Manual boot release

[Briggy]

For some reason, the battery has gone flat. Finding out why is a separate issue - what I need to know now is how to open the boot, in order to connect some jump leads to the battery.

Does anybody know?

Cheers,
Bryan

[steview]

Connect your jump leads under the bonnet. The connection points are under the cover in the wiper area.

[MikeFish]

The above will work and is the official jump start point, but doesn't the key open the boot when the battery is flat?

[Briggy]

Connect your jump leads under the bonnet. The connection points are under the cover in the wiper area.

Got it. Thanks for that.

Cheers,
Bryan

[Briggy]

The above will work and is the official jump start point, but doesn't the key open the boot when the battery is flat?

The only key hole I can see is on the driver's door.

[Briggy]

What the hell am I doing wrong here guys? Connect positive of my car to positive of other car's battery, then negative of other car's battery to negative of my car. Cue lots of sparks when I make the final connection to my car, but they only last as contact is made. But, the negative terminal continues to glow, so I've disconnected it all as I don't want a fire!

Cheers,
Bryan

[MikeFish]

The above will work and is the official jump start point, but doesn't the key open the boot when the battery is flat?

The only key hole I can see is on the driver's door.

The saloon has a key lock next to the handle that opens the boot near the number plate lights. You can't see it unless you bend down and look up. I imagine the avant is the same.

[MikeFish]

What the hell am I doing wrong here guys? Connect positive of my car to positive of other car's battery, then negative of other car's battery to negative of my car. Cue lots of sparks when I make the final connection to my car, but they only last as contact is made. But, the negative terminal continues to glow, so I've disconnected it all as I don't want a fire!

Cheers,
Bryan

It is not unusual for sparks to be seen as you connect the last connection but they should stop once connected. And no terminal should be glowing, that sounds like there is something wrong with your car drawing a lot of current (possible why your battery went flat). I'd remove your battery and charge it fully then reconnect it and try to find out what is drawing all the current.

[Briggy]

Ok, I know what the problem is. Mr Arse forgot to have a chat with Mr Elbow. Basically, I trusted the polarity shown on the cover in the engine bay and connected the jump leads accordingly. What I didn't know was the the cover was the wrong way up! This resulted in the -ve lead connected to my wife's car turning into melty badness, complete with flames.

Worked this out, connected it again (the right way round) and my RS4 thinks it's back in August 2005, but it's running.

We'll see what the battery does in the morning and take it from there. I can cope with buying a new battery, but not if there's some other cause for it discharging.

Cheers,
Bryan

[MikeFish]

The August 2005 date (or similar) is standard once your battery has been disconnect / gone flat.

[MartayMcFly]

Ok, I know what the problem is. Mr Arse forgot to have a chat with Mr Elbow. Basically, I trusted the polarity shown on the cover in the engine bay and connected the jump leads accordingly. What I didn't know was the the cover was the wrong way up! This resulted in the -ve lead connected to my wife's car turning into melty badness, complete with flames.

Worked this out, connected it again (the right way round) and my RS4 thinks it's back in August 2005, but it's running.

We'll see what the battery does in the morning and take it from there. I can cope with buying a new battery, but not if there's some other cause for it discharging.

Cheers,
Bryan

Lucky you caught that in time, shorting the leads like that can often and quickly result in big fire and total loss for both cars!