Flat battery - cannot open boot
- Thread starter Swotty
- Start date
I meant to add in my earlier post, I wonder if you saw a guide from a US or euro forum, ‘passenger side’ varies depending on which side the steering wheel is on
Yes, I did uncover the UK passenger side.
Sadly no positive cables, let alone a thick, battery cable-type one.Sooo, I enlisted the help of a friend who is an auto electrician and who has helped on a couple of my older cars. I still had the battery conditioner attached and asked if it was possible to cut/splice the cables and get enough juice to the battery for me to quickly use the key fob to open the boot. I was concerned the cables were far too lightweight to take the current from the fully-charged new battery which had arrived. He said it was possible but the current would have to be "calmed" (he is French) by a lamp inserted into the circuit.
He asked why I couldn't open the boot manually, if the system permitted it. I showed him by inserting the metal part of the key fob, pushing and twisting it - as tried a couple of dozen times before - and the bl**dy thing popped open.
I couldn't then extract the key ... it was caught behind the boot lid. Took a bit of wiggling to get it to clear. Perhaps that was the original problem?
New battery installed, engine fired up and traction control, sunroof and windows reset ... and battery conditioner now attached!
The thing is, I am no clearer as to where the positive pick up point is when the manual boot procedure doesn't work. All the internet info say underneath passenger carpets. Difficult to see how it could be under the driver's side for rhd due to the pedals, but perhaps?
Anyway, thanks again to everyone who has helped me out with advice and moral support ... very much appreciated!
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Ahh, the old “It won’t work until you attempt to demonstrate to an audience that it won’t work”, ploy!He asked why I couldn't open the boot manually, if the system permitted it. I showed him by inserting the metal part of the key fob, pushing and twisting it - as tried a couple of dozen times before - and the bl**dy thing popped open.
Glad you’ve managed to get the boot open at last.
Pleased to hear you got it sorted out eventuallyYes, I did uncover the UK passenger side.
Sooo, I enlisted the help of a friend who is an auto electrician and who has helped on a couple of my older cars. I still had the battery conditioner attached and asked if it was possible to cut/splice the cables and get enough juice to the battery for me to quickly use the key fob to open the boot. I was concerned the cables were far too lightweight to take the current from the fully-charged new battery which had arrived. He said it was possible but the current would have to be "calmed" (he is French) by a lamp inserted into the circuit.
He asked why I couldn't open the boot manually, if the system permitted it. I showed him by inserting the metal part of the key fob, pushing and twisting it - as tried a couple of dozen times before - and the bl**dy thing popped open.
I couldn't then extract the key ... it was caught behind the boot lid. Took a bit of wiggling to get it to clear. Perhaps that was the original problem?
New battery installed, engine fired up and traction control, sunroof and windows reset ... and battery conditioner now attached!
The thing is, I am no clearer as to where the positive pick up point is when the manual boot procedure doesn't work. All the internet info say underneath passenger carpets. Difficult to see how it could be under the driver's side for rhd due to the pedals, but perhaps?
Anyway, thanks again to everyone who has helped me out with advice and moral support ... very much appreciated!
Back to the thing about the cable to the battery - what side of the vehicle was the battery located in the boot? It would be logical to keep the large gauge positive cable the same side as the battery. I haven’t checked but if you say it’s not on the passenger (left) side it has to be somewhere else
Pleased to hear you got it sorted out eventually
Back to the thing about the cable to the battery - what side of the vehicle was the battery located in the boot? It would be logical to keep the large gauge positive cable the same side as the battery. I haven’t checked but if you say it’s not on the passenger (left) side it has to be somewhere else
Battery is on rh side of boot, so UK driver's side.
Did read an old post on a US forum which mentioned a repairman finding a cable under a rear seat and, yes, you're right, the cable must go somewhere. I just can't see it going under the driver's carpet and pedals, with all the use that area gets. Perhaps along the centre console? To be fair, I'm not inclined to look for it now!
