Dead battery; can't open my trunk

[smartkey]

Heres the deal My 1998 C280 hasn't been driven for over 6 months.

Back in November I took that battery and had it charged.

Now Yesterday I go to the car and it is dead as a door nail, I want to open the trunk so that I can jump start it but there is not power at all and the trunk solenoid won't pop.

I s there any way I can attach some cable to anything under the hood that will give me enough juice to pop the trunk open?

I don't thing MB even considered this happening because even BMW's have some posts under the hood that you can jump the car with.

Does anyone think that if I get to the Alternator harness the will send power to the battery? Or is there something I am missing I looked in the Owner's manual but it does not help it just talks about opening the trunk and accessing the battery for a jump. Help me please.

[martattack]

Don't the Mercedes with SmartKeys have a metal blade key attached that can open/lock the trunk and glove box?

[MrSpace]

yeah

you take the metal key from your smartkey and open the trunk with it!

Etienne

[Pablo7]

if you cant open it with the key, just plug 12v to the cigarette lighter.
then push the trunk releasebotton

[jnenad16]

Originally posted by Pablo7
if you cant open it with the key, just plug 12v to the cigarette lighter.
then push the trunk releasebotton

that doesnt work all the time, although its one of the better, and safer options. or pop the hood, and jump the battery through the power junction box, its the little black box on your wheelwell on the driver's side. connect the positive terminal to the bigger nut/stud in it, and connect the negative anywhere on the car where its not painted/protected, where ever you can get a clean ground connection such as abs pump, radiator support, any open bolt/nut/stud... you get the point.

nenad

[tinter101]

I find it very ironic that a member named "smartkey" is
locked out of his Benz. Anyone?

I had this happen to me after my first year of storage and my
metal hidden blade key wasn't working in the trunk until
I used some WD40.

Nenad, that's some great info, I never knew that was there.

[SLAMMED_C]

try using the key blade (manual key) in the trunk lock.. put it in the lock.. turn it left or right..cant remember, and press in. if the lock is seized up, try using some sort of wd40 or zep45 (as was recommended)
if this still doesnt work.. again as was recommended, pop the hood, open up the fuse box on the left side of the firewall..
remove a relay (one with a 30 circuit on it)
and put a lead and cable into the 30 circuit position... connect to a power source (another battery, battery booster pack) and connect the ground to soemwhere under the hood, making sure to have a good ground.
then press the button on the remote or put the key in the ignition and turn to position 2 and use the trunk release button.

[smartkey]

Just so you guys know on the 98 and up W202 the trunk lock is not mechanical is merely a switch that activates the solenoid just like the trunk switch inside.

This is why I can't get the trunk open.

Here is another thing to keep in mind if you ever remove the trunk light fuse from its position the trunk lock will not function properly and the car's central locking system will not work correctly.

I know exactly the box that Nenad is talking about I considered that to be a good place to try but I was not sure that is why I asked for any suggestions before in acted upon my notion.

You guy can poke fun at me all you want but I still say it is a little short sighted on Mercedes part to not have a back up plan.

I had a dead battery before and realize this little snag before but the battery had just enough juice to pop the trunk on time.

Thanks for all the suggestions and remember that if you have 97 and up W202 keep an eye on the battery I will let you know how the experiment goes and what I had to do. I have learned alot from other who have shared so I will do the same.

[benzaddict]

It is true that the the lock solenoid is electrical on the 1998-up w202's, but there is a mechanical rod that connects to the tumbler to release it with the key when the battery is dead. If yours isn't releasing with the mechanical key then your rod must have came loose or the plastic cam is broken in the latch/solenoid. Do you really think MB didn't think about a battery going dead?

[tinter101]

Mine is a '98 and I had to use my steel key to gain entry.
Do you have an owners manual? Go look at the button on
the trunk, does it have a key slot? On your key there's a little
button where the ring is that slides over then pull on the ring
and the steel shaft will slide out. You might need WD40 if
you have never used it before.

[smartkey]

I will spray a little WD 40 on the lock and see what happens I tried it a couple of times and the nothing happened?

I did look at the owner's manual before I posted this thread but the bottom line is you guys are helping me with my problem and this is all that matters.

like I said before I will let you know how it goes.

[smartkey]

I got it open with the key after a few spritzes with some WD-40

:D I don't know what to say.

[joeyskates]

Can we still poke fun at you? :p

[smartkey]

Isn't the egg on my face already apparent?

[xvvvz]

>> or pop the hood, and jump the battery through the power junction box, its the little black box on your wheelwell on the driver's side. connect the positive terminal to the bigger nut/stud in it, and connect the negative anywhere on the car where its not painted/protected, where ever you can get a clean ground connection such as abs pump, radiator support, any open bolt/nut/stud... you get the point.<<

Nenad - Is this where you mean? If so, which stud is the one to which you want to connect? They look to be the same size to me.


http://www.betterscanning.com/p/IMG_2165 2_1_1.jpg


http://www.betterscanning.com/p/IMG_2161_2_1.JPG

[Kompressor_Dude]

As ever i'm amazed at the lengths people will go to to help out on this forum, thanks XVVVZ!! :D

If Nenad (or anyone else) could point out which bolt is the positive one it'd be much appreciated!

I just hope my car'll still jump with the negative terminal disconnected?!? .......just need the slightest trickle to get the boot open!!

[jnenad16]

both of those are the same since they are connected, so either one will work. now connect the negative to any bare metal surfaca that is on or connects to the chassis.

nenad

[xvvvz]

Thanks for the confirmation. I kind of figured that was the case but I didn't have a multimeter nearby and knowing my luck I would have fried something if I had just tried it :)

For everyone's future reference (and since you will probably be pissed/aggravated/ready to rip stuff apart because your battery is dead plus it may be dark outside), here are some pictures to help you figure out how to open the cover for this little box.

The box is hinged on the side toward the engine. You have to pry the little tabs outward. There are 4 of them. Two on each end.

Box Closed:

http://www.betterscanning.com/p/IMG_2163_1_1.JPG


Box Opened:

http://www.betterscanning.com/p/IMG_2162_2_1.JPG

[Kompressor_Dude]

Cheers guys, this thread should help a lot of people out in the future, not me though :bored: worked out in my other thread that.......

http://www.club202.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11464

...as my battery's disconnected it wont charge at all, what do you think of my other options?

Edit: I wont posts on the other thread now, thanks for linking it xvvvz!

[xvvvz]

BTW, if you are like me and want to go out and try to see if your key will operate your trunk, remember that the trunk key lock will open and close all your windows AND sunroof just like the side door locks. Not that annnnnnnnyone here would do this but IF one were to put their glasses and digital camera on the sunroof (don't want to scratch the paint!) and then not pay attention while they are back jimmying the lock, the sunroof could open and drop the digital camera and glasses through the roof. Again, not that anyone here has ever literally come within an inch of doing this.:embarr:

[Kompressor_Dude]

Haha!! I can just see that happening!


:banana: i've got access to the boot! thanks to all the pics posted and help from Nenad, xvvvz etc. i jumped the car this morning and got just enough juice to pop the 'trunk'

Maybe my muppetry will become a guide for someone in the future.... who knows!

Cheers guys.

Shaun