Flat Battery, can't open vehicle

[M80]

My suggestion of an alarm battery wasn't really for the op, it seems time is limited and he would need to buy one and then adapt the output terminals with leads and croc clips.

My thoughts were if this comes up again for less than a tenner some one might buy off eBay, wait for delivery and attempt the 'jump' to pop the locks,
but would a 2.4Ahr / 3 Ahr battery have enough energy to bring up a flat 100Ahr battery enough to pop the locks?

Any smart charger could charge the alarm battery, but in truth it isn't likely to be needed by the same person in a long time so would be u/s by then anyway.

Sorry, looks like I confused this situation a bit more.


My view, a long lever might pop the bonnet, if it can reach up that far,
if there is a rest point to lever against (but that might damage what ever that is).

Since there is only one bonnet release (n/s) I dont' expect and have never seen this o/s release.

It is possible the op is better calling out an auto electrician, or a mechy if he preferes his chances with the bonnet release.
The confusion from our many suggestions doesn't really seem to be getting him there.

 

[tommymac]

Well the good news is that it states an output of only 12v so this isn't likely to damage your car's electronics at all, the alarm battery was suggested as an alternative to your Jump Starter and I've suggested a way forward in post 156.

How did you get on with finding the OS Bonnet release cable?

Understood, thanks. I was concerned that you might be referencing a separate battery on the car, that drives an alarm, which would be triggered by me getting the bonnet open in this manner.

I saw the wire going to the NS release, and gave it a tug, but of course it was in a protective sheath. I'm sure I could have popped the latch by getting it in a pair of pliers, but by then was focussed on the latch itself, which took seconds to pop.

Mercedes man said to just get the cover off the OS release, and it will look fairly similar. Might be some electrics there for the sensor, but should be able to work out what to do. He said they have often had this problem, and the usual solution is to break the driver's window, around £300 including labour to replace. Rear window is cheaper on the convertible, but labour far more.

One more coffee, then let's try to get the cover from the OS release. Good job you are not paying me to do this.

 

[tommymac]

When you first turn on your Jump Starter, what is the reading displayed on the LCD Screen?

LCD shows the level of the battery within the Arteck, it read 100

 

[tommymac]

My view, a long lever might pop the bonnet, if it can reach up that far,
if there is a rest point to lever against (but that might damage what ever that is).

Since there is only one bonnet release (n/s) I dont' expect and have never seen this o/s release.

Interesting. It is definitely popped on one side only, the NS, and most of my googling on models of my age or later showed two latches.

It is easy to get my arms up to the latches, and minimal force was required to pop the NS

 

[Tony Dyson]

Understood, thanks. I was concerned that you might be referencing a separate battery on the car, that drives an alarm, which would be triggered by me getting the bonnet open in this manner.

I saw the wire going to the NS release, and gave it a tug, but of course it was in a protective sheath. I'm sure I could have popped the latch by getting it in a pair of pliers, but by then was focussed on the latch itself, which took seconds to pop.

Mercedes man said to just get the cover off the OS release, and it will look fairly similar. Might be some electrics there for the sensor, but should be able to work out what to do. He said they have often had this problem, and the usual solution is to break the driver's window, around £300 including labour to replace. Rear window is cheaper on the convertible, but labour far more.

One more coffee, then let's try to get the cover from the OS release. Good job you are not paying me to do this.

If your alarm does go off which it is likely to do, just connect your jump starter to your jump starter terminals adj to your battery and unlock your car, that should reset the alarm.

 

[tommymac]

Wahey, we’re in!

dead easy, didn’t even need to break cover for o/s catch, just prise enough to get screwdriver in slightly. I’ll update later, and let you know if bonnet closes after all this!

 

[Wighty]

Wahey, we’re in!

dead easy, didn’t even need to break cover for o/s catch, just prise enough to get screwdriver in slightly. I’ll update later, and let you know if bonnet closes after all this!

Fantastic work buddy

 

[Wighty]

Whilst you are busy tinkering under there , you see the two round camshaft magnets on the front of the engine , between the engine lift hooks . Unplug the electrical connections to then just to check there is no oil in them .
I have the same car/engine , the magnets can leak oil past them which wicks along the wiring into the cars electrics . Can get expensive if not dealt with

 

[tommymac]

Wahey, we’re in!

dead easy, didn’t even need to break cover for o/s catch, just prise enough to get screwdriver in slightly. I’ll update later, and let you know if bonnet closes after all this!

Hmmm... no joy with jumper. Just switches off completely after 30 seconds. The battery couldn’t be stone cold dead could it, after less than 18 months?

 

[M80]

Well done,
I'm putting the kettle on to celebrate.

Yep, I can see 2 bonnet catches.

Does your charger have this permanent 'maintenance' setting?
Does your charger have a voltage readout?

 

[Tony Dyson]

Hmmm... no joy with jumper. Just switches off completely after 30 seconds. The battery couldn’t be stone cold dead could it, after less than 18 months?

Because it's a Jump Starter not a battery charger, you need to rest the Jump Starter, reconnect when it has reset and start your car immediately, if it doesn't start, repeat. You need a minimum 75% charge in your Jump Starter for it to work.

 

[NBurns]

how to get into a locked car ...... day 6

Yeh. Part of me wants to say, get a mobile mechanic to help you or similar. I was actually worried about the OP getting a nasty shock from doing this. Especially as he isn’t technically minded. Are you OP?



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[EmilysDad]

Wahey, we’re in! .....

Yeh!!!!!

 

[NBurns]

If I was unable to get into my car so far, I'd be back on the phone to my recovery company & tell them that the advice previously given of drilling the lock is unacceptable and ask for someone that knows what he's doing to come out.
Are you sure the emergency blade(s) are correct for the car? eg has a lock been changed at some time previously? You're not the only one that has had the problem of a completely flat battery ....

I was wondering what happened re the skeleton key?!!



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[EmilysDad]

.... Especially as he isn’t technically minded. ....

Isn't he?

 

[NBurns]

ok, nothing. can't guarantee the integrity of the wire, so guess it's the screwdriver next.

re the breakdown company, yes I've made a formal complaint, and await them to deal with it.

I've never used the blades before, and had the car for 7 years. It had only had light use by the previous owner, I'm not aware of them having needed to change locks

Blades?!!!
You seem to be looking to write a book like I will be!!


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[Tony Dyson]

Yeh. Part of me wants to say, get a mobile mechanic to help you or similar. I was actually worried about the OP getting a nasty shock from doing this. Especially as he isn’t technically minded. Are you OP?
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The only nasty shock the OP is likely to get from his Jump Starter is the sudden realisation he's wasted his money, but that's another story. 12v isn't enough to push a fault current around a human body, 50v and you might feel a tickle.
A healthy respect for electricity however is a good thing and no-one should be doing anything they're unsure of.

Well done OP now you need to get the car started.

 

[LostKiwi]

Well done. Before you close the bonnet test latches release properly. You can do this by pushing a screwdriver gently into each latch till it clicks then release via the cable release under the dash.
Now you need to charge the battery to get some leccy going to be able to operate the locks!

 

[M80]

Back at college, before they were all Uni's giving plastic degrees, a lecturer taught us it's not the shock that kills,
it's falling off the frickin' ladder.

In this case it might have been the damaged knuckles and head injury that was worse

 

[Blobcat]

Since there is only one bonnet release (n/s) I dont' expect and have never seen this o/s release.

There is only one release lever but there are 2 locks under the bonnet that the lever releases (N/S and O/S). There is also the central secondary catch that the bonnet opens to once the lever has been pulled. The secondary catch is released from under the bonnet with your fingers on some or by a little pull lever that pops out of the grill on other models.