Arghh! Loose trunk leads to ...

[Jimmmmbo!]

Well, this sucks. Go out to the car after not having driven it for a couple of days, press the start button and all I get is "ding ding ding ding ding ..."

I notice there aren't any interior lights on, and no instrument cluster light-up. Then my brain triggers ... check the trunk.

Sure enough, the trunk lid is not fully closed. Last I came back from a trip in the car, I had stuff in the trunk to get out. Apparently, "once again" the trunk didn't fully close even though it "sounded" and "looked" like it did.

Don't know if others have had this problem, but closing the lid of the trunk is not an automatic in my 2012. I've probably noticed a half-dozen times where the trunk was not truly closed when I thought it actually was. Frustrating. Now I need a jump. (And have a likely shorter battery life here in the wonderful world of Minnesota.)

As I recall, most every other car I had turned off the trunk light (when it had one) when it was nearly fully closed, especially if not completely. And they almost always lifted enough to give you a sign that it's not closed. Didn't see this one coming.

Live and learn. I'm slamming the trunk lid from now on.

 

[Seattle Genesis]

I had an old 2000 Buick Regal that if you left the trunk or door opened for a long time it would turn all the lights off saving the battery. Ya think Hyundai could have added this option on any car. No brainer to me.

 

[Ruissimo]

That sucks... thanks for posting - it's not something I would ever have even thought about, but likely will keep in mind now that I know!

Quick story - last year, took my Passat in for service, and got a loaner. I got home, and checked out the whole car, since it was a 2011 model, and I wanted to see all the new bells and whistles. Go to close the trunk... EHHH!!!! Didn't close. After fiddling with it for an hour, I just tied it down and took into the dealer. They gave me a loaner for my loaner, but you better believe I didn't touch the trunk! Luckily for me, the trunk on that car wouldn't stay down, so the battery didn't go dead.

 

[bigel]

...As I recall, most every other car I had turned off the trunk light (when it had one) when it was nearly fully closed, especially if not completely. And they almost always lifted enough to give you a sign that it's not closed. Didn't see this one coming.

Live and learn. I'm slamming the trunk lid from now on.

Check the latch post...I noticed that my trunk wasn't closing consistantly and that i needed to apply more and more 'umph' when closing to get it to engage. After a brief investiation I noticed that the torx bolts had worked their way loose and the post was no longer completely engaging the latch...a little 'thread lock' and ample torque and it's as good as new and it's back to closing with a 'feather' touch.

Good luck and I was at the time as well!

 

[scottdk]

I had an old 2000 Buick Regal that if you left the trunk or door opened for a long time it would turn all the lights off saving the battery. Ya think Hyundai could have added this option on any car. No brainer to me.

I had a '94 Grand Prix and like you mentioned it shut the lights interior off after a certain amount of time with a door opened.. I'm not sure if that included the trunk light though.

 

[rwlewis]

As I recall, most every other car I had turned off the trunk light (when it had one) when it was nearly fully closed, especially if not completely. And they almost always lifted enough to give you a sign that it's not closed. Didn't see this one coming.

Live and learn. I'm slamming the trunk lid from now on.

Likely the trunk light wasn't on, but the electronics in the car stay "awake" if any of the exterior doors, trunk, or hood are open. This is the same dead battery after a few days parked issue that shows up when the little rubber bumper under the hood is missing and the battery runs down. It seems that the "tattle tale" for this condition is the arming beep of the alarm when the doors are locked. If all the doors/hood/trunk are closed when the doors are locked with the remote or door button then you get the "beep" indicating the intrusion alarm is set.

No "beep" = something wrong...

If you have to slam it to get it closed then it would be worth investigating or taking it in for a service adjustment...

 

[pilotdane]

I had that trouble with my 2000 MZ3. Fortunately removing the light bulb from the trunk took care of it. If only things were still so simple.