Requirements
Release cable Release lever Mount screw/bolt for release lever Screwdrivers Socket or wrench

This guide is for installing a remote release located forward and to the left of the drivers seat for your trunk and gas cap door. You will need to remove some plastic trim panels; you should not try this unless you are comfortable in doing so (keep in mind that if the donor vehicle is a junkyard car you can practice on this). This should take less than a day to do.

Vehicles

The donor vehicle can be any second generation Escort/Tracer or first generation Protege with the remote release cable installed. This will work for any bodystyle Escort/Tracer except the wagon as all are approximately the same length (I believe the wagon cannot be interfaced with a remote trunk release). A 323 will not work as it is shorter than a Protege/Escort/Traacer and therefore has shorter release cables. My guide uses a 1991 Protege DX as the donor vehicle and will be installing into a 1996 2 door Escort LX.

Preparation

The cable is routed along the driver’s side of the car. You need to have access to the cable. This procedure is the same in both cars although you may wish to be extra careful with the car you are installing into. You should start by removing the driver’s side doorsills. Then remove any interior panels that are along the carpeting of the driver’s side of the interior of the car. Also remove any trim panels in the trunk of the vehicle in a sedan you should only need to remove the most forward of the left side trunk panels, in a hatchback you will need to remove all of the left side panels and the center rear panel. Now pull up the carpet from the left side along the doorsills area. You need not completely remove your carpet only enough to allow access to the cable at your comfort label.

Pulling the Needed Parts

1. I suggest moving from the back to the front. If your trunk/hatch latch has a plastic cover remove it. You will see a black shrouded cable with notches at the end of the shroud in a metal clip and the silver cable inside it goes into the latch.
2. Gently slip the black notch cable end out of the clip holding it, this should come without forcing, be careful not to damage this.
3. Rotate the silver cable and turn it until the ball comes out of the latch.
4. Now start taking the cable out, it will be held in with plastic clips along the length of the car. In a sedan you must pull it through the hole in the top of the deck where the seatbelts go through.
5. You will reach the front seat where the switch is mounted. Now if the car has a gas door release as well it is time to pull the as well in similar fashion. You cannot actually see where that is however I took pics inside by inserting my camera. Go into the area between the outer and inner quarter panel, near the gas cap. Feel for the cable, it is by the emergence gas car release lever. The cable is secured in similar fashion as the trunk latch. Remove in the same manner.
6. Finish pulling that cable as well. Now you are ready to remove the lever.
7. Using your socket remove the bolt holding the lever in place.
8. Carefully work the lever forward and out of the hole. Taking the cables with it. This may be slightly more difficult. My donor car had a stripped interior making it easy.
9. You should now have your cables and lever all removed.

Installation

1. This is essentially the same procedure as removing the cable only in reverse. First pull the cables through the hole where the latch goes. Insert the latch into the hole and attach it. My bolt was severely rusted so I replaced it with a screw of the same size also taken from the donor car (forgot where though). There should already be an unopened slit in the carpet to pass the latch handle through, if not cut one and pass it through before bolting the latch in place.
2. Route the cable(s) along the same path you removed it. There should be clips on the wiring harness to help guide you, remember to insert the cable into the clips pulling it tight as you go (this is especially helpful if transferring between body styles or if you bought the cables/latched already pulled).
3. In my case the car was a hatchback, I will show the difference in mounting the cable for this bodystyle. First bring the cable through the area behind the latch and to the left of the latch. Now remove the latch using your socket, you may need to disconnect the sensor wire as well in order to pull the latch far enough free (I did).
4. Now find the slot to insert the ball end of the cable and do so. Then insert the notched end of the shroud into the clip across from it.
5. Now reattach the latch and reinstall any carpeting and interior panels you removed. Your install should be complete. Close your trunk/hatch and test the lever.
6. I used the same lever from my donor car, although this is set up for two cables: a trunk release and gas cap release. I have seen some wagons with a gas cap only lever, you may try finding one and changing the lever if you only install the trunk cable as I did so as to prevent confusion. It is not possible to remove the extra unused lever handle (I tried).

Also see

• Ford Escort & ZX2 section for the entire index of all Ford Escort and ZX2 related articles.