So ... Do I have remote boot unlocking or not?

[Jester21]

Ok so this baffles me a bit, I just brought a '07 Corolla conquest sedan and in the redbook (https://www.redbook.com.au/cars/details/2007-toyota-corolla-conquest-auto/SPOT-ITM-281880/) list of features it says "Remote Boot/Hatch Release" and as you can see in the pictures of my boot latch it's got both the manual cable that goes off to the side of the drivers seat and 3 wires in a conduit going off somewhere else, so I assume that would the remote/electronic boot release system? 3 wires, positive, ground and data?

But here is the kicker, as you can see my key doesn't have a boot release button, it's an authentic key too, so what gives?

I even went into a Toyota dealer and asked one of the service guys and they couldn't even give me a straight answer.

I work at a car wholesaler so I see heaps of keys and cars everyday and I've see the Toyota keys with the 4 buttons with boot release and alarm, can I get one of these keys coded so I can open my boot remotely?

[Tony Prodigy]

It certainly does look like they intended to have a remote release for the boot, but somehow it missed the mark for sure. It definitely does look like a remote "solenoid" activation within the latch there. My only guess would be that this could've been simply part of the same wiring loom given to ALL Corolla models of that generation and most likely the higher spec Corolla has the key fob which supports that function. You'd have to seek out which model actually has the remote boot key fob and program it to your car. The fact that the Corolla doesn't have an external release handle tells me that a remote boot release was intended. Again, probably on the higher spec models only, which is dumb to be honest. They already gave you a solenoid activated latch with wiring, why didn't they just finish the job ?? Very lazy indeed.

The fact that a Toyota dealership couldn't enlighten you is also a sad indictment too. They should be all over it.

Here's a snippet I found from a car review for the Corolla Conquest. 

 

"If the boot disappoints at all, it's in the matter of opening it. There's no external release handle, so if you've been shopping and return to the car with a whole bunch of groceries, you have to unlock the boot with the key -- physically -- because there's no unlock/unlatch release button on the key, wired into the remote central locking.

You can unlatch the boot from the driver's seat, which is well and good if you're extracting something from the boot, but not so good if you want to place something within the boot and your arms are full.

We can foresee owners working out they need to open the boot first, before fetching the goods to be deposited in the boot.

It's a niggle that may be of absolutely no consequence if you don't often carry 'stuff' around or it could be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Overall though, there aren't that many straws heaped on the back of the metaphorical Corolla camel."

[Hiro]

8 hours ago, Jester21 said:

Ok so this baffles me a bit, I just brought a '07 Corolla conquest sedan and in the redbook (https://www.redbook.com.au/cars/details/2007-toyota-corolla-conquest-auto/SPOT-ITM-281880/) list of features it says "Remote Boot/Hatch Release" and as you can see in the pictures of my boot latch it's got both the manual cable that goes off to the side of the drivers seat and 3 wires in a conduit going off somewhere else, so I assume that would the remote/electronic boot release system? 3 wires, positive, ground and data?
 

"Remote" release just refers to the lever in the cabin (a lot of old cars didn't have even that - the key in the lock was the only way to open it), it doesn't imply the remote-control on the keyfob.

[Tony Prodigy]

6 hours ago, Hiro said:

"Remote" release just refers to the lever in the cabin (a lot of old cars didn't have even that - the key in the lock was the only way to open it), it doesn't imply the remote-control on the keyfob.

What do you make of the 3 wires though ? There is the boot release cable, of course, but the other bit is a mystery. It can't be a "door ajar" warning light could it ?? That wouldn't make sense, because a boot is either open or closed.

[Hiro]

18 minutes ago, Tony Prodigy said:

What do you make of the 3 wires though ? There is the boot release cable, of course, but the other bit is a mystery. It can't be a "door ajar" warning light could it ?? That wouldn't make sense, because a boot is either open or closed.

It could well be pre-wiring for a remote electronic release, it could also possibly be linked to the central locking system as I believe the top-spec models (Ultima) had a proximity keyless entry system, maybe they had a sensor and switch/handle in the boot lid for opening without the key.  The boot light (if fitted) is normally triggered from a switch mounted to the body rather than the boot lid/hatch, so it won't be that.

[Jester21]

Ok whelp I kinda solved it, I asked a Toyota guy a work and @Tony you are right they used the same wiring loom for all models of that generation, but apparently the remote system for the boot is missing the receive/send module that higher models have 🤔

I don't know where those wires go but they must either terminate or connect somewhere 🤷

So I'm wondering if it's even possible to get it wired up, will I need this control module and a key fob with the boot release switch on it, or can I see a sparky and they could do something?

[Tony Prodigy]

3 hours ago, Jester21 said:

Ok whelp I kinda solved it, I asked a Toyota guy a work and @Tony you are right they used the same wiring loom for all models of that generation, but apparently the remote system for the boot is missing the receive/send module that higher models have 🤔

I don't know where those wires go but they must either terminate or connect somewhere 🤷

So I'm wondering if it's even possible to get it wired up, will I need this control module and a key fob with the boot release switch on it, or can I see a sparky and they could do something?

So we're on the right track. I kind of suspected that being Toyota. It makes sense though for keeping the same harness going on all the modes as it would be cheaper to keep it all there rather than either delete or have two or even three separate harnesses for the various levels.

As far as termination goes, I would assume that bit of harness is patched into the same system as the central locking. If you need to add any additional hardware, those plugs needed should be there somewhere. Just need to figure out where the hardware mounts and hope the plug it needs is there.
You'd have to pull up a diagram from a workshop manual and have a squizz.

I would be inclined to think that the retro fit could be possible given what we know already. You just need to figure out what's missing and go from there. A good idea would be to find someone who has the system already and just have a peek or if you live near a "U-Pull it" wrecker, you could wander around, locate a high spec Corolla of that Gen and pick it apart. Wreckers who specialise in Corolla's could also be helpful as they strip these cars for a job, so they could have the right knowledge. 

I don't think it's a difficult prospect, it just requires a bit of time and persistence.

This would be a perfect DIY project, one that you could document and share here for others to learn from. 

Good luck, and I hope it all works out.