I've tried searching already and I haven't found the answer.

My trunk light doesn't turn on, not the cause of a burnt bulb since I tested it, not a fuse problem since my other courtesy lights are working (I'm assuming the trunk lights are on the same fuse). The wires look ok and aren't cut or anything.

Is there anything else I can look at? Its annoying taking stuff out of my trunk at night

 

There must be a switch that turns it on when it's open.

 

when the trunk is open, does the dash show that it is in the car diagram?

 

You mean below the speedo? No, nothing lights up when my trunk is open. I wasn't aware that it did that for the trunk too

 

same here my trunk light doesn't work either

 

yea, if the indicator under the speedo doesnt light up, indicating that the trunk is open, when it infact is then its a switch problem. I think the switch is located on the trunk itself but im not sure. you would have to look for eletrical wires in that area.

 

I know this thread is really old but OP did you ever figure out how to fix this? I am having the same problem I did not even know that there should be a warning light that comes on when the trunk is open till today.

 

Check the wiring connections and switch for the trunk's light. May be something loose or corroded ?

 

Yea that was going to be my next step I did not really want to remove the liner but it looks like there is no way around it. Its just strange that it never worked from day 1.

 

Take a look at this thread - https://acurazine.com/forums/problem...-light-602972/

 

^^^ So, it appears as though the solution is possibly lubing the trunk's latch and cable.

 

I dont see how the the cable sticking would cause the light not to work. It seems like they are talking about two different things in the other thread.

 

If the cable for the trunk's latch was sticking or binding, it may not allow the latch to fully open.

 

When I did my search yesterday there were multiple threads, but they all seeming refered to the latch area. IIRC there was also discussion about corrosion on the ground wire.

 

Thanks for all the help I am planing on taking apart the latch tomorrow it was just to damn cold today. By the cable binding would that also cause the warning light on the dash to also not work? It must have to release to a certain point to engage both the dash and trunk light. Its just strange that the light has never worked since we got the car new back in 04.

 

If the switch for the light and I assume the indicator on the dash is in fact in the latch, then the answer is yes. You said it hasn't worked since getting it new in 2004, but you have posted this in the 2G forum. Did you buy yours as a late 03 leftover in 04? If it has never worked, just curious why you didn't have it looked at while under warranty???

 

And I also found this page to be helpful it shows how to test the latch and how to remove the liner http://www.justanswer.com/acura/23uc...-tl-tried.html

 

Yea I am new to this forum and realized after that this thread is in the 2nd generation TL. When we got the car we just thought that the trunk did not have a light in it. And with my mother being the primary driver of the car we never gave it much thought. About 6+ years later I happened to be looking in the trunk for something and noticed there was a light on the top of the trunk you really cant see it unless you really bend down and look up. So by that time it was out of warranty and the dealer wanted $120 just to figure out what the problem was and since we had gone so long without it my mom just said screw it. But now that I have the car I wanted to see if I could fix it along with a few other things that were neglected over the years.

 

Gotcha!! Check out the 3G "Garage" for a lot of good info about common issues, questions and fixes for our generation TL. Also you can use the search function and/or use Google and will likely land back here anyway.
Good luck with your latch this weekend. I have to go and look to see if my light is working. Guessing it is, but haven't noticed recently.

 

Thanks I am still getting use to all the features of this forum. I started googling a few days ago and noticed this site kept popping up so thats one of the reasons I joined. I see that you are also from MA it looks like the weather should be good enough tomorrow the wind today was brutal here in Worcester.

 

Yes, the wind made quite a difference today. Supposed to warm up a bit over the weekend but also bring on some rain as well. I'm down in Attleboro near the RI border.

 

So I sprayed the cable with some penetrating oil and it did not fix the problem. I did notice that when I pushed the trunk button from inside the car it did chime for a second but the light never came on the dash to say the trunk was open. So my guess is it has to be something in the latch thats not retracting all the way. I want to check out a tl with a working trunk light and see what there latch does when it is open. Getting the liner off was a pain in the ass I broke a few of those "bitch clips" before I figured out how to take them out.

 

Try manually working the trunk's latching mechanism while someone watches for the dash warning lamp. Keep us posted on what ya find.

 

^^^+1 Could also be a kinked cable and if it hasn't ever worked, I'm sure that kink is good and set.

 

Hey..I had this issue, too. I got some WD-40 and without removing the liner or anything sprayed into the latch area of the trunklid while holding a rag to catch the drippings. Then I used the rag to manually work the latch with my finger. Haven't had a problem since.

 

Thanks I will give that a try tomorrow.

 

no luck with the wd-40 at first but I am hoping that after letting it sit for awhile it will work its way in.

 

Mine was messed up for a while. I pulled the bulb, sprayed the connector with electrical contact control cleaner, then worked the bulb in and out a few times until I found the perfect spot that it would work.

It's been working fine ever since

 

Mine was corrosion in the latch mechanism, tried cleaning, lubricating, but ended up replacing the entire latch mechanism.

I figure the only way corrosion could have started there is if the spoiler is not sealed to the trunk lid.