remote trunk release, 2002 civic

I'd like to install a remote trunk release on my 2002 Civic. The car came with some form of alarm system and keyless entry, but the remote has just three buttons (lock, unlock, and alarm) and the trunk has a manual pop. I've done car stereos before, but never touched the more sensitive electronics and I'm looking for guidance/suggestions on the install. I have read a bit about different approaches and think I've found a good approach (but I'm definitely open to suggestions on that too). My general plan is to use a timer relay, coupled with another relay (both connected to the unlock trigger) and a solenoid to pull the trunk release cable. To open the trunk, I'd double-unlock twice within a few seconds of each other, and in addition to unlocking the doors again, it'd pop the trunk. So far, I've purchased a DEI 528T Pulse Timer Relay, a AutoLoc PT1500 Trunk\Hatch Power Release Kit, and an Absolute RLS125 12-VCD Automotive Relay SPDT 30/40A. I've got good physical access to the factory alarm with passenger unlock trigger. I'm thinking that I can splice and connect the unlock trigger to the Pulse Timer Relay, both for trigger and for passing through the relay. Once passing the relay, it would connect to the next relay. That way, when it is triggered again, it would activate the second relay and let my 12v pass through to the power release kit. Am I on the right track? Should I be concerned with the amount of extra power the relay coils will pull and instead tap into the 12v that actually unlocks the passenger door? Is it possible that the trigger will be active for so long that it trips both relays? I've read about connecting diodes as well and could use some guidance. I believe I'd connect the diode between the trigger and the relay coils. In fact, I still need to figure out if the trigger is positive or ground. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I don't see you getting the results you are hoping for. The Pulse Timer is used to trigger something with a delay. I can't see of a way to configure it that it will only trigger the trunk pop on certain number of presses of the keyless remote. It seems to me that every time you press the unlock button, the trunk will open 60 seconds after. And the relay can handle 30 amps when triggered. That's more than plenty of power required to run the solenoid.

I was under the impression that the Pulse Timer could normally be open, and upon triggering it could stay closed for 5 seconds (configurable, 0-90 seconds). My thought was that the first passenger unlock trigger could close the pulse timer for 5 seconds, then the second passenger unlock trigger would pass through the closed pulse timer into another normally open relay which would close and pass 12v to the solenoid. The Pulse Timer can't be configured like that? If the Pulse Timer can't be configured this way, then I agree the approach is toast!

Is the keyfob an aftermarket alarm fob? If so, do you know what brand or model it is? Some alarms have a 2nd unlock wire that you could tap into and just connect a relay to that wire and every time you hit the unlock button twice, it would trigger the trunk pop solenoid too. I think your setup would work to keep the solenoid pulled for a couple of seconds. I don't think you would need to have the solenoid held open more than 2 seconds.

You need a PAC TR-7. That will count the unlock pulses and activate an output that will need to connect to a relay. In the TR-7 Instruction manual you will use programmable option 14 Pulses to pulse. You can program the amount of pulses in the time frame you want. Examble: 2 pulses in 3 seconds. Once the TR-7 receives those pulses it will give an output.That output will not be strong enough to drive the trunk release soloniod by itself. Thus you'll need a relay. Also, I remember reading that later on in the Civics years, possibly 05. The car actually came with a power trunk release. I think it is a direct bolt in to a 02... If you can get an 05 trunk latch assembly from a junk yard, you should be able to swap it right out. You will have to do some research on that though...maybe on a civic forum. If I'm correct, the wiring would be the same for the factory trunk release as the aftermarket.

The alarm and fob are Honda factory parts, they came with the vehicle, it was purchased new from Honda. In the end, I want to be able to lock/unlock/alarm/trunk-release from one key fob, while having the least intrusive install. If there were such a thing as a key fob that could operate the Honda alarm and an additional receiver separately, that would be an interesting option as well. Completely replacing (or adding to) the factory alarm system would be my least favorite option. Based on your response, it seems that you agree the DEI 528T Pulse Timer Relay can be configured to be normally open, and upon triggering stay closed for a period of time? I wasn't planning on keeping the solenoid pulled for an additional duration, I was planning to use the delay to permit a multi-unlock to pop the trunk. My thought process is as follows: 1. Hit unlock twice on the key fob. 2. Factory alarm receives the command and triggers the passenger unlock (maybe the driver unlock too, but I don't think I care). 3. The passenger unlock trigger is connected to both the DEI 528T Pulse Timer Relay trigger and pass-through (I don't know the proper term for the circuit the relay closes/opens). 4. Since the 528T pass-through circuit is open, it does not pass the trigger through. 5. Upon receiving the passenger unlock trigger into the 528T trigger, the 528T closes its relay, say for 5 seconds. 6. Within 5 seconds, hit unlock twice on the key fob again. 7. Factory alarm receives the command and triggers the passenger unlock. 8. Upon receiving the passenger unlock trigger into the 528T trigger, the 528T continues to close its relay, say for another 5 seconds. This part is unimportant, but I assume it would happen. 9. Since the 528T pass-through circuit is closed, the passenger unlock trigger would pass through 528T and trigger a second standard (not a 528T) relay. 10. Upper triggering the second relay, that relay would pass 12v to the trunk release solenoid for a momentary period of time. I could always change this standard relay to a 528T if the solenoid was not staying open for a long enough period of time. What do you think?

The PAC TR-7 looks like it is exactly what I'm looking for. I think I actually ran across that unit when researching a multi-pulse relay, but couldn't tell from the description that it'd work. Looking at the manual, I see how it is configured. It looks like the positive output of the PAC is rated for 2 amps. Any idea what the Autoloc solenoid may take? I assume it is more than 2 amps, but even if it only takes 1 amp, would it be a better practice to trigger a secondary relay? Whether the PAC directly drives the solenoid or a secondary relay directly drives the solenoid, do you have any concern that momentary closure of the relay and subsequent solenoid pull will not be enough time for the trunk latch to release? I'll take a look at the power release for the 05's, that would make the install so much easier.

Solenoids pull alot more then 2 amps, whether you use a factory solenoid latch assembly or aftermarket solenoid, you will need to use a relay on the output of the TR-7. The output on the tr-7 will be long enough to open the trunk.