Remote Boot Pop & Electronic Trunk Release Explained

What does the remote boot pop button do?

I often get asked to explain what the boot pop buton on the alarm is for so I thought I’d write a quick post to clarify.

It’s quite simply having the ability to release the boot catch with the remote control to open the boot.

For many cars, this feature is not going to be an option. If your boot unlocks with the main doors and has an external handle or button to open it, then this would be pointless. However, for other vehicles, it can be extremely useful.

Why I call it a boot release and not a trunk release

I call the rear load area of a car the boot.

Why?

Simple, that;s the correct name for it.

You may well find it referred to as a trunk by brands like Viper who are based in the USA, but I don’t really want to pop an elephants nose open.

Nik from Project Binky sums it up perfectly as seen in the video

Easy boot access via the remote

Opening the boot on some cars can be a real faff!

Take my Honda Beat for example. The only way to open the boot is to insert the key into the lock. The car does not even have a boot pull lever in the cabin let alone an electronic switch.

Pressing a button on the remote control is so much easier than fumbling around trying to fit the key into the lock.

To make this happen I installed a boot release actuator and wired it up to the Cobra alarm system. The actuator attaches to the lock rod inside the boot lid and pulls the rod when the alarms remote button is pressed.

Pre-fitted boot pop

Some vehicles already have a built-in actuator so there is no need to fit an additional one.

If you have a button on the dash or on the driver’s door then it’s fairly obvious that the car has one, however not all cars have a button.

Take the Toyota Altezza or Gen 6 Honda Accord Euro/Torneo for example. Both of these cars have built-in electronic boot pop, yet there is no button inside the vehicle to make it obvious. There would have been a button on the original remote control but more often than not this has long since been lost!

Retrofitted boot release

If your car does not come with a boot release actuator as standard, they can often be added to your car alarm, or keyless entry system.

Whether or not it is possible to add depends on how the boot lock mechanism works.

Most of the vehicles I tend to install this on are from the 1990’s Japanese classics. Below are some examples:

Honda Integra
Honda Prelude
Mazda MX-5
Mazda RX-7
Nissan Pulsar
Nissan Skyline (R32, R33, R34)
Nissan Silvia (S13, S14, S15)

Remote controls with boot pop

How each one works tends to differ between brands. Some work with a single press, others require an extended press and then there are systems that use a double press.

For all the systems I deal with I have it listed as an option if the alarm includes it.

Nearly all Viper alarms and Viper remote engine start alarms have this as a standard feature.

Most brands have their own way of making the button function. Here are some examples: