[V8] Trunk Wiring Harness

Speakoutprod at aol.com Speakoutprod at aol.com
Fri Apr 22 14:28:37 EDT 2005


I was rear-ended several months ago.  I was hit at a 45-degree angle in the 
left rear corner where the rear left tail lights are.  The trunk lid was not 
damaged.  The body shop replaced the left rear quarter panel, etc.  The repair 
was covered by the other party's insurance.    

After I got the car home (at least one month later!!) I noticed that when I 
had the trunk lid open (driving home with an oversized board sticking out of 
the trunk) the red "Door Open" light on the instrument panel was illuminated and 
also the interior lights were illuminated (I have them switched to turn on 
whenever one of the four car doors is opened).

I asked the Audi V8 group several weeks ago if this was normal and I received 
two replies saying "no -- the open trunk lid should not have this effect."

I am asking the body shop/insurance company to fix this, but they are 
requiring me to get an official Audi repair place to certify that the damage to the 
rear left part of the car would cause this to happen.  The body shop (a VW/BMW 
dealership) says that the wiring harness for this is on the RIGHT side of the 
trunk and that the damage wouldn't have caused this.  My local Audi mechanic 
told me it's on the LEFT side of the trunk.

If I take it to the Audi dealer and have them take a look, it's 50 bucks -- 
which I will be reimbursed if it is indeed on the left side.  If not, I'm out 
50 bucks.

My questions to the group are as follows:

1) Does the wiring for the rear of the car (and particular the wiring to and 
from the "Trunk Open" microswitch located next to the trunk latch in the trunk 
lid) run alongside the left rear quarter panel?

2) Could a hit to the left rear area of the car cause the change to the light 
behavior as described above?

3) Is killing an insurance adjuster classified as a crime?

Thanks

Brad Hartman 
1990 V8


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