Dead Battery, trunk locked

[DanW]

Steve et. al.: In the process of prepping my L for resale, donation, etc. I tried to open the trunk using the dash button. Not suprsingly, the solenoid didn't "kick" as the car has been sitting for a month or so and driven very sparingly over the last 4 months.

To add insult to injury, the master key broke over a year ago and I have been using the velet key only. So, I can't unlock the trunk with the key.

Finally, I tried to fit my long jumper cables onto the positive lead located on the false fire wall. No dice, I can't even get the clips to fit into the space. Too tight.

I also tried a portable jumper battery but had the same fit problem.

Is there an emergency trunk latch release inside the trunk itself? I saw no mention of it in the owners manual.

Any other ideas?

[jontg428]

The valet key can be made into a master key by grinding it down to be thinner. There is a post on this with pictures somewhere, which would help, as I cannot give you anymore details. Best of luck,
Jon

[fetta78]

I've opened mine from the false firewall lead..........are you sure you have a good ground?
Can you have someone in the car pressing the trunk button while you hold the cable on there?

Just a thought..........

Oh, and here is a pic of the Positive lead for the those that may not know where it is.
Tucked behind the big fuse on the drivers side!!


.

[sjmst]

Yes, and check your fuse for the radiator fan after using the firewall jumping method. My cars always had burnt fuses after doing this way.

[DanW]

Thanks for the tips. Like I said, connecting to the positive fire wall terminal is futile. I''ll try to simply hold the positive in place and pop the trunk. Then I'll connect to the battery directly.

-Dan

[Alfisto Steve]

Your 164 doesn't want to go. Selling or donation no wonder you can't open trunk as it has a mind of its own.

Just file down inner sides of valet key until it fits trunk lock.

Drive it once in a while once you get battery up to snuff.

As for frontal lobe terminal if your battery RED jumper terminal cable connector is that big remove both front cooling fan fuse holder and rear blower motor fuse holder from terninal board and rubber strip on top of false firewall and grip both sides of teminal lugs without touching metal in false firewall.

Attach black ground cable to engine.

There is no emergency cable to pull to open trunk.

[Alfisto Steve]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjmst Yes, and check your fuse for the radiator fan after using the firewall jumping method. My cars always had burnt fuses after doing this way.

[cmbenedict]

Sort of embarrassed to suggest but I am not as mechanically knowledgeable - just learning Alfas. How about getting one of those battery jumpers that go through cig lighter (no laughing pls). As you only need enough juice to fire the lock may save you the need to grind your valet or risk jumping and burning fuses. May be worth a try.

[DanW]

Good idea, cm. I picked up a battery charger/jumper with variable amp settings. The charger's clips are small enough to connect, so I will try at the false firewall with minimal power, just enough to pop the trunk. I can then trickle to the battery directly.

[DanW]

Thanks to all. I got the trunk popped with the charger set on 3 amps. Funny thing was that both front seat motors began running, both forward and up, and they would not stop until I reconnected the charger to the battery at 10 amps.

After about 5 minutes, I tried to start but no dice. I swapped to my high current jumper cables directly hooked up to my other car. Grrrr....vrooooooom with a belch of smoke. Good enough for me.

I hate to see the car go, but go it must. Too bad I won't be driving it in tomorrow's Ferrari club blast through the Berkshires, but I'll be sharing a Porsche Caymen and a super-duper Subi just the same.

Thanks again, everyone.

-Da

[Tetteh]

Somebody save that 164L, please!!!!!!!