Mondial Solenoids for the rear hatches

Ron, are you sure it is the solonoid? Have you cleaned all of the electrical contacts in the trunks? My contacts were all corroded but I cleaned them up. I only have one issue now the rear trunk switch.

My 89 Mondial T has the same issue with my rear trunk, but for some reason I think it is the switch in the dash and not the solonoids. I looked at the part price too and for now Im sticking to the manual trunk release. I'm waiting for someone to part out a Mondial to get their part. maybe someone here knows of a similiar part made by another co.?

 

When I first got our Mondial the gas cap solenoid wouldn't work. After I spent a large amount of time figuring out how to get it out to find out what was wrong with it, I discovered that it was just a dirty switch in the console. I cleaned the switch with electrical contact cleaner and haven't had an issue since. Just food for thought.

Birdman

 

Radio Shack electrical contact cleaner spray.
It's the front switches - happens all the time.

 

I have replaced a few of these on the Mondial series. They do fail. Most times they melt due to bad switches..so replacing the switches was a very good thing to do. I always replace them in pairs. I found a place in my area (canada) that can rebuild the solinoid, and they are currently looking into a replacement that will be a direct fit. I will have to call them up to find out if they have had any luck. They really should cost no more then 100 bucks for the part.

 

Hi - the front bonnet solenoid on my 93 Mondial t wasn't working - I dismantled it and found the windings insulation had somehow melted around the core shaft. In the end I (rightly or wrongly) used a drill on the interior of the solenoid housing to cut back the melted plastic and create a smooth passage for the core. It now works - after a fashion. I wonder whether repeated / prolonged use of the switch causes the windings to overheat???

 

This is why I always replace the switch and the solenoid together

 

How do you get at the back of the switches to clean them ? I'm hesitant to go tearing into my dash. The ones in the rear trunk were easy to get to.

 

You basically pinch them on the sides and pull it out. Maybe use 2 small wide flat head screwdriver, put tape on sides of blade if so anally inclined.
That said when i did it last, it did'nt seem the wiring in back had enough slack to pull it out enough to accomplish much.

Good luck

 

Just use jumper wires to put 12V directly to the solenoid and see if it works. That will be your definitive answer. If it doesn't, I would try taking it apart and seeing if you can fix it. It may be something simple on the inside of the solenoid. And in any case, at that point you have nothing to loose. If you fix it, great! If not, you were going to have to buy a new one anyway.

To paraphrase that great mechanic Buddy Palumbo, "The mark of a true mechanic is actually FIXING something, not just replacing parts until the car works again."

 

If anyone needs a boot/Bonnet solenoid or the switches, please Pm me, Pete