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Cadillac Repair/1976 Eldorado trunk

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Expert: - 6/3/2011


Question
Hi Robert..I've inherited my father's 1976 Eldorado convertible with a trunk that will not open. The parade boot and who knows what is locked in there. I took it to a locksmith but his suggestion did not float my boat. Is there an emergency switch or entry? Thanks for your help and best regards..Cornell

Answer
Hello Cornell,

Thanks for following my pages here. Nice car--big car!!! You are safe driving that baby!

I assume the answer the locksmith gave you was he was going to drill the lock out. If this was the case, as long as he was careful, he could do it without any issues and make you a new lock. I do not remember, but the crest may have to be removed and replaced. No big deal! I really think that is a amicable way of getting in. We did it hundreds of times.

As far as an emergency cable or a switch, they never thought about that until the 2000s.

I do not remember though how the well is assembled. With the top up, you may be able to unsrew some bolts holding the boot to gain access to the trunk. Then you could crawl in with a flash light a 3/8 and 7/16 wrench so you could unbolt the latch and open the lid. You can remove the lock by pulling out the hold down plate ans if equipped with a crest, the crest needs to be removed.

That all depends if you can get the boot removed to get into the trunk.

I am sure you know the yellow trunk release button is in the glove box. Did you try that?

Any way, that's the only options I can think of for you.

Good Luck!
 If my answer assisted you, please rate it. Thanks
Rob


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Rob Painter

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Alarm system questions cannot be answered on this forum. These systems are not what I can answer. Without being physically at the vehicle and not knowing what kind of electrical service has been done on the vehicle, there is no possible way to give an accurate answer over the internet. My expertise is in Ignition/key based anti-theft systems. These issues include GM VATS (resistor chip in key blade) PASSLOCK (MRD)-ignition lock rotation based, no special ignition key and the PKIII Transponder (computer chip in key) systems. These systems are not alarm based and are integral with the starting of the engine. This is why I cannot diagnose alarm problems without physically looking at the vehicle: Alarm systems are a completely different annimal than ignition key/lock based anti-theft system. Many alarm questions come from vehicles 10 years old, and since older, many hands that had been involved over the years.I am an expert in all GM factory (ignition/key based)systems. Alarm system questions pose to many situations beyond my knowledge as to what has been done to the vehicle over the years. Some guy may have actually wired the stereo into the alarm system. Who knows? Over my past 30 years in vehicle wiring repair, I have seen unbelievable wiring disaters done by guys that consider themselves "mechanics." I have seen stereos and alarms intalled using surgical tape. I have seen modules burn up, un-fused circuits, wiring jambed between the doors and even lamp cord used for a starter kill. To answer alarm questions over the internet without examining the vehicle is like asking; What does it take to remove a dent?

Experience

Education/Credentials-ASE certified. 11 years with a GM dealer and 17 years with a repair facility dealing with only the repair of theft recovered vehicles.

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