Opening the Hood After a Year Off the Road

[joesan]

I have a 2001 RHD UK Boxster. It's been off the road for about the year and I had removed the battery from the front of the car. The problem is that I absent-mindedly closed the hood and now can't get in to put the battery back.

Since I can get in to the passenger cab I tried charging the battery and then connecting it to the terminals outlined in the manual i.e. one lead on the connection at the fusebox and the other on body of the car (I used the door look hoop on the body). Then I flicked the Hood open button. Nothing. I wondered if this was related to something relating to the alarm system since I hadn't used the car for a year?

Anyway any other options to open the Hood? I've heard that there is a manual cable you can pull but I'd rather exhaust the battery options first. If nothing else works with the battery I'm up for trying the cable if someone can give me some pointers?

[phillipj]

Do a search hear on "emergency hood release cable" It's underneath your right front wheel liner near the headlight (on U.S.cars)

Will your engine compartment open? If it will there is a positive terminal (location should be in your manual under "jump starting") You can hook up a jump battery or charger to that terminal and ground to the body. That will give will give you enough juice to pop your trunk to get to your battery.

If your rear lid is locked as well the cable release is underneath your rear drivers side taillight (on U.S. cars). You can use a piece of wire or a long paper clip. Bend a "hook end" and fish around for it. You can lift the taillight up a bit with your hand to make the gap larger. Use a flashlight to illuminate the inside and you may be able to spot the wire. The use the snare you created to grab it. This cable will pop the engine compartment.

Maybe someone else here can clarify the location with a Euro spec car.

I did this with my 996 popped my trunk.

Success

Phillipj

Edited March 6, 2009 by phillipj

[Loren]

Do a search hear on "emergency hood release cable" It's underneath your right front wheel liner near the headlight

Will your engine compartment open? If it will there is a positive terminal (location should be in your manual under "jump starting") You can hook up a jump battery or charger to that terminal and ground to the body. That will give will give you enough juice to pop your trunk to get to your battery.

If your rear lid is locked as well the cable release is underneath your rear taillight. You can use a piece of wire or a long paper clip. Bend a "hook end" and fish around for it. You can lift the taillight up a bit with your hand to make the gap larger. Use a flashlight to illuminate the inside and you may be able to spot the wire. The use the snare you created to grab it. This cable will pop the engine compartment.

I did this with my 996 popped my trunk.

Success

Phillipj

I think that the emergency release cable maybe on the other side of the car for UK (PHD) cars.

[phillipj]

Do a search hear on "emergency hood release cable" It's underneath your right front wheel liner near the headlight

Will your engine compartment open? If it will there is a positive terminal (location should be in your manual under "jump starting") You can hook up a jump battery or charger to that terminal and ground to the body. That will give will give you enough juice to pop your trunk to get to your battery.

If your rear lid is locked as well the cable release is underneath your rear taillight. You can use a piece of wire or a long paper clip. Bend a "hook end" and fish around for it. You can lift the taillight up a bit with your hand to make the gap larger. Use a flashlight to illuminate the inside and you may be able to spot the wire. The use the snare you created to grab it. This cable will pop the engine compartment.

I did this with my 996 popped my trunk.

Success

Phillipj

I think that the emergency release cable maybe on the other side of the car for UK (PHD) cars.

I just thought of that and edited my post. Thanks Loren

[joesan]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, Guys.

As mentioned in the post I can get into the car itself but when I tried connecting the battery to the terminal and the car body the electrical release still didn't operate. I was wondering if this was alarm related since I haven't fired the car up for a year.

So if I have to go the manual front hood release (we call it the bonnet in the UK) - do I need to remove the Left or the Right wheel liner? The car is RHD.

[Loren]

I don't think it is alarm related but you can reset the alarm by locking the door with the mechanical key and then unlocking it with the mechanical key.

[joesan]

Thanks Guys - Can you clarify if the cable is on the Left Hand Side of RHD cars i.e. the cable is on the opposite side to the Driver?

No biggie but will save me removing two wheel liners...

[RFM]

I'm not 100% sure but i think since the car is equipped with a electric front and rear hood lock/unlock system, the emergency cable is located on the same place as the LHD (right front wheel well) due a indirect connection button/lock (electric system). Why not use a cigarette lighter adaptor and a spare car battery, you can do everything you want, power enough.

[joesan]

I'm not 100% sure but i think since the car is equipped with a electric front and rear hood lock/unlock system, the emergency cable is located on the same place as the LHD (right front wheel well) due a indirect connection button/lock (electric system). Why not use a cigarette lighter adaptor and a spare car battery, you can do everything you want, power enough.

Thanks for the reply, RFM. I've already tried to connect the battery and electronically operate it as per the manual but absolutely nothing happens when I activate the switch. It's a strange one...

[joesan]

Thanks to the advice of everyone here I managed to get the hood open. Thanks guys. RennTech Forums rock...

For those people with a RHD car I can confirm that the release cable runs around from the front to the drivers side (RH). I found that easiest way to access the cable is this -

Look under the car at the front. There are two small holes in the bumper on the underside. They are positioned symetrically on the Left and the Right. There is a further large hole further of to the drivers side (on the LHS as you face the car from the outside). This hole is just about large enough to push your hand and forearm up, reach right up as if you are trying to reach the bonnet latch from inside the bumper. Keep reaching and you will feel a smallish guage wire, one light tug on this and the bonnet magically releases!

I've connected up the battery, and locked unlocked the doors a few times using the key fob. Is there any best practice I should use in restarting the car after it hasn't been used for some months? I've turned the ignition on quickly a couple of times and and it is not quite starting the engine (but nearly there). Does it help to pump the accelerator a little while turning the ignition or are there any other tricks I need to know?

[atta]

Just fired up my car after a couple of months in storage. I had to jumpstart using my other car as my portable booster did not have the required power. A lot of smoke when started, but ran fine. Make sure you drive the car for 30 min or so to get all the condensation out of it.

For future reference. Yes, the alarm blocks the button from working. After connecting battery to the fusebox you need to close the door latch (using a screwdriver) and unlock it with the key to enable the hood open button. (At least that is how it works on my 99, but I have a handle and not a button)

Atle

[eganar]

Thanks all, I have a 2004 RHD and putting your hand up the hole (2nd one from Left as you look at the front of the car) worked for me. I'm an average build and had to really push my arm all the way to the top (almost to 2/3 of my bicep). Worked a treat!

My issue was that the car wouldn't unlock manually and think I'll have to get the manual lock linkage replaced, once I replaced the battery I was able to open the drivers side door with the key.

The porsche dealer I rang suggested;

1. Break a window and unlock from the inside; OR

2. Tow the car (even though it was in gear and hand brake on)

Has anyone else had an issue with unlocking the car with the key i.e. without using the remote function?

thanks.