996 bonnet pull

[iaiin]

Had flat battrey on my 1999 c4, had trouble pulling bonnet, was fine then jammed up, reading on forum i see some are electric? is this why? bit confused as seemed to have to lever up pull unit & managed to get cable pull? is something broke or is it because flat battery?

[fioran0]

Early cars with the pull handle have a solenoid in the handle mechanism that locks the trunk handle when the car is locked.
If your battery ran out while the car was locked then entering using the key will have meant the solenoid will still be locking the handle despite door lock opening.
If you managed to pull it open with this being the case then its likely the locking mechanism will now be preventing the handle returning.
You might have luck getting it to withdraw by cycling the locks once you have full battery charge.

Of course if the car wasn't locked then this all shouldn't apply.

[reedman]

If your battery is totally flat only 2 options. Charge via cigarette lighter or put your hand under the front wing plastic guard. Cable grab hold and pull. This feels like its not going to work but it will.

Good luck.
JR

[iaiin]

fioran0 said:

Early cars with the pull handle have a solenoid in the handle mechanism that locks the trunk handle when the car is locked.
If your battery ran out while the car was locked then entering using the key will have meant the solenoid will still be locking the handle despite door lock opening.
If you managed to pull it open with this being the case then its likely the locking mechanism will now be preventing the handle returning.
You might have luck getting it to withdraw by cycling the locks once you have full battery charge.

Of course if the car wasn't locked then this all shouldn't apply.

Many thanks, just got car & sorting out niggles... will get one of the opti chargers so battery wont go flat...

[iaiin]

reedman said:

If your battery is totally flat only 2 options. Charge via cigarette lighter or put your hand under the front wing plastic guard. Cable grab hold and pull. This feels like its not going to work but it will.

Good luck.
JR

thanks for reply, i wont let this happen again for sure..........

[iaiin]

Why do the batteries go flat so quick on these cars? mine has no faults but 2 weeks on new battry flat again?

[supermono]

iaiin said:

Why do the batteries go flat so quick on these cars? mine has no faults but 2 weeks on new battry flat again?

I guess the engineers took "every day supercar" too literally when they designed a massive 0.2A (I estimate) sleep draw.

SM

[Lgeni1664]

reedman said:

If your battery is totally flat only 2 options. Charge via cigarette lighter or put your hand under the front wing plastic guard. Cable grab hold and pull. This feels like its not going to work but it will.

Good luck.
JR

Which side?

[Richard Hamilton]

Lgeni1664 said:

reedman said:

If your battery is totally flat only 2 options. Charge via cigarette lighter or put your hand under the front wing plastic guard. Cable grab hold and pull. This feels like its not going to work but it will.

Good luck.
JR

Which side?

If you have mechanical release levers it is on the left hand (near) side, or if they are electric releases then the cable is on the right hand (driver's) side.