RE: Flat battery – locked out

AndrewCS

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Greetings,

My W169 A170 (2005), I cannot open the central locking. I think the battery has run flat, as I have not been driving it. The central locking is not operating.

I just put a new battery in the key so it is not that.

I removed the mechanical key from the electronic key, it turns in the lock but it is not opening the door / lock.

How do I get into the car?

Any input appreciated.

Thank you
 

LostKiwi

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Is there a mechanical key slot in the hatch?
 
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AndrewCS

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ZZZZ

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There's a tricky sequence of [illogical] moves to unlock the car with a metal blade key:

Turn the key clockwise, pull the handle, release the handle, return the key to initial position and remove, then pull the handle to open the door. The alarm will sound, insert the key fob into ignition to stop it.

Like I said - illogical :alien:
 

umblecumbuz

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Strange.
The mechanical key is designed to physically open the drivers door lock in the event of a failed remote system.
It will probably sound the alarm once you open the door, but it should still release the lock.
Have you tried the old remedy - WD40 and lots of wiggling to and fro?
It's the wiggling (no cracks Lostkiwi!) that does the trick.

GLK beat me to it - with greater model knowhow!
 
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AndrewCS

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There's a tricky sequence of [illogical] moves to unlock the car with a metal blade key:

Turn the key clockwise, pull the handle, release the handle, return the key to initial position and remove, then pull the handle to open the door. The alarm will sound, insert the key fob into ignition to stop it.

Like I said - illogical :alien:


Thanks GLK,

I just tried that and did not release the lock button / open the door

I have tried a few variations of that, as there are a few You Tube videos

Some explain - you keep pulling the handle until the lock button releases

Some say – two half pulls and then the third full pull will release the lock button

My neighbour has a w170 and tried opening theirs with the mechanical key and it worked


Seems strange
 

ZZZZ

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I have to say - I never tried that myself.

In fact, my key blade slot is blocked by the MB plastic cover insert (Malcolm's advice) ;)

I need to test this thing one day ...
 
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AndrewCS

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I have to say - I never tried that myself.

In fact, my key blade slot is blocked by the MB plastic cover insert (Malcolm's advice) ;)

I need to test this thing one day ...


I think that is a good idea to test it
 

EmilysDad

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IIRC the button on the door didn't pop up when I tried it on my car eons ago ..... certainly didnt on my previous Vauxhall
 

Wighty

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Will the remote , press and hold to open the windows ?
 
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AndrewCS

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Will the remote , press and hold to open the windows ?

I get the feeling that the battery is flat, Its a fairly new battery tho but the alarm I'm guessing must have drained it ?

I'll try that on the remote tho - it's worth a try !

Cheers
 

ZZZZ

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If the battery is new-ish, there might be something else draining it, as alarm won't normally do that, unless kicked in repeatedly ...
 
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AndrewCS

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If the battery is new-ish, there might be something else draining it, as alarm won't normally do that, unless kicked in repeatedly ...

Okay, I'll get that checked out once I get in and running again

Thanks again GLK . Appreciate
 
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AndrewCS

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Okay the update:

I tried the WD40 etc etc and still nothing so resorted to the old fashioned way - garden wire. Pulled the drivers door handle back (from the inside) and we're in.

Taken the battery out and put it on charge - the charger shows it as having a half charge which I would have thought still would open the doors.

BTW: I recently put a new Lion battery ( from Euro Car Parts) in and the six large screws to open the vents in the car battery ( to let the gas out whilst charging & top up if required) have some weird type of head in them. Searched on the internet to see if there is any specific tool for this. Thought this really bad design. Why not just stick to a cross head or plain single head? Not great when there is very dangerous acid inside. Yes, I used goggles etc.

Okay so now to charge up the battery and find out why its losing it charge ?

thanks again or all the input

Have a great spring weekend
 

ZZZZ

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Are you sure, the battery is not a maintenance-free type, which would only have two small vents either side, normally with red transport plugs when new, one of which you might want to keep (if the grey one is missing in your car), and the other take out and plug the car vent hose in - see on the left here:

40558273485_44420323de_o.jpg


The six screws on top of my old Bosh and current VARTA batteries were/are covered by the plastic brand sticker and definitely not 'user-serviceable':

26581029867_1624b40b3d_o.jpg
 
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AndrewCS

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Thanks for that GLK

No, the new battery is definitely serviceable type

I'll take a picture & upload it

Cheers again
 
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