Locked out of VT

[VT Calais 5.0]

My friend has a VT wagon, his battery is dead flat. He tells me because his battery is flat his lock will not even open with the key. 1) is this a possible side-effect of a flat battery 2) if it is, could anyone tell me how to get into it without causing any damage so i can let him know? Thanks in advance for any advice.

[jacko]

I'm assuming you're saying the car battery rather than the key battery? You should be able to open the lock with the key itself, even if the car or key has a flat battery. Unless it's deadlocked, and I'm not sure what happens there.

[VT Calais 5.0]

Yeah, i did mean the car battery, shoulda been clear. And i can only assume he's deadlocked it. Even so i thought it could be opened without power, but he tells me it won't.

[Gravy]

theres a thread with some similar problems relating to key battery and deadlocking.

VT 99 Olympic

How does he know the battery in the car is dead if he cant get into it?

I assume that it was sluggish to turn over the last time he tried to start it?

Does he have a spare key to try out?

Can he open the rear hatch with the key?

Cheers,

Graham

[VT Calais 5.0]

Thanks for the link, in answer to your questions, don't know. I will have to ask. Thanks.

[HIdb]

My mate had the same problem he opened the bonnet some how and put the jumper battery on and unlocked it.

[Lexx]

I'd say read the owners manual, but it's probably in the glove box!!
Try getting the key, put it in the door lock, lift the handle as if trying to open the door ( keep it lifted ) and turn the key ( I can't remember if it's clockwise or anti-clockwise ) repeatedly. Each time you turn the key the lock should move up a little until the lock is fully open.
Have fun -

[Doctor Bob]

put the key in the doorlock and unlock it, even if its deadlocked there is a mechanincal override, the button does not pop but the door is unlocked, you will have to force the lock a bit ok ,it feels like it breaks but the owners book describes how to "reset" it once you get in

Rob

[Gravy]

interesting... could anyone describe the "reset" process that the manual mentioned for all of us that dont have a owners manual.

Cheers,

Graham

[Doctor Bob]

"DEADLOCK
The deadlocking feature applies to all four doors, but not to the luggage compartment lid or tailgate.
After the deadlocking feature device has been engaged, unlocking is possible at the driver’s door from outside, by
inserting the key into the driver’s door lock cylinder and turning the key to the unlock position or activating the unlock
button on the remote key unlocks the deadlocks on all doors, but only unlocks the driver’s door (providing two stage
unlocking is enabled).
To ensure access to the vehicle if the electrical system should fail (discharged battery), after the system has been
engaged, the driver’s door lock cylinder can be moved independently of the actuator and therefore allowing
unlocking of the driver’s door latch."
To reset after opening it turn the key back to the lock position.

Rob

[sparkymac]

I had same thing with my VT. I opened the boot and removed the boot light lamp. I then used jumper leads to back feed the electrical system and then used the button to unlock the car.

[stevegunn]

I had same thing with my VT. I opened the boot and removed the boot light lamp. I then used jumper leads to back feed the electrical system and then used the button to unlock the car.

WTF? :my: Please explain

[Lexx]

Power has to come from your battery to light up your stop lights, right?
Having said this, there must be a connection that runs from your stop light to your battery.
If this is the case, you can use this connection ( or wires ) to run power to the battery ( or "back feed the electrical system" ) without having to directly connect to it.
This puts enough power into your electrical system, via another source as the battery is flat, to unlock the car.
But don't try this at home unless you know what you're doing. Put power into the wrong spot and you'll end up with a BBQ

[vlv8vic]

true as lexx said... also only use this to get the car open. dont even consider leaving the leads on there to try and jump start the car. it wont work for starters because the little wires wont power fast enough, and as they try to power that fast youll end up with a bbq (to quote lexx)

[dlucre]

I agree. Bad idea to try to start it, but I have heard of people getting access to the lights, and sending enough power to the electrical system to get in to the car. Obviously, don't leave it for too long as the wires are not designed for that amount of power for an extended amount of time!

[clubbie_50]

My girls vt II calais when I changed alternator I locked the car with remote then while I still had bonnet open I Removed the battery and alternator, I did it that way so it was dead locked.
Anyway the next day when I got the parts I went to open it and it
did not turn, i started to panic thinking ohhh siht when I kept trying it half turned it felt jammed but as i did it i was trying to lift the handle at the same time. Good Luck