Advice sought

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi All

Hardly Model Engineering I guess but, knowing the wealth of knowledge on this site I thought it might be worth an " ask" and perhaps some kind soul can help me solve my problem.

I have a SAAB 93 car 1998 vintage in pretty good nick. It has electric deadlocking on the doors – I parked the car on my drive and deadlocked it (doors and boot lid have electrically operated deadlock) This was last year and since then I have spent a couple of spells in hospital and any car use has been in my wife's motor. When I come to unlock the Saab now though I am unable to do so. I guess that the battery is flat but, in order to charge it, I need to operate the bonnet release – the handle for this is inside the car!

Any suggestions on how to proceed gratefully accepted!

 

Norman

 

Edited By NJH on 01/03/2016 18:38:21

[NJHParticipant @njh]

[Martin WParticipant @martinw]

Norman

I thought that cars with electronics locking systems usually had a mechanical/key operated lock on the driver's door just for this sort of problem. That said I am not familiar with SAAB or many other makes so could be way out.

Hope you resolve it soon.

Martin

PS

Just checked my 04 Toyota and a few other parked cars and with the exception of a large Ford all seem to have the mechanical override lock.

Edited By Martin W on 01/03/2016 18:49:58

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Do you have a trailer socket (white type)…if so trickle charge though that

[Ian ParkinParticipant @ianparkin39383]

Do you have a towbar? and electric hook up? I pumped juice into my towing socket when the battery was complety flat on a mercedes

[frank brownParticipant @frankbrown22225]

Are you sure that the drivers door lock can not be opened with a key or there is some hidden "emergency" key slot behind a plastic moulding (like on my Passat)?

Frank

[alan-lloydParticipant @alan-lloyd]

I had an old t v r years ago, and if this happened as it often did back then, you took off the rear number plate and flicked a lever to open the boot, then sort of hidden right up high on the right side was a lever witch you pulled and it opened the doors and set the alarm off, anyway good luck. if your in a recovery service they will open it for you, also try a saab owners club web site

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

If there are no accessible exterior cables (trailer lighting etc.) you may be able to get a battery charger connected to the starter wire and engine ground/earth, from under the car. If you can reach the starter solenoid wire lug even better. Good luck, JD

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Norman,

This is worth a read

**LINK**

… Sounds a bit nerve-wracking.

MichaelG.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

You need to find a retired car-thief.

Reminds me of a car they found in Barry Dock many years ago.

There was the body of a doctor in it. They worked out that water pressure would have kept the doors shut and the electric windows wouldn't have opened because the salt water shorted everything out…

Hope I haven't spoilt your evening.

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

Car road service mechanics have equipment which can break into cars without doing any damage.

[Ed DuffnerParticipant @edduffner79357]

Hi Norman,

I drive a 1999 SAAB 9-5 and the key is insertable in the driver's door as Martin W suggested.

Regards,
Ed.

[Cyril BonnettParticipant @cyrilbonnett24790]

Have a read

**LINK**

[Gordon Brown 1Participant @gordonbrown1]

Some years ago I worked for a local authority and we received a complaint of the car alarm on, I think, a 7 series BMW continually going off in the main street of a very posh seaside town. We eventually established that the car had been parked while the owner had gone on a yachting expedition in the North Sea and he wasn't due back for 2 weeks. BMW advised us it was essentially impossible to get into the car without causing a staggering amount of damage and that battery would keep the alarm going for many days. Several local experts investigated various possibilities all to no avail. Eventually we had to get the car lifted onto a low loader and deposited it in a remote barn. Piling straw bales around it muffled the noise sufficiently to avoid more problems. Needless to say the owner was less than pleased to be presented with the bill for all this when he eventually returned but I gather BMW coughed up to avoid adverse publicity.

[D.A.GodleyParticipant @d-a-godley]

Norman,

Is it a fob operated key lock? , in which case is the fob battery dead .

Many fob operated locking systems are overcome because the manufacturers fit a mechanical override, this is placed under a removable cover on the door handle / lock fitting , and often it will be on the passenger door, Bentleys used to fit the to the boot lock so that you could open the boot and have access to the battery.

Most Recovery agencies carry a ballon kit which is placed in between the door and roof to hold it open whilst putting a rod in to flick the manual door opener, are you a member of the RAC , or do you have a family member who can be with you. It's the person who is the member, not the vehicle.

Hope these thoughts will stimulate some approach to resolving your problem.

Regards.

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Posted by Gordon Brown 1 on 01/03/2016 22:22:02:

….BMW advised us it was essentially impossible to get into the car without causing a staggering amount of damage and that battery would keep the alarm going for many days.

….I gather BMW coughed up to avoid adverse publicity.

Rather good publicity I should have thought.

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Just stick a brick through the front windscreen & claim a new one on the insurance policy

(Wind screen that is – not brick)

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

Insurance fraud!

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Posted by Sam Longley 1 on 02/03/2016 05:22:45:

Just stick a brick through the front windscreen & claim a new one on the insurance policy

(Wind screen that is – not brick)

And pay the compulsory excess??

 

Edited By Robbo on 02/03/2016 09:14:39

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

I drive a Renault Megane, and there is a manual lock on the passenger side door, actuated by a key cunningly concealed in the "keyless" locking thingy. As most foreign-built cars destined for the European market are left-hand drive, it's the obvious side to have the manual lock. I don't wish to insult your intelligence, NJH, but have you been looking for a hard-to-find manual lock on the wrong side?

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

So lets get this straight, SAAB have produced a car that if it had an accident, and the battery got smashed, then you would be "imprisoned" from the emergency services – Doesn't sound right to me. I guess they would just cut the roof off !!
My cousins old Vauxhall van had an "accident detector" just inside the front bumper (Inertia switch ?). When he was locked out, the AA came and thumped the front bumper with rubber mallet and all the locks sprung open. If you could find the 'inertia switch", connect a battery to that perhaps, but I bet it is well hidden.
BobH

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

So lets get this straight, SAAB have produced a car that if it had an accident, and the battery got smashed, then you would be "imprisoned" from the emergency services – Doesn't sound right to me. I guess they would just cut the roof off !!

My cousins old Vauxhall van had an "accident detector" just inside the front bumper (Inertia switch ?). When he was locked out, the AA came and thumped the front bumper with rubber mallet and all the locks sprung open. If you could find the 'inertia switch", connect a battery to that perhaps, but I bet it is well hidden.
BobH

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Or follow this link and take the sump guard off.

**LINK**

BobH

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

Is there anything in this link that might help?

https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090415040838AAvgtYC

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Thanks for all the suggestions (useful and otherwise!) The key is not an electronic thingy. To lock the door the key is turned ( a bit ) once and a second similar operation deadlocks the doors. I'm in the "deadlock" condition. I guess the brick through the windscreen would work but I think my course will be to call my breakdown service (with home start ) That is, after all, what I want them to do!

I've had this car from new and it is a dream to drive ( although not to fill up! ) – comfortable, quiet and with some umph. About 100K on the clock and a book price that might buy me lego car kit !

Family here today but I will progress things later in the week and let you know how the situation develops.

In the meantime I'm dependant on my wife for transport ( and, she would probably say, everything else too!)

Regards

Norman

[Author]

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