How to open doors or just the hood when 12 volt battery is dead

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Jul 16 2007, 04:24 PM) [snapback]479821[/snapback]</div>

Wait. Does the car door not open when you turn the key (i.e. what I thought when we started this conversation)? Or does the car door not unlock when you turn the key (the conclusion I thought that the OP came to with testing)?

My interpretation of the solution to this problem was that you had to hold the door handle out while you were turning the key in order to unlock it. This is what I thought was weird. Is this not the case?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Betelgeuse @ Jul 16 2007, 07:50 PM) [snapback]480009[/snapback]</div>

I don't know, but it doesn't matter! Try it one way, if it doesn't work try it the other. (If it still doesnt work we are all in trouble.)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(statultra @ Jul 15 2007, 03:03 PM) [snapback]479181[/snapback]</div>

Wrong.

Ok, here is the definitive word on this subject.

I pulled fuse #11, disabling the power doorlock system, to determine this....simulating a dead 12v battery.

When 12v power is available to the door lock system, the mechanical key, when inserted into the keyhole and turned, is electroncially actuating the power doorlock solenoids. It can lock all doors by turning forward, and unlock the drivers with a single (short) rearward turn, and unlock all doors with double (short)rearward turns. More or less emulating what the fob does when the lock and unlock buttons are pushed. It's all electronic.

When 12v power is not available to door lock system, the mechanical key/keyhole can only unlock the drivers door, when turned rearward. The key must be turned completely horizontal and it is mechanical like a traditional car doorlock. No interaction with door handle is required for unlocking to occur. But, of course, you have to pull the handle to open the door, once it has been unlocked.

GeneD should not have had any trouble unlocking the drivers door, with a completely dead battery, if the mechanical key was turned rearward and completely horizonal.

 

Yes, he was only turning it part way back to engage the switch.

Nate

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KTPhil @ Jul 16 2007, 03:53 PM) [snapback]479877[/snapback]</div>

Man that's pretty brutal just because the battery is dead!

 

That isn't for the door!!

 

So now you're in with the manual key and you open everything up and try to jump start it and it won't jump start for some reason. How do you get the parking break off and the car into neutral so that it can be towed if you have no working battery?

 

You can't, if the whole thing's totally dead. 12V power is required to disengage the transmission parking lock. You'd have to tow with the front wheels off the ground.

 

There is lots on entering using the manual key from the FOB with zero power. On the Camry at least (2008) I can confirm that the direction to turn is counterclockwise. But here's a pearl that may help ... lots also on having to "use more force than you would expect." I did so, stopping short of breaking anything serious, but used pliers and enough force to separate the plastic handle off the metal key itself. No luck. It simply would not turn. Did some googling, etc, but no joy ... so reverted to calling a locksmith. Here's the pearl: before you resort to this, try the key from the 2nd FOB. I took the key out of the 2nd FOB, inserted it into the lock, turned counterclockwise, and pop, the door unlocked just as you would expect it to with normal force. I looked up and there was the locksmith ... why the 2nd one would work when the first did not makes no sense, but it's an easy enough fix. BTW, I had zero power; the battery had been removed from the vehicle and the trunk and all 4 doors were locked and the hood was shut.

 

welcome! makes a good case for trying the keys and locks when you buy the car. if it's used, even more important.

 

That happened with my EV1. The tow driver actually soaped the garage floor and a bit of the street's tarmac to pull it out backwards.

 

I had the same problem. I pulled the handle out first and I turned the key to the right or clockwise but I had to use a plier to turn the key making sure I don't twist the key and it worked. By the way, at first, I turned the key to the left or counterclockwise but it did not work.

 

A little bit of dry lube in the key barrel and exercising it through lock/unlock a couple of times should ensure pliers are uncalled for.

Easy DIY maintenance and cheap insurance.