Locked out with a dead battery

[McF]

Afternoon all,

Mate of mine has an S6 and has just called to ask for help.

He has bought the car about two weeks ago. Today, after leaving it for a week while working away, he has come back and found battery is dead and there is not enough juice to unlock the car to get to the boot.
I told him to try the key in the lock but apparently all it does is turn side to side but doesn't unlock the doors.
There is no key hole in the boot to access the battery either.

I am stumped now, so can't help further. Anyone got any advice? My only answer now is to break a window to get in and open boot but that's a bit drastic.

Kev

[Jay_g]

Can't you break the grill to get to the cable to pop the bonnet? I've done it on older cars, not entirely sure it's possible on this platform .

Failing that, does he have AA/RAC cover? Normally they can get in.

[pDkALO]

It must be a really knackered battery for it to have gone completely, as the cars have a low power management system that shuts down circuits as power levels drop (remote locking will go off). But even with a dead battery the driver's door should unlock with the key (can't remember if it needs to be turned to right or left, but try both) - then pop the bonnet and charge the battery off the terminals at the back of the engine bay in front of the bulkhead - there's no need to physically access the battery to charge it. Not sure if you meant S6 or RS6 but assume they're similar layouts.

[McF]

Definitely an S6 but I posted it here automatically as I have an RS...lol..


Opening the bonnet is not an option as the battery is in the boot. I have told him to wait a while and then try the remote again and if he can get a door open, fold seats down and then he will have to run the charger cables through there.

If this doesn't work, I am stumped...

[pDkALO]

Yes the battery may be in the boot, but the charging points are under the bonnet, as I mentioned in last post

[McF]

Ahh got you. If he can't get the doors to unlock that that will have to be the option he has to take.

[pDkALO]

As I say, be surprised if the driver's door won't release with the key in the drivers door lock - if battery is properly dead then central locking won't work on other doors of course

[kent_andy]

The key will open the door, it's normally turn right and hold it. Fiddly but it should open. Tell him to keep trying

[skirs6]

I had this happen to mine a while back. The drivers door did open with the key then opened bonnet and charged battery. Had to buy a new battery it was fooked

[McF]

Spoke to Tim this morning. He left it over night and apparently there was enough charge to just open the doors but not the boot? He dropped the seats and then has stuck a charger on the battery to charge while he is at work.

Cheers for the input guys.

[TomRS]

It has charging ports under the bonnet.... near the strut tower why would you go to all the effort of dropping the seats and trying to remove your boot floor when all you needed to do was open the bonnet once in the car?

[pDkALO]

why would you go to all the effort of dropping the seats and trying to remove your boot floor when all you needed to do was open the bonnet once in the car?

More to the point, why ignore what it clearly says in the manual, that you should only charge via the under bonnet terminals? no doubt by connecting a charger directly to the battery the onboard electrical systems are then subjected to the unregulated output from the charger

Still, I guess it's the OP's mate's call if he wants to risk frying his car's electrics...

[TomRS]

why would you go to all the effort of dropping the seats and trying to remove your boot floor when all you needed to do was open the bonnet once in the car?

More to the point, why ignore what it clearly says in the manual, that you should only charge via the under bonnet terminals? no doubt by connecting a charger directly to the battery the onboard electrical systems are then subjected to the unregulated output from the charger

Still, I guess it's the OP's mate's call if he wants to risk frying his car's electrics...

I was going to mention this but didnt know if it was a specific to the RS, but yes i recall reading that, it's either for component protection or to avoid melting the regulator itself due to it being directly connected as apposed to controlled through the charge line.

[McF]

Its his car and I did mention he should check the manual. I also directed him to sign up on here when he got the car.

His loss I guess.

[TomRS]

Its his car and I did mention he should check the manual. I also directed him to sign up on here when he got the car.

His loss I guess.

Wasnt a dig at you, just dont understand the logic of some peoples minds... haha