how to open door manually

[origin]

Hi Passatpout,

My apologies if being rude to you.

I couldn't see any cable from underneath my car..

Yes that is right Rich Passat no backup plan from VW or VW assist..They suggested to break my glass.. I need to cover the cost... or bring the car to near vw services.. It cost me tow truck $300 and labor for vw mechanics to open it @150/hours..

Rocket36..I did it but VW assist told me it is no mechanics lock but electric lock so it still need a power to unlock it.

The other thing I cut my front grill.. cost me $308

Thanks guy for all your support great help keep it up

origin

[Maverick]

If you ever need to smash glass to get into your vehicle check availability and price before smashing. The front windscreen is often the best option as they are replaced far more frequently than any other (and so are more available and cheaper than the others)

Priced a genuine windscreen lately? Far better to do the drivers window (or passenger one).

And the hassles with replacing the windscreen and sensor issues and so forth are not worth it even if the windscreen was cheaper.

[Breno]

I've seen cells in car batteries collapse with no notice whatsoever. What is VW's backup plan in that case?

[Maverick]

I've seen cells in car batteries collapse with no notice whatsoever. What is VW's backup plan in that case?

What's more likely to happen.

Your battery completely fails or your car is stolen? I don't know anyone who has ever had a car battery completely fail (always had enough power to crank the engine but not start it) but know plenty of people who have had cars stolen. I would rather they made the car secure than to cater for the incredibly rare event of the complete failure of the car's battery or the disconnection of the battery and locking of the car by the owner!

There are ways to open the car, put the car up on a hoist or stands and access the bonnet release from under the car. Removing the drivers side wheel and the lining will expose the bonnet release cable from memory. The easiest option would be to expose a permanent 12v circuit and connect a small charger to that, this will allow the car's remote or key to be used to unlock the door.

[Breno]

What's more likely to happen.

Your battery completely fails or your car is stolen? I don't know anyone who has ever had a car battery completely fail (always had enough power to crank the engine but not start it) but know plenty of people who have had cars stolen. I would rather they made the car secure than to cater for the incredibly rare event of the complete failure of the car's battery or the disconnection of the battery and locking of the car by the owner!

Complete battery cell failure is very common. Father had it happen just the other day on a relatively new battery. Drove car to dump, got out, locked doors, unloaded materials, car totally dead. 0 Volts in the battery, unable to unlock whatsoever. Lucky the door could be opened mechanically with the key. RACQ battery man said it happens all the time.

Mav, I'll introduce you to my father so you can at least know one person that this has happened to.

[Lams]

Mine dropped a cell after 1 year, so I only had 10V, which wasn't enough to start a diesel. Bugger did it on 24/12 too, on Main Street of Airlie Beach. Lots of tourists laughing at the guy with the orange Caddy

[Maverick]

Mine dropped a cell after 1 year, so I only had 10V, which wasn't enough to start a diesel. Bugger did it on 24/12 too, on Main Street of Airlie Beach. Lots of tourists laughing at the guy with the orange Caddy

It was enough to operate the doors however!

[Maverick]

Complete battery cell failure is very common. Father had it happen just the other day on a relatively new battery. Drove car to dump, got out, locked doors, unloaded materials, car totally dead. 0 Volts in the battery, unable to unlock whatsoever. Lucky the door could be opened mechanically with the key. RACQ battery man said it happens all the time.

Mav, I'll introduce you to my father so you can at least know one person that this has happened to.

A battery is made up of six (6) cells each providing around 2.1 volts. The loss of once cell (from complete failure as you put it) will result in a drop from 12.6v to 10.5v.

I doubt that a battery that is totally dead (0v) makes up more than a tiny fraction of battery failures. The only way for a battery to have 0v is for it to have had a failure or short of all cells. Nearly all battery failures consist of the failure on one of the six cells with enough power to unlock the car but not to start the car.

[tryingavw]

A battery is made up of six (6) cells each providing around 2.1 volts. The loss of once cell (from complete failure as you put it) will result in a drop from 12.6v to 10.5v.

I doubt that a battery that is totally dead (0v) makes up more than a tiny fraction of battery failures. The only way for a battery to have 0v is for it to have had a failure or short of all cells. Nearly all battery failures consist of the failure on one of the six cells with enough power to unlock the car but not to start the car.

agreed. also i am pretty sure once one cell is gone the battery cannot be repaired.

[richdave]

agreed. also i am pretty sure once one cell is gone the battery cannot be repaired.

Not strictly true... the failure is often due to a shorted cell caused by a small lead dendrite bridge forming between the plates...

This can be overcome by causing sufficient current to flow to melt the bridge...

Not necessarily a safe option but it can get you out of trouble in a pinch

[gregozedobe]

I've had a battery totally fail. Drove into servo, filled up with petrol, went to start car, absolutely nothing, not even enough current to run the intruments. I think the battery had an internal mechanical failure while I was driving (but the car continued to run on power being produced by the alternator), so no current could get through the dead cell from the remaining live cells.

Bought a new battery, fitted it and away I went.

[richdave]

Here's a thought...

on Most cars the starter sits low on the bell-housing and is usually accessible from under the car...

There is (usually) a direct link from the battery to the starter via a heavy duty cable (not to be confused with the starter solenoid wire)

If this is true on a VW (not climbing under mine...sorry) then you "may" be able to get a jumper cable on the terminal and connect to the +ve of a good battery and then connect the -ve to a suitable safe ground... Then you have power restored... well in theory at least.

Funny the things you think of in the middle of the night

[platzie]

Here's a thought...

on Most cars the starter sits low on the bell-housing and is usually accessible from under the car...

There is (usually) a direct link from the battery to the starter via a heavy duty cable (not to be confused with the starter solenoid wire)

If this is true on a VW (not climbing under mine...sorry) then you "may" be able to get a jumped cable on the terminal and connect to the +ve of a good battery and then connect the -ve to a suitable safe ground... Then you have power restored... well in theory at least.

Funny the things you think of in the middle of the night

Why do all that when you can just connect another battery in parallel to the dead battery to start the car?

[okisub]

Why do all that when you can just connect another battery in parallel to the dead battery to start the car?

Because he can't open the bonnet to get to the battery directly.

[Maverick]

Why do all that when you can just connect another battery in parallel to the dead battery to start the car?

Why post without reading the thread