I'm going to be installing a trunk pop this weekend as an addon to my Compustar... If possible I would like to keep the solenoid's power wire in the trunk. Are there any constant power wires in the trunk? I am skeptical (what would be the point?) but metered a few just in case and didn't find any. Anybody know for sure?

Of course it's not a big deal if there aren't, since I will already be running one wire to the front of the car there's no big issue with running two.

I don't think there is a constant wire. I had to run a wire from the front when I installed my trunk pop for my Compustar. Sorry man.

What about the trunk light? I believe that it comes on any time the trunk is opened. Just a thought.
-Jeff

Well I decided to use a relay for this since I am almost positive that a 200mA output from the alarm brain won't be enough to run the solenoid... (Correct me if I am wrong.) Hooked up +12v to 87 and 86, the -200mA trigger from the alarm to 85, and the power wire for the solenoid to 30. This way the negative trigger from the alarm makes the relay output +12v on pin 30, so now I only have to run the power wire to the trunk and I can just ground the solenoid in the trunk.

That is pretty much what I did as well. Let us know how it turns out. Do you know where you are going to mount the solenoid at? I am having some issues with mine. It takes 3 tries before the trunk pops. Not sure what the problem is...

That is pretty much what I did as well. Let us know how it turns out. Do you know where you are going to mount the solenoid at? I am having some issues with mine. It takes 3 tries before the trunk pops. Not sure what the problem is...

I am not sure yet... It seems like mounting it near the top (by where the manual-pull cable comes in) would be too cramped. I experimented with some areas and think I am going to mount it down near the spare tire, off to the right (below the tab that cardboard cover's passenger side pin slides into) and at an angle pointing towards the lower hole in the metal cover over the trunk latch. I played with this a bit and it seems like this is the best way to go, and the angle would work well. Everything would be covered (except for the solenoid, which would be easily accessible like the spare)... Have to find a drill though.

What I did was pull the carpet away from the right side of the trunk directly in front of the right side tail lights. There is enough room in there to mount the solenoid and everything and that is also the same direction that the cable runs. Take a look....

Well if yours is only working after 3 tries, why would I want to mount it there??? :D j/k
I will check it out, but I think the IC tank is in the way in my application.

Wise guy huh? :P

I think it is just the tension on the latch of my trunk. It is freaking hard enough just to use the pull cable to open it.

My latch moves pretty freely, I think I will stick with the angle and take pics if it works. I won't be tackling any more of it until Sunday most likely though, I've got a 5,000 word research paper due Saturday at midnight and I've got... 2,400 words typed. Also need to find somebody who has a drill... The first term I don't bring it with me is also the first term I actually need the thing. Figures.

Easy solution for the term paper.. Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V!! Presto-chango, you now have 4800 words!

Let us know how it goes with the install.

I finished the paper and started to tackle the trunk solenoid. I had to modify the hook that was supplied in the kit, but I think the way I mounted it should work. I ended up mounting it on the passenger side below the taillight, between the tray for the IC tank and the body. That worked out pretty well... All I had to do was loosen the tray's bolts, slide the solenoid in, and then tighten the bolts back up. The solenoid is in there very securely, and I didn't have to drill into anything. I decided that taking the cable in through the same hole as the manual-pull cable was too tight, so I brought the cable in through the hole below but bent the hook so that it reaches up to the latch while keeping the cable straight. Don't have the power wire hooked up yet (that's tomorrow morning), but I pulled on the cable myself and it seems to move very freely, which is promising.

Well, I couldn't leave the job only half done, and I was bored, so I finished it tonight. Took a while to get the cable tension adjusted properly... Too tight and the solenoid would pull but not pull all the way, too loose and it would pull all the way but that wouldn't move the latch far enough. Finally got it, and it works perfectly! Now to see if I can hook up the rear defroster to one of the aux outputs. I know it can be done on the '04 STi, but we'll have to see about the '05.