OK, my mother has just purchased a G35 sedan on my recommendation. My best friend and neighbor also has a G35 sedan.

Now, this is where it gets confusing. I know that G35's originally had a square panel in the center of the trunk lid that contained a handle. My friend's G35 (a 2003) does not have this. I assumed that they had changed the design in 2003, but my mother's car, if I understand correctly, has the old style handle and was sold to her as a 2003.

So, my first question is, "when did they change over the style?" Is my mother not explaining things correctly, or did she get screwed by the Infiniti dealer? Is it some kind of option you can get regardless of the year? I don't know, because I've not actually seen the car.

Second, my mother hates this feature. It sounds completely, utterly dumb to me, but here goes. She would prefer to be able to open the trunk with the remote, but NOT have other people be able to open it just by putting their hand in the handle and pulling open the trunk lid. I'm assuming there's some way to disable this feature without disabling the remote release.

And that's pretty much it. Please forgive my ignorance, I don't own a G35 myself, so I'm not typically lurking around here, and there doesn't seem to be a search, so I can't see if this is addressed elsewhere. Also, I'm asking, because although I've pointed my mother here and she lurks around, she feels "funny" about asking people she doesn't know for help.

Thanks in advance.

 

Ok,
The handle on the trunk lid was removed half way through the 2003 model year. When they did this, they also spread out the lettering on the INFINITI logo on the truck lid. Further, they added a remote button on the inside of the car (driver's side). So, the second half of the 2003 model year (commonly referred to as 2003.5) and the now 2004 models DO NOT have the handle on the back lid. With these models, you simply use the button on the inside of the car, or on the remote itself.

Also, in my "2003.5", I am able to disable the trunk switch by hitting the button on the inside of my glove compartment. Not sure if this is true for the earlier models though...

---------------------------------
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2003.5 Desert Platinum Sedan
Premium, Navi, xBox

 

Thanks. This is the kind of information I'm looking for. It appears that my mother must have purchased one of the early '03's. Oh well. I do think the trunk looks better on the 2003.5, which is what my neighbor has. I've seen the other trunk lid, but assumed it must have been a 2002 model -- which it was, but sold as a 2003 due to the launch date.

Apparently, there is a remote release inside, but when she disables it, it disables the latch AND the keyfob. Or so she tells me. And that's not what she wants. She wants to be able to remotely pop the trunk, but not have the exterior latch/handle operational.

 

The G35 came out in the spring of 2003. Many manufacturers bring out their next years models in the fall of the previous year, so I wouldn't agree that the first Gs were 2002 models.

The changes to the 2003.5 were made in answer to some feedback from some early owners that complained about the initial design. When a poll was taken just after the change, most responded that they liked the original design better! Oh, well, you can't say Infiniti wasn't responsive to feedback![img]/w3timages/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

That said, my 2003 with the 'doggy door' opens with the keyfob even with the trunk button disconnected from the glove box. It's there to prevent unauthorized access once the glovebox is locked, by ppl using the Valet key.

<font color=blue>[i]GroundingGear™ Equipped </font color=blue>

 

I was told by a reasonably good source that the doggy door was originally designed for an optional a back-up camera. Infiniti decided against it due to cost and marketing reasons. More expensive Infinitis didn't have the option.

My car also has the door. It was manufactured in June of 2002, sold and titled as a 2003.


DaveO - 2003 G35 Sedan / DP / Willow / AT / Premium / Sport
350Z Engine Cover, T-Stat & Air Duct / Stillen CAI
GG 7-Wire H-G Kit / TS ECU / E-Fans
Street Edge TC / B&M Cooler / Stillen Exhaust

 

The handle on the trunk will open the trunk ONLY when the
car is unlocked. When you lock the car, one cannot open the
trunk with the handle. No worries!

2003 Twilight Blue 5AT Sedan, sunroof,
Graphite Leather, splashguards,
12 wire Hyper-grounding kit,
350Z intake duct, Stillen Hi-Flow Airbox
Underbody rear diffusers, Drilled aluminum pedals

 

bought my "2003" in october 2002. yeah, just keep the doors locked (or click the keyfob unlock once to unlock just the driver's door) and no one can open it via the handle.

daveo... wow! the doggy door doesn't sound so useless afterall now.

<font color=purple>.g35girl.</font color=purple>

 

g35girl,

If you think about it, it costs more to build the trunk lid with a doggy door than one without the door.


DaveO - 2003 G35 Sedan / DP / Willow / AT / Premium / Sport
350Z Engine Cover, T-Stat & Air Duct / Stillen CAI
GG 7-Wire H-G Kit / TS ECU / E-Fans
Street Edge TC / B&M Cooler / Stillen Exhaust

 

to be honest, i didn't give the doggy door much thought other than for aesthetic purposes. but, thanks for sharing the story. [img]/w3timages/icons/smile.gif[/img]

<font color=purple>.g35girl.</font color=purple>

 

Thanks. I know this sounds totally crazy. And, yes, my mother is totally crazy. Her thought is that she's going to have something expensive in the trunk, and somehow in between the time she puts it in there and gets around to get into the car, get it started, and locks the doors, someone will run by and open the trunk, thus stealing all her stuff. Or that she'll park it at a friend's house, neglect to lock it, walk off, and someone will walk by, randomly try the trunk, and walk off with her stuff.

I KNOW this is irrational. What can I say, that's my mother. I've tried to explain that those examples are so unlikely to happen as to be unreasonable, and that if the car is unlocked, someone can open the glove box and open the trunk just as easily as they can open the trunk from the outside. I've tried to explain that if she's so worried about theft, she needs to just keep the car locked.

What it boils down to ultimately, is that she's never owned a car with an external trunk latch. All the others required a button press on the remote, a button in the glove box, or a key. This really bothers her, and she wants it to operate in a manner similar to her old cars. So, that means turning off the exterior latch or the exterior latch and interior button -- but not the keyfob button, which she tells me doesn't work when the trunk is locked out. Maybe she didn't press the button long enough.

Last ditch scenario, I'll try pulling the latch and disconnecting it. Still, I'd like to know someone has done it. Also, I heard that the hinge mechanism changed as well, is this true?

 

Whoops. I had a brain-fart![img]/w3timages/icons/blush.gif[/img] Ignore what I said about the car coming out in spring 2003. I got mine, one of the early ones in Canada in May of 2002! I think they came out in the US a few weeks earlier than Canada.

And yes, the trunk release button has to be pressed and held for a few seconds to open, but it's not that long. She can have the dealer look at it if it doesn't open with the trunk button in the glove box switched to off.

Personally I like the doggy door. The release from outside the car is handier for me than when I use the newer loaners with the new trunk. Also makes the car look more distinctive as (no offense intended), the new styled trunk looks like most of the other cars out there including on the Corolla.

<font color=blue>[i]GroundingGear™ Equipped </font color=blue>

 

And yes, tell your mother, as G35Girl says, that if you only click the open button once, you only unlock the driver's door. The trunk and gas door remain locked.

<font color=blue>[i]GroundingGear™ Equipped </font color=blue>