Location of Ignition wire in trunk?
 

Hello:

I'm pretty close to finishing the install of the Crimeguard REC-11 in my '87 560SEL. But I'm having trouble finding the ignition wire (which I believe is yellow?) in the trunk area. I see a yellow wire, but I assume that's for the trunk lock?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I can't imagine that car having any ignition wires in the trunk. But I can say for sure that the trunk lock uses no wires as MB did it. MB locks use vacuum or pressure.

There is an auxilliary electric trunk lock (in addition to the vacuum/pressure lock) associated with the early factory alarm systems (1984 300SD at least). When the alarm is armed a small black electric rack/pinion motor (Bic lighter sized) throws a lever in front of the release rod for the trunk button. Due to the fact that malfunction is common with the alarm system (and the trunk cannot be opened with the lever in the locked position, even with the emergency pull under the rear seat) most of these "motors" are unplugged in all but the most foolish (guess why I know about it ;))

Man I bet that was frustrating. I've been thinking I was the only person that kind of stuff happened to. How did you ever get in there?

Based on that observation, I would skip that part of the alarm install.

Check the CD wiring diagrams for a while; find amusing here-to-for unknown electric actuator on them; have cardiac arrest; recover; thank God there's no groceries in the trunk. Then turned the alarm on-off a gazillion times (driver's door lock); repeat as neccessary until it "unlevers"; unplug two wire MB plug to lock actuator!!! Took two days of occasional fiddling.

This is on my MB factory alarm system, but I didn't really know about it until the actuator got really tempermental.

I don't know when MB first introduced the alarm system (around 1984 CA ?), but if you are not worried enough about the trunk contents to need a double lock when alarm is armed, I highly recommend disconnecting this actuator (near license plate lights inside trunk lining). Of course, not many of the old factory systems are still connected by now.

If I got really desparate I was going to run a +12v. signal thru the appropriate pin in the alarm harness under the passenger false firewall. If that didn't work 1/2" drill?