Last month member Graham Foulston (TingTong) started a really interesting thread on our forum about an invention to allow you to remotely open the boot without having to open the door and reaching down to find the boot release catch.

Below is extracts from his story to see the full thread click here

"I got up this morning all excited because the struts should be coming this morning (I've got this week off as holiday) and by 10.30 nothing arrived so me being me and having just one huge phobia about couriers - an who can blame me with their terrible reputation - started to think that something wasn't right, I phoned the company up and was told (yet again) that they had been sent to the wrong depot.

Apparently, it should have gone to the Northampton depot but it went to the Nottingham depot instead. You see the problem was that the computer scanned the location of Northampton in just fine but of course you then need to have a person actually put it in the right bin for Northampton. Unfortunately for me, the people employed appear to have the one and only brain cell of an amoeba and of course they used that one brain cell up on the first character of the destination which was an 'N', after that, there are no brain cells left and they just can't compute the other characters left so it's just a guess after that.

Grrrr - couriers, what do they get paid for - they have to do just one job and that's deliver a package. Most of the work is computer controlled so it really shouldn't be that difficult should it? Perhaps I'm asking for too much. Yep, that's what it is I think.

Anyway, not to be deterred, I opened the top boot lid and tied it in the open position so that I could install the two solenoids to open the boot by using my key fob rather than using the switch in the centre console. I had two solenoids and fixings left over from when I installed the central locking so I used those. I ran a wire from the 'brains' of the central locking (there is a facility on mine to add other solenoids for other functions and there is most likely the same on yours too if you have central locking, in fact some have these wired in already), I took the base of the back seat out and run the cable under the carpet and through the bottom part of where the back seat base sits (there is a large hole already there so no drilling required).

This picture 2 is a close up of the mounting bracket which I will most probably change at a later date to make it a little more like Nissan made it rather than me bending a couple of bits of strapping but for now it's OK for me to test the the thing out. I also haven't cleaned the brackets up and the surrounding area on this side yet but will do after finishing typing this up.

The next step was to do a dry run for the connections to make sure that the solenoids functioned correctly which they both did. Next step was to make some brackets up to hold the solenoids firmly in position, the kit I had included the mounting straps and so it wasn't too much of a task to make these up and bolt them into a suitable position. Once I was happy with the position I then made up the connecting rods to go from the new solenoids to the existing activating rods which operate the two latches either side of the boot, I knew I probably wouldn't get the positions correct first time so everything was just hand tight for now.

Once everything was in place I then pushed the two latches in the down position (as if the boot was closed and pressed the appropriate button on the key fob and hey presto, both latches popped to the open position. After checking this happened on both sides at exactly the same time, I just needed to make a minor adjustment to one of them and all was fine for me to install permanently.

This picture shows the complete installation of the nearside solenoid showing the connection to the existing actuating rod and the earthing cable mounted to the existing bracket (which I cleaned up while I had all the mechanism off). You will note that the strut brace is not mounted for some inexplicable reason. The revised struts (3rd version) eventually arrived this morning and I fitted them on in a couple of minutes but the solenoids were still too high and were fouling the struts (that's the problem when not having the struts when installing the solenoids). Anyway, after repositioning one of the solenoids the strut cleared so all was well. One thing I did learn and that was that I only needed the one solenoid to activate both latches as the drivers side actuator sends a signal to the passenger side to operate.

WATCH THE VIDEO

I have made a very quick video here to show you it in operation (it's not great as I had to do the video with one hand and walk at the same time so it's a bit shaky) but it should give you an idea.

The boot now lifts about an 1" after pressing the unlock button on the key fob (this would still be the same amount if you flicked the switch from the centre console) and you then lift the boot lid with a gentle touch and it opens up by itself and dampens towards the end giving a slow buffered stop. You should be able to see what I mean on the video. I didn't want the boot lid to open all the way after unlocking but if you did then you just need to order the struts with a slightly higher setting than what I have fitted (160N for each strut).

I have also ordered another central locking kit which is very similar to my existing one but has a purpose built button for opening a boot, at the moment I am using the button which is used for setting the alarm as a makeshift to get it to work by sending a pulse to the solenoid so the newer version will be ideal.

So that is it from my side, I will be doing a few minor detail changes but nothing that will change the final outcome here.

The good news for you though is that now everything has been sorted out, it will be an extremely easy job for you to have the boot lid popping up without anymore questions about is it the adjustment of the roof cable or is it because the rubbers have perished in the latches, this sorts it out once and for all. All you will need to do is take off you struts, send them to the company and they will either replace your struts if they are worn out or re-gas them if that's all required, they will normally return them to you next working day or two days (depending on when they receive them) so allow about 4 working days without the struts (the car is still drivable and you will still be able to open the boot but with obviously more difficulty. It takes very little time to take the struts off - one 13mm nut at the top and two 10mm nuts at the bottom and they are off - fitting is the reverse.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE:Be very careful when removing the 2nd strut as once that has been disconnected then the boot lid is free to fall either forwards or backwards with disastrous results, it is advisable to have someone supporting the boot lid when doing this job. DON'T SAY YOU HAVEN'T BEEN WARNED!!!

Before I go any further, I have no connection with this company whatsoever and will not be getting any payment or favours from them should they receive any further orders, I have done this excercise for my benefit but if you would like to do the same then you will receive a 20% discount from the stock prices of the struts. So details should you wish to do the same are:

Company: SGS Engineering Solutions
Telephone: 01332 298 126
Website: www.sgs-engineering.com
Contact: Sebastian

The pricing structure is as follows.
For replacing existing worn out struts (they will test yours overnight) £29.99 each strut less 20% forum discount For re-gasing existing struts £12.50 less 20% forum discount
Plus £6.30 for next day delivery and VAT at the current time.

SGS will contact you and advise you if you will need to either replace or repair your existing struts so your contact details must be enclosed with the struts. You will obviously need to enclose that the struts you are sending them are from a Nissan Figaro and that you are a forum member.

I think that's about it, I hope that you have enjoyed my little modification, I certainly have. The boot now opens how I want it to plus it's been a nice challenge.

I should perhaps make it clear that the boot will not automatically pop open from the key fob unless you have central locking fitted and with a solenoid boot opener but you will still be able to pop the boot open in the conventional way by using the switch in the centre console.

If you have any questions to any of the above then just post away and I will try and answer them if I can."

Graham

Many thanks graham for a valuable contribution. Maybe one of the dealers might think about offering it as an 'optional extra'