Battery dead, cant get in, help!!!!
Discussion
Posting on behalf of my father:
MG ZS 1.8, having been left sitting for a while the battery has died, no surprise. However he has now found out why the car was only sold with only one key, it appears that the previous owner has managed to snap the key in the lock!!!!!!!!! And her comes the problem; how to unlock the car to charge the battery?
Does anyone know how to enter the car / pop the bonnet or provide enough power to the battery to unlock the car using the key fob??
MG ZS 1.8, having been left sitting for a while the battery has died, no surprise. However he has now found out why the car was only sold with only one key, it appears that the previous owner has managed to snap the key in the lock!!!!!!!!! And her comes the problem; how to unlock the car to charge the battery?
Does anyone know how to enter the car / pop the bonnet or provide enough power to the battery to unlock the car using the key fob??
The car thieves use a screwdriver in the lock and force it round. You will need a new lock but it does get you in. Once in charging the battery is easy. You may be able to trip the bonnet lock by addressing this from below. Again this gives you access to the battery. That may be less damaging.
On balance I think the bonnet is probably the weakest and least damaging. Good luck.
On balance I think the bonnet is probably the weakest and least damaging. Good luck.
The AA may be able to help.
Don't go fekkin around with a screwdriver unless you don't mind a potentially huge bill.
When Joe Teeleef gets his screwdriver into the lock he often damages the door skin and the lock innards too, in collateral damage. Not anything he cares about.
Don't break glass either. It goes all over inside the car and may never come out completely If it stays rattling inside the door skin it may also encourage rusting by removing waxy deposits.
Don't go fekkin around with a screwdriver unless you don't mind a potentially huge bill.
When Joe Teeleef gets his screwdriver into the lock he often damages the door skin and the lock innards too, in collateral damage. Not anything he cares about.
Don't break glass either. It goes all over inside the car and may never come out completely If it stays rattling inside the door skin it may also encourage rusting by removing waxy deposits.
If it's a saloon that boot lock release will not be an available option. If nothing less damaging opens the car, I would be tempted to cover the glass with strong sticky paper all over in one of the rear doors, break it and get in that way.
I did this on a Rover 45 saloon ( same body shell ) and a replacement glass cost me all of £6 from a local breaker yard on a "remove it yourself" basis. Better still, break the much smaller "1/4" light in a rear door frame. More work replacing that but again cheap as chips from a donor car in a breaker yard. Took me a leisurely hour to replace that or the window glass.
Oh yes, once in the car, remove the driver's door card to access the broken key and with luck and a thin screwdriver, you may be able to push it out a little from inside sufficiently to grip it with pliers and pull it all the way out. Did that successfully on an earlier rover and maybe that trick will work with your car.
I did this on a Rover 45 saloon ( same body shell ) and a replacement glass cost me all of £6 from a local breaker yard on a "remove it yourself" basis. Better still, break the much smaller "1/4" light in a rear door frame. More work replacing that but again cheap as chips from a donor car in a breaker yard. Took me a leisurely hour to replace that or the window glass.
Oh yes, once in the car, remove the driver's door card to access the broken key and with luck and a thin screwdriver, you may be able to push it out a little from inside sufficiently to grip it with pliers and pull it all the way out. Did that successfully on an earlier rover and maybe that trick will work with your car.
ExplosiveTrail said:
Thanks for all the thoughts, it is a hatch but boot release is from inside also. Its the AA to get this one sorted I think.
My ZS Hatch has a Key Operated Boot release in addition to the lever in the driver's side of the car.pistol pete said:
I'm trying to figure out if you could apply power to the starter motor feed from underneath then unlock with the remote? You might need to remove the under tray.
I assume its not a hatch, or you would get in through the boot.
That could work but you'd need good under car access and a second helper to operate the remote fob.I assume its not a hatch, or you would get in through the boot.
Edited by MGJohn on Tuesday 18th December 22:38
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