I just had this issue and why people say you can reach the emergency truck latch if you stick your arm through the back seat armrest pass-through is beyond me. You can't physically do that no human can unless your 7 feet plus then I assume you could reach it because your arm is long enough but no you can't. What I did was threw my work light in there to see the latch and then I got a broom and taped a metal coat hanger to the end and caught the emergency latch with it and yanked on it hard and got it open. It wasn't easy and took a few tries but I got it. I will take a picture of the latch. Imagine doing it with a sub box in the way. If you do use a coat hanger make sure you get some good tape because I had to really pull on that latch and the hook kept coming off the end off the broom. I finally grabbed duct tape I didn't realize the angle it needs to be pulled at needs some good force. Well that was my experience. Good luck

 

Clyde,
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain and post pictures. Holy cow, I dont ever remember seeing that latch when the trunk was opened. I read one person took the back seat out (The way you have to do to change the battery - terrible design. ) Is that latch all the way at the back bumper side of the trunk? How in the world can anyone but "stretch Armstrong" reach that? Now my biggest problem is there's a huge box with a shelving unit in my trunk. My son was returning to Target. There's no possible way I'm ever going to be able to reach that latch. The box is about 30 lbs and takes up most of the trunk space. (I'm screwed). If by chance it is a fuse, maybe I should try that option first. Otherwise, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. This is unbelievable. Thanks everyone. Way to start out my new year Yay 2020!
Sincerely, Ginger

 

Here is a pic with the trunk open and with it closed looking through the cubby hole. I moved my sub box so you can see it. You are not getting your arm all the way back there. It literally erks me when folks say just stick your hand back there and pull it. It is psychically impossible. It does light up if you shine a light on it.

 

Also check for a blown fuse in the fuse box under the back seat. Its on the drivers side.

 

Wow. I can only imagine what a pain that had to be. It's one of those things that you can see but just can't get to.

 

I think if you buy one of these grabbers, you should be able to access the emergency latch

Search Results for grabber at The Home Depot

Search Results for grabber at The Home Depot

www.homedepot.com

 

I think I rather spend $2 bucks than $20 lol. Dollar store broom and tape. ok ok $2.14 with tax and everyone should have a metal coat hanger lying around if not get one from your local press cleaners.

 

Did you get in or was it just a fuse?

 

I think I rather spend $2 bucks than $20 lol. Dollar store broom and tape. ok ok $2.14 with tax and everyone should have a metal coat hanger lying around if not get one from your local press cleaners.

Hi,
I'm just reading all these posts. I won't be able to do anything until Saturday. I may bring it to my mechanic who used to be a certified Cadillac mechanic before he opened his own shop in Berwyn. I'm not very mechanically inclined. Computers, I'm great! Cars or these types of issues, not so much.

I think if you buy one of these grabbers, you should be able to access the emergency latch

Search Results for grabber at The Home Depot

Search Results for grabber at The Home Depot

www.homedepot.com

Thanks for the link to the grabbers! Unfortunately, there's no way I will get to that latch with the stuff in my trunk! My trunk is always empty and we've been procrastinating taking that shelf back to Target. Go figure!

 

Who's Clyde lol?

You do not have to take the back seat out to get to the trunk handle. Taking the back seat out literally is a 5-second job so you might want to check the fuse that should take you less than 20 seconds. Checking a fuse is really easy. When you pull it out you can see if if it's blown it will be the metal tab in the casing will be split. If you are unsure take a picture and we can tell you. The handle is actually on the trunk part. The first picture I posted was with the trunk open. So if you lift the trunk open it would be part of the trunk. Also, you said you have a shelf in the way. I was able to move my sub box and that weighs around 60 pounds or so. Now I did have to lay in the back in some awkward positions to be able to get a grip to move it, Can you take a picture through the cubby hole and let's see what we are working with? Also the fuse you are looking for is f26 well on my 07 it is if not check the lid of the fuse box and you are looking for "TRUNK RELSE" I am pointing at the fuse too

 

Thank you for the pictures and it looks like most models are the same fuse for the trunk release. I'm watching videos on YouTube on where the fuse box is located. They all say under the rear seat and show how to release the clips and remove the rear seat to get to it. You are saying I don't need to remove the rear seat.

 

You remove the rear seat seat pad to get to the fuse box - move the front seats full forward, push your knees against the rear seat skirt - try to push it rearwards into the trunk - while lifting forcibly under the skirt edge. The pad pops up and out. If you have heated seats there will be an electrical connector to the seat pad to disconnect.

 

Thank you! That's what I was afraid of. All I can say is OY VEY! Who designed this bullshit car!

 

It doesn't take much force and you don't have to move the front seats and the heated seat connector is easy to remove. You pop one side up and then do the other. My girl can do it easily. We never got the pic of the cubby hole. Did you get this resolved? Don't pay someone to do this unless you think it's out of your scope. of course, people say the water pump replacement is a nightmare and when I did it I was like really wtf that was pretty straightforward so what may be simple to me may be hard for others. Checking the fuse though is not hard this I promise

 

My STS is the same way - battery and rear fuse/relay box under the rear seat. Not a problem for me and I'm 80+.

One reason for the battery location is front-rear weight ratio, another is extremely limited engine room space with the FWD powertrain.

You're checking fuses - what if the rear fuse box was on the rear electronics bay (main bulkhead in the trunk) like some earlier models. Now how would you get to the box?

We want all sorts of bells and whistles, and the good ol' engine room fuse box just can't handle the loads for all the toys we want. Maybe we should drive a simple 1966 Chevy BelAir.

 

 

FUSE QUESTION - I just called AutoZone for the fuse. A girl tried to tell me that there was no way it was a fuse for the trunk. I told her can you just let me know if you carry them. She said no... I know the fuse box panel says F26-A10, but is there a specific fuse just for Cadillac's? Or are fuses universal? Do I ask for an A10 fuse, etc?

 

Try a NAPA - AZ is generally a day late and a dollar short when it comes to good advice.

There may even be a spare fuse in the box(es). Yes, the fuses are a standard automotive size - but there ARE Maxi-fuses - the elephant sized 2-blade ones.

A10 is an ATO 10 Amp fuse.

Mini - a few used
Regular - most common (ATO)
Maxi - heavy loads

 

Thank you so much! I'm sure learning a lot about my car.

 

I posted a pic of the fuse and location. You can pop one out from another spot just to try. Refer to my pics. also just go to the store and take the old one with you. you want a mini fuse its easier just to go in. Walmart sells them too. If you want me to walk you through it shoot me a pm and you can call. This should be a very quick check see if this helps it's very easy to get out. You don't need to worry about anything else after the :40-second mark . This shows you how to get to it

 

Mine got stuck one time. Have a bunch of sheets in the trunk for work and think they got stuck in there. I was freaking out. Went to one of the dealers i go to for work. Luckily one of the paintless dent removsl guys was there. They got a bunch of different rods and ends. He went in throughthe ski/fishing pole slot in the seat and was able to grab the emergency handle. Had a bunch of tool boxes in the trunk i was able to reach and move out of the way so he could get it.
If you still havent gotten it, find a paintless dent removal guy to pop it, he'll get it in 2 minutes. Otherwise i like the idea with a broom handle. You could get a coat hanger and bend it to make a hook type rig to get it and attach it somehow to the broom. Good luck

 

Mine got stuck one time. Have a bunch of sheets in the trunk for work and think they got stuck in there. I was freaking out. Went to one of the dealers i go to for work. Luckily one of the paintless dent removsl guys was there. They got a bunch of different rods and ends. He went in throughthe ski/fishing pole slot in the seat and was able to grab the emergency handle. Had a bunch of tool boxes in the trunk i was able to reach and move out of the way so he could get it.
If you still havent gotten it, find a paintless dent removal guy to pop it, he'll get it in 2 minutes. Otherwise i like the idea with a broom handle. You could get a coat hanger and bend it to make a hook type rig to get it and attach it somehow to the broom. Good luck

thank you!

 

You still haven't gotten it open or checked the fuses? I literally osted a video and pics of how easy it is to check the fuse.

 

Thank you to everyone, but unfortunately it was not a fuse. It was the trunk wiring. Thankfully, I have a wonderful mechanic and he was able to rewire the truck. How the hell does the wiring go bad on a garage kept car that is hardly ever driven. Guess it's just getting old, like it's owner. Love this forum.

 

1. Thank you to everyone, but unfortunately it was not a fuse. It was the trunk wiring. Thankfully, I have a wonderful mechanic and he was able to rewire the truck. How the hell does the wiring go bad on a garage kept car that is hardly ever driven. Guess it's just getting old, like it's owner. Love this forum.

Thank you so much! I'm sure learning a lot about my car.

 

I am a fleet manager for a fleet of 300+ service trucks and vans. I see wiring 'go bad' all the time. In aged vehicles the wiring can get brittle and cracked. Others causes could be moisture, corrosion and overheated wiring at the connections and/or sockets. I have an impact sensor on my GMC truck that I need to replace as it is giving me an airbag warning light because it is corroded. Its been pretty cold here in Minnesota so I am waiting until it warms up.
OLD like me don't like working in the below zero temps.?

 

I am a fleet manager for a fleet of 300+ service trucks and vans. I see wiring 'go bad' all the time. In aged vehicles the wiring can get brittle and cracked. Others causes could be moisture, corrosion and overheated wiring at the connections and/or sockets. I have an impact sensor on my GMC truck that I need to replace as it is giving me an airbag warning light because it is corroded. Its been pretty cold here in Minnesota so I am waiting until it warms up.
OLD like me don't like working in the below zero temps.?

 

Thank you for your post. Totally makes sense. All these fancy electronics in our cars nowadays, aren’t holding up like cars years ago. I love My caddy, but I think my Nissan Maxima was the best car I ever owned.

 

I had the same problem with my 2007 DTS and it would only open up every once in a while. I hooked a wire from the pass through in the back seat to the emergency release when it finally opened one time. I was going to replace the assembly until I saw the price.
I removed the assembly and saw how it was supposed to operate and the solenoid was not engaging. It was getting power but no action. As a last ditch effort I sprayed WD40 in the assembly and worked the emergency release and reinstalled and it is working properly. I don't trust it and left the wire attached to the emergency release. I purchased a push pull manual throttle cable and I am going to mount it to the inside of the pass through kinda like they use on the CTS.

I have had nothing but problems with my DTS. All the door sensors went out one by one, power steering line ruptured on top of the engine, both motor mounts, . Every week it is something else to fix. Luckily I found the shop manual and it has been a great help.