View Full Version : Can't unlock my car
Stan_Lite
15-04-2011, 20:19
Bit of a weird problem.
Some weeks ago, my car battery was flat so I took it out to recharge it. Because I've been away a lot for work and when I have been home, I haven't needed the car, I haven't got round to putting it back in. I tried to unlock the car with the key today but it won't open. I'm assuming that because the battery has been out for so long, there isn't enough juice left to operate the lock mechanism.
What's my best bet? Locksmith, garage, police? - any other options? Thankfully, I have the registration documents etc. in the house so I can prove the car belongs to me to anyone who can unlock it.
Not that I should know about such things being a non-driver, but...
You got home start or similar? They'll sort it.
If not, garage. No reason for the police to be involved and locksmith is only good if they have the right skills.
Stan_Lite
15-04-2011, 20:24
Only got AA roadside assistance - never got round to upgrading :(
The reason I mentioned the police is because I read that they can do it free of charge.
Del Lardo
15-04-2011, 20:27
Isn't the lock mechanical when you are using a key? Central locking may not work but if you have the key surely the door should unlock?
Stan_Lite
15-04-2011, 20:56
Isn't the lock mechanical when you are using a key? Central locking may not work but if you have the key surely the door should unlock?
That's what I thought but it doesn't work.
volospian
15-04-2011, 20:58
As Del Lardo says, won't the key work in the lock? The only car I've owned where there is no physical key was the Cerbera, which has a special way to get in if the battery goes flat...
volospian
15-04-2011, 21:00
OK, after reading your last post... if you clamber under the car, can you see the positive battery terminal, and if so, can you reach it with anything?
Clip a jump lead onto that, and the other end onto the battery, clip the other jump lead onto the negative, and anywhere on the body...?
Stan_Lite
15-04-2011, 21:04
Opinion on the MR2OC forums is that the locks are mechanical but probably seized through lack of use. They've suggested some silicon spray to try to free them up. I'll get some tomorrow and give that a try.
Can't get to the battery terminals - the battery sits in the front boot which is closed in (mid-engined).
volospian
15-04-2011, 21:20
Ah, yeah, make sense now I know the car :)
Opinion on the MR2OC forums is that the locks are mechanical but probably seized through lack of use. They've suggested some silicon spray to try to free them up. I'll get some tomorrow and give that a try.
Just use WD40. Silicone can cause problems later on with your paint.
What a pain in the bum. I'm glad there are no locks on mine.
Can't get to the battery terminals - the battery sits in the front boot which is closed in (mid-engined).
If it comes to it you should be able to use the positive terminal on either the starter or alternator instead. Both will be directly connected to the battery terminal.
Guessing you've tried the passenger door too?
Guessing you've tried the passenger door too?
That is something I would have completely overlooked.:o
Hope you get in soon Stan without too much hassle
Just use WD40. Silicone can cause problems later on with your paint.
What a pain in the bum. I'm glad there are no locks on mine.
Ditto. Some times it's a wonderful thing to have a convertible top (or no top). I also have 2 bonnet latches - one on each side. Grab the T handle and pop it aside. Open the bonnet.
Mind you, I don't have to open the bonnet to do a lot of work. The only things that really NEED done from the top are the oil filter and valve adjustments. Everything else can be done from underneath whilst sitting on the ground.
Hope you get in the car soon Stan.
I had the same problem but I could put a new battery in easily & passenger side still opened...otherwise i wouldve been a case of diving through the boot :/ somehow there was still enough batt 4 the alarm to go off!
BB x
Alarms usually have a small battery of their own so they can still sound when the car battery is flat or removed.
Yeah I know that :) wasnt a small amount at all though lol
Just not enough for central locking to work properly.
BB x
I mean the alarm itself has a battery that's only there to power the alarm not to power any of the other electrics. So it was by design that it didn't power the central locking.
I had the same problem but I could put a new battery in easily & passenger side still opened...otherwise i wouldve been a case of diving through the boot :/ somehow there was still enough batt 4 the alarm to go off!
BB x
We had to do this for almost a month when the car froze up over Christmas.
Stan_Lite
09-05-2011, 15:14
Finally got into it. Called out a guy from a local garage today and he managed to get power to it so I could open it with the remote. Turns out something is broken or loose in the locking mechanism in the drivers door.
I'm in a catch 22 situation now. I need to get the door panel off to fix the lock so I can open the door but I need to get the door open to get the door panel off :confused:
Any ideas?
Justsomebloke
09-05-2011, 19:03
I would strip down the passenger door then use that as a guide to find where to unlock it by sliding a ruler down between the glass & hooking the catch. Just take the panel off the passenger door & practice until you have it bang on then do the drivers door with the panel on.
Stan_Lite
09-05-2011, 19:57
That's what I was planning on doing. Just thought I'd ask in case anybody had any better ideas.
I'm in a catch 22 situation now. I need to get the door panel off to fix the lock so I can open the door but I need to get the door open to get the door panel off :confused:
Any ideas?
I have this with my 307... sometimes the door just cannot be opened... but when it's like that you can't get the panel off to see what's wrong with it. then when you can open it.. just randomly works/doesn't work, i take it to the garage and they say there is nothing wrong.
I think I might take the panel off and just leave it like that until it decides not to unlock again then get it checked out.
Stan_Lite
10-05-2011, 12:43
Fixed it :D
Followed the above advice and took off the passenger side panel and located all the bits and bobs. Sadly, there was no way to get to any of the important bits on the driver side door without removing the door panel so I had to start hacking bits off. I started with the bits behind the door card, hoping to keep the holes I cut covered up. Unfortunately, the problem lay at the door catch itself and I had to cut a hole that will be visible.
I forgot to take photos to illustrate and I've put it all back together now. Where the door catch is, there is a small latch that moves back and forth when you lock/unlock the car and up and down when you operate the handle to open the door. This latch moves over the top of another latch when you unlock the door and pushes it down when you operate the door handle.
On mine, the second latch had come too far up and was stopping the first latch from moving over the top of it. A bit of jiggling and some spray and it seems to be operating properly now. I'm going to have to buy a new (to me) door panel but I've probably saved a lot more than the cost of that by doing it myself (chances are, the mechanic would have had to cut the panel anyway).
I'm absolutely delighted I've managed to fix something on my car by myself (without cocking it up entirely). My technical skills are usually pretty poor so this is a minor triumph for me.
Von Smallhausen
10-05-2011, 21:22
In other news, police are keen to question a dodgy looking Scottish bloke seen acting suspiciously near to an MR2.
Kell_ee001
10-05-2011, 21:31
YAY Stan! :D
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