I've left my interior light on, and drained the 12V battery. I think the locks are deadbolted as the backup key turns nicely but won't unlock the driver door (i have turned it very hard, both ways, not just sticky). My locksmith says the only way in is to break a window, to then open the bonnet/hood and access the 12v point to power the locks. Does anyone have any clever ideas? Can i release the bonnet/hood somehow from the outside? Cheers!
pull the window frame away from the door jam enough to insert a metal rod and unlock the door manually. don't worry, you can always bend the window frame back, it's flimsy. this is a really good reason for putting a battery tender style connector on your fuse panel, with access to it from around/under the grill area. if you door locks are sticky, try some dry graphite in the lock.
call around. locksmiths usually have special tools to avoid breaking a window. but unfortunately, the drivers manual door lock is the only access with a dead 12v
It's been decades, but we use to get under the hood through the grill with a hook to pop the hood open on cars. Some are easier than others. It's worth a try. But a good locksmith should be able to get the door open.
Yeah, but that won't get you any closer to the battery, or unlocking the doors. Yes Mendel, but you will have access to the jumpstart terminal. Have you ever got the backup key (aka manual key) to work? Have you had the car since new? Just tested ours (2010)f: clockwise about 30 degrees does the unlock.
I had a similar problem. Eventually I just turned the manual key hard enough, with a pipe wrench. The door opened before the key broke, luckily. After that I keep the manual lock well lubed, and use it all the time.
"IF" it's, and possibly frozen because water/snow got inside, you can heat the key, and insert it, and that could help melt it. And yes, I meant to get to the hood open so you can put a jumper or charger on the jump point in the fuse box. I "nice person u m ed" that was the point of getting the hood open. Once the charger/jumper is on the jump point, you can use the key fob to unlock the car and thus get the trunk open.
I've been told by 2 locksmiths never to use graphite powder in locks, but to only use a small amount of liquid lubricant. If you use too much spray oil or silicone, it ends up combining with dust and causing the same problem as with powder: gunk forms inside the lock. This may be less of an issue with these particular locks which are (supposedly) protected from the elements, but I felt thus was useful information to share.
