Unlock Car with Dead Battery

[Carrot]

Has anyone come across this before, and if so, how did you get around it?

I have come back from holidays to find that the battery in my 9n3 Polo GTI is dead. The problem is I locked the car before I left, and now cannot open via the remote (obviously), nor via the drivers or rear tailgate key locks. I therefore cannot open the bonnet to recharge the battery.

Any help would be appreciated.

[seangti]

That's an issue... My battery collapsed on the weekend, fortunately (and intentionally) I'd parked outside ultratune as I had to clutch start it in the morning. I could still open doors with remote, my lights didn't really flash, though when ultratune put the battery tester on, it had 0 CCA (cold cranking amps). Your doors should be mechanical for that reason.

I'll follow with interest as to suggestions, as I too pondered and chuckled about that scenario.

PS. Ultratune didn't have a suitable battery so he jump started me and I had to get it from Kmart tyre and auto for $199... Not sure if that's reasonable or not, but wasn't in a position to argue.

[Blitzen]

Have you tried unlocking the car with both keys?? One of your keys may be flat too.

[buzuki]

Surely the key works in the barrel?

[Carrot]

Blitzen, I thought the same thing and have tried both keys as remotes and in the door + boot.

buzuki, unfortunately not. after doing some quick reading, the barrels on the the door/boot active an electronic switch which unlocks the door.

[h100vw]

Can you get a jump lead onto the positive lead to the starter motor?

Really surprised the key won't work at all though. It might feel as though it has reached the stop but I bet it will turn a bit further.

Gavin

[Carrot]

Gavin, I'll try again tonight when I get home. If I could get a jump lead to the starter motor, I'm not sure I understand what your train of thought is?

by the way, when did you make the move to Brissy from SA?

[DeanB]

I had a flat battery in mine and the remote locking wouldn't unlock. However, key in the drivers door worked fine ... so not sure why yours isn't working.

[kaanage]

Gavin, I'll try again tonight when I get home. If I could get a jump lead to the starter motor, I'm not sure I understand what your train of thought is?

I think he means by going under the car (it's quite open if you remove the under tray), not through the bonnet.

[Carrot]

Solved

Well I got the problem solved. As mentioned, the key did work in the door. I didn't pick up on the door unlocking due to the lack of feedback in the key when the door actually unlocked and also that I couldn't see the door unlock due to my dark tint and the poor light in my garage on Sunday night.

Anyhow, I am in, so just need to charge the battery and all is good. The lesson for me here is to remove the bluetooth module from the diagnostics port when I don't use the car for an extended period. thanks for all the comments.


kaanage, I didn't understand what would be achieved by being able to do this, but now that I am in it does not matter anymore.

[Stan]

The positive terminal on the starter motor goes directly to battery positive - so if you put a charger o or jumper on that and earthed on the chassis somewhere you could charge or jumpstart the car

Glad you got it sorted

[The_Hawk]

The positive terminal on the starter motor goes directly to battery positive - so if you put a charger o or jumper on that and earthed on the chassis somewhere you could charge or jumpstart the car

Or in your case at least unlock the doors via the remote

Glad to hear it's all sorted though, although I would be looking at replacing that battery as they don't like to be discharged all the way down. That and I wouldn't have thought that your diagnostic thing would draw so much power as to completely drain the battery.

Plan B: Invest in a hard mounted battery charger in the garage to use when you go away for longer periods to ensure your battery is always kept topped up

[brimway]

Glad you didn't have to resort to this.....

[nikanasz]

I couldn't see the door unlock due to my dark tint and the poor light in my garage on Sunday night.

well, there's your problem. i had my battery suddenly die on me before, so i was pretty sure the insert-key-in-barrel would work.

[Peter Jones]

kaanage, I didn't understand what would be achieved by being able to do this, but now that I am in it does not matter anymore.

The starter motor is directly connected to the battery so you can connect a charger from underneath the car when you can't open it.