sailorP
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 19, 2008
- Messages
- 134
- Reaction score
- 4
- Location
- North Herefordshire
- Your Mercedes
- SLK32AMG
I have a lovely old SLK 32AMG (R170)
Does anyone know how to get into the car (or open the bonnet) when the battery is flat?
The car has been laid up on a SORN since November, has been run every month, but otherwise untouched. Previous lay-ups have been in a garage with battery on trickle, but this year...new house, garage full of stuff, so she's outside in the cold, poor thing.
Last night the alarm went off for 20 minutes. Hazard lights were not flashing.
I tried the remote, which would not shut off the alarm.
I also tried to open the driver's door manually (prised out the plastic shield cap, and turned the key in the slot).
The alarm has stopped sounding, but the central locking has not de-activated.
This morning I changed the batteries in the remote, but the car remains resolute and locked, no sign of operation of hazard lights or central locking.
I also tried the driver's door lock again, no joy.
IIIRC, the driver's door key slot is not a lock as such, but a switch to arm and disable the central locking. I can't check to see if I am right as the manual is locked in the car. Can anyone confirm? I'm assuming this because at the moment the key slot in the driver's door only allows the key to turn about 10degrees either way, like a switch...it doesn't operate like a conventional door lock turning 90degrees.
I diagnose general electrical weakness, causing central locking and alarm etc to fail...it's very cold out and battery has probably discharged with the alarm running, it's also a bit damp, so what power there is probably leaking away through damp connectors etc.
I'd like to open the bonnet and put the battery on trickle for a while, then see if everything works again, but can't get into the car to open the bonnet release.
I do have home start from the AA, but I'm checking with the forum in case there is a solution that any of you guys know. I'm hoping for to a brilliant technical solution from someone who has had this problem before, before I get the AA to resort to the slim jim to prise the door open.
Thanks Phil
Does anyone know how to get into the car (or open the bonnet) when the battery is flat?
The car has been laid up on a SORN since November, has been run every month, but otherwise untouched. Previous lay-ups have been in a garage with battery on trickle, but this year...new house, garage full of stuff, so she's outside in the cold, poor thing.
Last night the alarm went off for 20 minutes. Hazard lights were not flashing.
I tried the remote, which would not shut off the alarm.
I also tried to open the driver's door manually (prised out the plastic shield cap, and turned the key in the slot).
The alarm has stopped sounding, but the central locking has not de-activated.
This morning I changed the batteries in the remote, but the car remains resolute and locked, no sign of operation of hazard lights or central locking.
I also tried the driver's door lock again, no joy.
IIIRC, the driver's door key slot is not a lock as such, but a switch to arm and disable the central locking. I can't check to see if I am right as the manual is locked in the car. Can anyone confirm? I'm assuming this because at the moment the key slot in the driver's door only allows the key to turn about 10degrees either way, like a switch...it doesn't operate like a conventional door lock turning 90degrees.
I diagnose general electrical weakness, causing central locking and alarm etc to fail...it's very cold out and battery has probably discharged with the alarm running, it's also a bit damp, so what power there is probably leaking away through damp connectors etc.
I'd like to open the bonnet and put the battery on trickle for a while, then see if everything works again, but can't get into the car to open the bonnet release.
I do have home start from the AA, but I'm checking with the forum in case there is a solution that any of you guys know. I'm hoping for to a brilliant technical solution from someone who has had this problem before, before I get the AA to resort to the slim jim to prise the door open.
Thanks Phil
) you need to lub the locks with something a little more long lasting. You can either pay through the nose for something with a Tri-Star on it 
