does that mean there’s an issue and is it fixable. Sorry I can only use captions to read it so idk if I missed any helpful info that was already said

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Hi, I'm not really sure. Are you able to open the trunk or is it like stuck down half way?

[@MariaHernandez-fl7do]

My truck is stuck and I can’t open it how can I go to the truck from inside the car please respond me as soon as you can thank you 🙏🏽

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Hi Maria, if you feel inside the seam of the side of your seat (near the top side of it) there should be a loop in there that you can pull and that will bring your seat down

[@pattilee5901]

Good job!

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Thank you 🙌

[@fireboi3187]

Replaced mine still dont work.

[@leohanover3678]

After replacing did button on dash work.as well?

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Yeah the button on the dash works as well now

[@scoophouser]

What socket size was used to remove the bolts?

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Hi, sorry I'll have to go back and check. I should have included that in the video

[@lesmackie5966]

2 years and....Still waiting for the size to remove the trunk latch bolts.... Crickets are too tired to chirp any longer 😳

[@wardaddy5992]

Thumbs up. The music is sleazy 80s porn lol

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Thanks man haha

[@ElderJosephLWilliams]

Did your button stop working on the instrument panel?

[@TobiasHolenstein]

That button didn't work either

[@ElderJosephLWilliams]

@@TobiasHolenstein Really 🤦‍♂️

[@richardbutler6770]

GOOD JOB

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Thank you!

[@kc6442]

sometime im still "#nervous" just a lil, right when i go to try it out!" #ReplacingMinesToday! #FingersCrossed. #ThanksForTheVid

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Good luck!

[@mrupontwo3671]

I'm mad I got the exact same green wire for mine 😂😭...too bad this the wrong car

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Haha yes green wire ftw! Good luck with your car 🙌

[@anthonypeter8280]

That would be an "actuator" ..not an "ac-chu-la-ter" ..jus sayin.

[@TobiasHolenstein]

Yeah I didn't realize I was saying it wrong until after I made the video

[@stewiehead]

What size bolts hold that trunk latch on