Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

Trying to get in to do the cam cover gaskets and the battery is flat as can be. Jacked front end but seems no way to manually pull the bonnet cable?
 Understand I can connect a charger to starter motor positive and an earth - will a trickle charger work? Also have old battery on charge to try jump leads... any other suggestions chaps?

[RobG]

Key in door and unlock. When key meets resistance, force it past and door should unlock but doorpin may not pop up

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

Tried that first - key is now in two pieces!

Currently have undone the positive starter connectionand connected to spare battery, earth lead to engine block...

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

Success! Removed starter positive connection,  cleaned ut up with emery cloth, connected spare battery via jump lead.
 Earthed through bellhousing bolt, gave it a minute and then got straight in.

Now to replace the key... 

[terry paget]

Congratulations! That prospect has always worried me. I have tried forcing the key on my 2003 3.2, but never succeeded in opening the door. Moral is never leave the car locked for too long.

[Nick W]

Success! Removed starter positive connection,  cleaned ut up with emery cloth, connected spare battery via jump lead.
 Earthed through bellhousing bolt, gave it a minute and then got straight in.

Now to replace the key... 

Roadside method to achieve the same thing: Wrap one of the lockoutkit tools(or a metal coathanger) in insulating tape, leaving a small amount of bare metal at each end. Bend the tool so that it reaches the starter stud. Connect the positive lead of your booster to the tool, and the negative to a decent earth on the car. Get the customer to turn the booster on and then unlock the car using the remote and open the door - you don't have enough hands to do all these simultaneously. Turn the booster off, crawl out from under the car and jumpstart as normal. Many car door locks are seized solid as they're rarely used, and only having one is a reduces your chances of getting in!

[terry paget]

Success! Removed starter positive connection,  cleaned ut up with emery cloth, connected spare battery via jump lead.
 Earthed through bellhousing bolt, gave it a minute and then got straight in.

Now to replace the key... 

Roadside method to achieve the same thing: Wrap one of the lockoutkit tools(or a metal coathanger) in insulating tape, leaving a small amount of bare metal at each end. Bend the tool so that it reaches the starter stud. Connect the positive lead of your booster to the tool, and the negative to a decent earth on the car. Get the customer to turn the booster on and then unlock the car using the remote and open the door - you don't have enough hands to do all these simultaneously. Turn the booster off, crawl out from under the car and jumpstart as normal. Many car door locks are seized solid as they're rarely used, and only having one is a reduces your chances of getting in!

Thanks Nick. That sounds simpler and safer. I am sure one day that tip will come in handy.

[zirk]

Success! Removed starter positive connection,  cleaned ut up with emery cloth, connected spare battery via jump lead.
 Earthed through bellhousing bolt, gave it a minute and then got straight in.

Now to replace the key... 

Roadside method to achieve the same thing: Wrap one of the lockoutkit tools(or a metal coathanger) in insulating tape, leaving a small amount of bare metal at each end. Bend the tool so that it reaches the starter stud. Connect the positive lead of your booster to the tool, and the negative to a decent earth on the car. Get the customer to turn the booster on and then unlock the car using the remote and open the door - you don't have enough hands to do all these simultaneously. Turn the booster off, crawl out from under the car and jumpstart as normal. Many car door locks are seized solid as they're rarely used, and only having one is a reduces your chances of getting in!

Or you could use a welding rod and do a bit of patching up while you down there. 

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

Genius idea that Nick!

[Andy B]

Just use & lube the locks every now & then 

[STEMO]

Just use & lube the locks every now & then 

Or use the key in the lock now and again.

[Nick W]

Just use & lube the locks every now & then 

Or use the key in the lock now and again.

That's probably enough, as you should be very careful what you lubricate a lock with. Grease or oil attracts dirt which quickly becomes grinding paste, gets very sticky and makes the key dirty. Graphite powder is the traditional thing, although I wonder if modern dry teflon lubricant is a good replacement.

[Andy B]

Just use & lube the locks every now & then 

Or use the key in the lock now and again.

That's probably enough, as you should be very careful what you lubricate a lock with. Grease or oil attracts dirt which quickly becomes grinding paste, gets very sticky and makes the key dirty. Graphite powder is the traditional thing, although I wonder if modern dry teflon lubricant is a good replacement.

While I can agree with the use of graphite, all locks I've ever opened have had grease of some kind in there already .... presumably factory fitted

[Bigron]

I've just bought an aerosol of WD40 dry (PTFE) lubricant from Wickes and after reading this thread, I'll give it a try on my lock, because I know it was very stiff the last time I had to use the key, but didn't want to use oil on it.
I think it might be best to spray the key and lubricate the lock that way rather than a full-bodied spray into the lock - yes?

Ron.

[Andy B]

I've just bought an aerosol of WD40 dry (PTFE) lubricant from Wickes and after reading this thread, I'll give it a try on my lock, because I know it was very stiff the last time I had to use the key, but didn't want to use oil on it.
I think it might be best to spray the key and lubricate the lock that way rather than a full-bodied spray into the lock - yes?

Ron.

I'd poke the straw into the lock & blast it