Cayenne help! Battery flat, can't open any doors!
Discussion
Hope you can help! Cayenne 2004 turbo.
I left the car for a week or so, came to use it today and the fob wasn't working. Tried to manually unlock the door, nothing happened when I turned the key. Then noticed no lights on dash etc.
My thoughts are.... dead battery and a faulty door lock.
I read about an emergency bonnet release cable under the RHD drivers wheel liner, but after an hour of wrestling the liner out (couldn't take the wheel off as kit in the car) I could not see any indication of the cable!
I'm genuinely stuck! Can't get in to the car, can't charge the battery!
Does anyone have any DIY suggestions?
Will consider locksmith, dealer etc. but for what is really a flat battery issue... there has to be some clever workaround?
Thanks!
Nick
I left the car for a week or so, came to use it today and the fob wasn't working. Tried to manually unlock the door, nothing happened when I turned the key. Then noticed no lights on dash etc.
My thoughts are.... dead battery and a faulty door lock.
I read about an emergency bonnet release cable under the RHD drivers wheel liner, but after an hour of wrestling the liner out (couldn't take the wheel off as kit in the car) I could not see any indication of the cable!
I'm genuinely stuck! Can't get in to the car, can't charge the battery!
Does anyone have any DIY suggestions?
Will consider locksmith, dealer etc. but for what is really a flat battery issue... there has to be some clever workaround?
Thanks!
Nick
You may have deadlocked it which is why the manual/physical key won't work.
I had the same thing on an old Audi S8 - resolved it by using a jump lead on to the starter motor from underneath (actually it was Mike from Sports & Classic that actually did it, but it was my idea!), coupled with another lead on to the body or engine somewhere we powered the car up enough to open it.
I've no idea whether the starter motor (or alternator might also work) is accessible from underneath on a Cayenne though, sorry.
I had the same thing on an old Audi S8 - resolved it by using a jump lead on to the starter motor from underneath (actually it was Mike from Sports & Classic that actually did it, but it was my idea!), coupled with another lead on to the body or engine somewhere we powered the car up enough to open it.
I've no idea whether the starter motor (or alternator might also work) is accessible from underneath on a Cayenne though, sorry.
Update - am in, but not in the way I had imagined.
For anyone else in a similar situation:
1) Having removed the wheel arch liner on the front passenger side and the front driver side I can confirm there is no emergency release cable for the bonnet - that was my joker n the pack and was gutted when it fell through. It's possible it has been removed, Porsche Chiswick confirmed it should be on the passenger side up behind the headlight area. This is a 2004 (54) right hand drive turbo.
2) Removed the belly and other trim at the front in order to access the starter motor (as per previous posters suggestion) - even though I knew it sat beneath the coolant pipes you never know where you might come across a live/earth opportunity. This didn't yield anything but thanks for the idea previous poster.
3) How did I get in? The driver door! First up, my brother and I had tried numerous attempts to open the door with the key, everything pointed to a faulty locking mechanism. Having failed on 1 and 2, we then circled back on ourselves, used quite a bit more force pulling on the door with the key turned in.... low and behold, it popped open. Relief and frustration.
4) Next step realistically would have been to break one of the windows ensuring the replacement glass is on hand.
5) As a matter of course will be running a jump cable to a concealed exterior point on the cayenne, to ensure if I'm ever faced with a similar situation can get out of the issue.
6) Dashboard is having a fit, errors everywhere, specifically on PASM - my brief research on internet shows low/flat battery causes confusion to the electrical system, normal service will be resumed with a full charge and a short 1 mile trip.
Nick
For anyone else in a similar situation:
1) Having removed the wheel arch liner on the front passenger side and the front driver side I can confirm there is no emergency release cable for the bonnet - that was my joker n the pack and was gutted when it fell through. It's possible it has been removed, Porsche Chiswick confirmed it should be on the passenger side up behind the headlight area. This is a 2004 (54) right hand drive turbo.
2) Removed the belly and other trim at the front in order to access the starter motor (as per previous posters suggestion) - even though I knew it sat beneath the coolant pipes you never know where you might come across a live/earth opportunity. This didn't yield anything but thanks for the idea previous poster.
3) How did I get in? The driver door! First up, my brother and I had tried numerous attempts to open the door with the key, everything pointed to a faulty locking mechanism. Having failed on 1 and 2, we then circled back on ourselves, used quite a bit more force pulling on the door with the key turned in.... low and behold, it popped open. Relief and frustration.
4) Next step realistically would have been to break one of the windows ensuring the replacement glass is on hand.
5) As a matter of course will be running a jump cable to a concealed exterior point on the cayenne, to ensure if I'm ever faced with a similar situation can get out of the issue.
6) Dashboard is having a fit, errors everywhere, specifically on PASM - my brief research on internet shows low/flat battery causes confusion to the electrical system, normal service will be resumed with a full charge and a short 1 mile trip.
Nick
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