Hi All,
       Unfortunately  I've not been well for a while so haven't used the car until today and yes you guessed it :-X, battery flat and can't open driver's door lock :(.

I've tried all the usual recommendations such as turning the key to almost breaking point even whilst trying to open the door but won't budge :(.

Can anyone suggest a way to charge up the battery from underneath the engine compartment.

PS. I can open the boot :).

     Any help much appreciated.

                    Pete :y.

If you can open the boot, you could forge the through load hatch open, drop the rear seats and climb through to pop the bonnet :y

Pete Elite wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 14:09:

Hi All,        Unfortunately  I've not been well for a while so haven't used the car until today and yes you guessed it :-X, battery flat and can't open driver's door lock :(. I've tried all the usual recommendations such as turning the key to almost breaking point even whilst trying to open the door but won't budge :(. Can anyone suggest a way to charge up the battery from underneath the engine compartment. PS. I can open the boot :).      Any help much appreciated.                     Pete :y.

aside from the lock being siezed from lack of use, using the key in the driver's door lock will open a deadlocked door with a flat battery .... honest!
If you really can't get into the car via the driver's door lock, but the boot will open, you can apply power to the boot light terminals. Flip the light out of it's recess, and put 12v across the wires. You'll be able to use your key fob then.
Or ..... open the boot, flip the ski-hatch down - it's possible, I just can't remember now how to do it, it's the same as a Senator's was & I've done it on one of them - drop a seat back & crawl all the wy to the bonnet release.  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D

Thanks for that Lazydocker, i could try that but will have to find someone a little leaner than me to get through the gap ;D.

               Cheers,
                          Pete :y.

Pete Elite wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 14:16:

Thanks for that Lazydocker, i could try that but will have to find someone a little leaner than me to get through the gap ;D.                Cheers,                           Pete :y.

You don't crawl through the ski-flap, you reach through & drop a seat back.  ;D  ;D

Andy B wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 14:15:

Pete Elite wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 14:09: Hi All,        Unfortunately  I've not been well for a while so haven't used the car until today and yes you guessed it :-X, battery flat and can't open driver's door lock :(. I've tried all the usual recommendations such as turning the key to almost breaking point even whilst trying to open the door but won't budge :(. Can anyone suggest a way to charge up the battery from underneath the engine compartment. PS. I can open the boot :).      Any help much appreciated.                     Pete :y. aside from the lock being siezed from lack of use, using the key in the driver's door lock will open a deadlocked door with a flat battery .... honest! If you really can't get into the car via the driver's door lock, but the boot will open, you can apply power to the boot light terminals. Flip the light out of it's recess, and put 12v across the wires. You'll be able to use your key fob then. Or ..... open the boot, flip the ski-hatch down - it's possible, I just can't remember now how to do it, it's the same as a Senator's was & I've done it on one of them - drop a seat back & crawl all the wy to the bonnet release.  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D

   Thanks Andy for your suggestions and have tried connecting my charger up to the light wires in the boot but door still won't open on the Fob, door lock has been well sprayed with WD40 and moves freely :(.

             Cheers,
                        Pete :y.

Andy B wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 14:18:

Pete Elite wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 14:16: Thanks for that Lazydocker, i could try that but will have to find someone a little leaner than me to get through the gap ;D.                Cheers,                           Pete :y. You don't crawl through the ski-flap, you reach through & drop a seat back.  ;D  ;D

    I KNOW THAT i was just testing you :-[ ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D.

Pete Elite wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 14:23:

....    Thanks Andy for your suggestions and have tried connecting my charger up to the light wires in the boot but door still won't open on the Fob ....

I wonder if there was still enough charge in the battery to pop a fuse if you caught the live against the body when removing the light  :-/
I've got in my dadlocked car that way so I know it should work. But I've also used a key ..... eventually!  ;D
You need to be borrowing a small child from freinds or family!  ;D  ;D  ;D

Andy B wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 14:26:

Pete Elite wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 14:23: ....    Thanks Andy for your suggestions and have tried connecting my charger up to the light wires in the boot but door still won't open on the Fob .... I wonder if there was still enough charge in the battery to pop a fuse if you caught the live against the body when removing the light  :-/ I've got in my dadlocked car that way so I know it should work. But I've also used a key ..... eventually!  ;D You need to be borrowing a small child from freinds or family!  ;D  ;D  ;D

  I don't think i can borrow any more after i broke the last one ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D.

Pete Elite wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 14:29:

.....   I don't think i can borrow any more after i broke the last one ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D.

:o :o :o :y ;)

Many chargers will not charge unless connected to a source of at least 8V or so.  That is, if your battery is really flat, they will not charge it.  You need to apply 12V from a battery to the boot light.
Alan


Pete Elite wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 14:23:

Andy B wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 14:15: Pete Elite wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 14:09: Hi All,        Unfortunately  I've not been well for a while so haven't used the car until today and yes you guessed it :-X, battery flat and can't open driver's door lock :(. I've tried all the usual recommendations such as turning the key to almost breaking point even whilst trying to open the door but won't budge :(. Can anyone suggest a way to charge up the battery from underneath the engine compartment. PS. I can open the boot :).      Any help much appreciated.                     Pete :y. aside from the lock being siezed from lack of use, using the key in the driver's door lock will open a deadlocked door with a flat battery .... honest! If you really can't get into the car via the driver's door lock, but the boot will open, you can apply power to the boot light terminals. Flip the light out of it's recess, and put 12v across the wires. You'll be able to use your key fob then. Or ..... open the boot, flip the ski-hatch down - it's possible, I just can't remember now how to do it, it's the same as a Senator's was & I've done it on one of them - drop a seat back & crawl all the wy to the bonnet release.  ;D  ;D  ;D  ;D    Thanks Andy for your suggestions and have tried connecting my charger up to the light wires in the boot but door still won't open on the Fob, door lock has been well sprayed with WD40 and moves freely :(.              Cheers,                         Pete :y.

Hello i live just down the road if i can help. Might be able to squeeze thru the back for you :y

alank46 wrote on 08. Feb 2011 at 18:16:

Many chargers will not charge unless connected to a source of at least 8V or so.  That is, if your battery is really flat, they will not charge it.  You need to apply 12V from a battery to the boot light. Alan  .......

That's the case for modern 'smart chargers' ie CTek, Optimate but an old fashioned 'ordinary' charger should have no problems giving 12v enough for the central locking to working.

Jack the car up slightly and connect a live feed to the starter motor solenoid and earth the engine use the fob job done :y

Thanks all for your suggestions and offers of help but am glad to say i managed to get through the boot and flip the bonnet :).

   Cheers,
              Pete :y.