Took the Cobalt to the dealer on Monday for the power steering recall (finally) and after driving 60 miles back to my house, I realized the trunk release button next to the steering wheel wasn’t working. I figured I would have to wait until I could take it back to the dealer to get it fixed (bumper to bumper warranty has ended, anyone else would have charged me) but I couldn’t wait that long.

After I got home I decided to give it a look see and maybe try and fix it myself. Under the steering wheel there was this bundle of wires connected to this small black box hanging out, so I just tucked it back up underneath the steering wheel. Had the problem been with that I didn’t know WTF to do, as there were probably 12 or so different wires. I put my hand behind the trunk release button and could feel a cut wire. I then felt around a little more and found another wire. Figuring it wouldn’t hurt anything I touched the two bare ends together and pushed the button and what do you know, the trunk opened.

I tried popping out the little console to be able to get to the wires and see if I could splice together but popped the entire piece beneath the steering wheel off by accident. There I saw two wires leading to the trunk release, one was tan and intact, the other black and completely severed. How did they manage to cut one wire and not the other? The black wire was too short to be able to splice both pieces and reconnect them so I had to find another piece of wire to connect the two. I had a spool of speaker wire I bought year ago and figured I’d give it a shot. I cut about a 2” piece and reattached the two wires and what do you know, it works! I found another loose gray wire but couldn’t figure out where it was supposed to go so I just put some electrical tape around it, I then tucked everything back up underneath the dashboard and reattached the panel. The little compartment doesn't quite close flush, but at least it's fixed.

The last two times I have had the Cobalt serviced they have screwed something up. In June I had the oil changed, tires rotated and balanced, etc. and my steering wheel would shake like crazy when I would get over 50mph. It’s so frustrating! If GM wants to make a recovery, they need better service than this.

 

why are their quick connects on the wires ?

 

No idea. Everything pictured is how it was.

 

are you the original owner? I wonder where the quick connects came from also. you might want to find another dealership if you can, sounds like there not so good

 

yeah, someone had to have been in there before. Maybe the wire was on its last limb and the service tech knocked it loose the rest of the way. Maybe he was just that carelss. Call back and see if they'll do anything for you. Although you did fix it yourself already. You said there was another wire you didn't know what for?