How do I open the hood on my 1999 996 if the battery's dead?

I'm concerned that I won't be able to open the hood in the event of a dead battery. Apparently, on Gen 2 cars, Porsche addressed this issue. I'm wondering if my battery charger installed through the cigarette lighter would allow me to open the hood?

1999 cars have a manual cable pull... non-issue.

So to answer your question, basically yes, any way you can add power to the car it will allow you to pop it so if you have a jump box you can plug into the cigarette lighter that will work. The later cars do have a pull out in the fuse box that allow you to connect a jump box directly to it for power, then i usually ground it on the door hinge. As DGI said your 99 should have an emergency pull cable which is a pain in the *** to get to. If I recall correctly there are 4 openings on the bottom side of the from bumper and the easiest to grab it from is the Left-center one. Reach up the hole to about elbow height and you should be able to find it with your hand although may be easier to jack it up and put eyes on it first so you know what you are dealing with. Give it a tug and towards the passenger side (I Think) and that should open it up. Been a while since i've had to do it on an older one so anyone can feel free to correct me, but that should get you pretty close.

The main hood and bonnet pulls are cable on the 99... battery or not, they work unless they snap.

Thank you for responding, that really uncomplicates things. I'll get a flashlight and find the manual pull release. I have a plug into lighter charger, but my batteries usually die in a parking lot...

I just replaced the battery in my 99. Not only does the frunk have a manual pull cable, but you can also unlock and open the door with...wait for it...the key. Haha, old school! 99s rule!

For model year 2000, even though the frunk has a manual pull cable, a battery is required to open it. I wasn't aware of that until I checked the manual. The engine lid can be opened without a battery, so you can put cables on the jump points. Are you sure that 99's work differently?

Quotes source post: 15597424

Im not sure how that contradiction works, but the '99 (my 99 at least) has a manual hood/frunk release and the battery is not required as its on a cable. I have opened my frunk with the battery disconnected. Either the op is joking or needs more clarification. On a 99 you don't need to fish out any hidden wires just reach down beside the seat and open it. If your battery dies no problem.

Quotes source post: 15597820

+1 The frunk/engine lid pulls are cable operated not electric on the �98 and �99. No battery required.

Quotes source post: 15597820

wyovino is correct, at least in my experience with the 2000. On the 2000 (I can�t speak for other years), which is still cable operated release, there is a solenoid actuated tab and slot that locks the lever on the door sill in the closed position. With a dead battery there isn�t an easy way to release the locked down latch. Some people are able to undo the locking tab with a small tool, but I�ve never tried that - having had that assembly apart, I can confirm that the tab is not easily assessible.

My 2000, built Nov 99 has the manual pull lever.

Quotes source post: 15597424

Well, now that you mention it, the question on the lock mechanism is curious. If the frunk hood is locked and there�s not enough battery juice to unlock the car, to unlock the frunk latch mechanism, then even though the frunk uses cables, the frunk may still be locked.

Quotes source post: 15597937

Yes, so does my 2000, but it also has a locking tab that prevents it from opening unless the solenoid disengages it. If you haven�t had it apart or had a dead battery, it�s pretty likely that you�d be blissfully unaware of this �feature�. You may be able to see the tab/slot if you look carefully with a penlight.

Quotes source post: 15598044

The frunk latch portion is completely mechanical. The tab/slot/solenoid arrangement is on the release levers on the driver side sill.

In the 2000 Owners Manual it's on page 92 - Front and Rear Hoods. Note When the battery is discharged, the lever for the front hood can't be unlocked. Using jumper cables, the battery of another car can be used to open the front hood. To connect the cables, refer to "Emergency Starting with Jumper Cables". I'm curious if the '99 has the same thing,

Just curious. The '99 cable mechanism is simple and operates just fine. What additional function does the electric+cable operation give you? Is it for allowing your keyfob remote to open the frunk? Seems like a poor design. My miata allows both the cable and the keyfob remote to open the trunk, and the cable works even when the battery in the trunk is disconnected.

Not if your car was locked when the battery goes flat , the levers lock inside the car!

If your 99-00 "cable" levers are locked, no worries, just hook a 12v battery supply to the cig lighter then lock-unlock using the remote or the central locking button on the dash to unlock the levers. Then open frunk change/charge battery.BTW, both my 99's lock both frunk and engine lid levers when locked.

That is an awesome tip Porschetech3. I never heard that one. I had to jimmy the solenoid switch to unlock the levers. I'll remember this for next time!

Quotes source post: 15606525

Not sure that will work on my 01. I disconnected the battery to work on things (such as the ignition switch). As I was messing around in the engine compartment, the frunk closed. I thought I saw somewhere that power can be supplied to a point in the fuse box at the driver's kick panel. Anyone have specifics on this? Will it allow the switch to operate with the battery disconnected?

Somewhere on the fuse panel is a red thing you pull out, then connect 12V to it from another battery (you need some amps...a charger will not work) and then ground to the door hinge. I think the owners manual describes how to do it.

Quotes source post: 15608856

You should be able to open the engine compartment lid without a battery. Use jumper cables on the prescribed jump points and you can unlock the frunk. That is assuming the 01 follows the same design as the 00 and 99.

I was screwed by this in my '99 once during a battery change. Stupid me had locked the car AND closed the frunk and trunk after the battery had been removed. I was able to open the door with my key but the manual release levers were both locked down. I first attempted to find the release cable to the frunk but it wasn't within easy reach. So I went to the rear left light and thankfully got the trunk open pretty quick so I couldn't then attach battery cables to get the car to unlock. There's probably an old thread on here documenting my fury in the middle of the moment!

Quotes source posts: 15609256, 15609409

I think this is true. I just got an owner's manual from Suncoast. Haven't had time to find the details. It certainly matches what I recall reading. Engine lid is off. That is not the problem. I think the fact that the battery is disconnected, may make this idea a no-go. Will find out tomorrow. It's too damn cold to mess with anything tonight. well, except for more beer...

I have a '99 Boxster that I have owned since new and it has pins that protrude and lock the levers. I had tried plugging a charger into the cigarette lighter, but was never able to unlock the levers. Rather than search for a cable that at the time I couldn't get good information about (this was back in 2000 or so), I just used a thin, wrapped skewer, to slide the pin over. Worked perfectly.

Quotes source post: 15609554

Even though the battery is disconnected, you should be able to power up from the engine post. Might need to jump from a running vehicle (I did)

Really the best thing to do when you have things squared away, find and relocate the frunk emergency release cable to just inside the front tow hook plug. It takes less than 15 minutes to do this and will totally save yourself multiple hours of frustration and cursing. One simple plastic plug popped out, grab the cable and pull, you're in and the battery is accessible.

Quotes source posts: 15610559, 15610618

Hooked to the little red post in the fuse box, grounded on the door striker and then hit the switch. Opened the latch just fine. Didn't mess with the posts at the rear. Will be interesting to test that as well. I did install one new strut on front boot lid. Should be good insurance for the short-term. Saw one at the rear as well. Wanted to route it to an easy spot. Never completed that task. Will do the same at the front. I did uncap the tow-eye hole. Looks like a good place to hide the release cable.

Reviving this old thread. My friend has a 1999 base model Carrera and it has been sitting for over a year. He went to unlock the driver side door with the key and it would not unlock manually. I went over and tried, and sure enough the car is locked, key will not unlock. I am surprised, as I can unlock my 997 GT car with the key, even with the battery disconnected. Where can I access the manual cable from the outside of the car? Is it under the front bumper near the nose, or is it behind the left rear taillight (if so, how is the tail light assembly removed to gain access), or is it somewhere else? There is no way to access the cabin short of breaking a window. There has to be a way to access the trunk so a long dead battery can be accessed and renewed to get the car started and running again. Any help is very much appreciated. Many Thanks.

There is a wire pull on the passenger side. Mine was under the front air cut out in the bumper that goes to the radiator. May be under the plastic fender liner on the passenger side alternatively. This should pop the frunk open.

The one for the frunk is on the passenger side usually just above the air intake duct to the radiator/ac condenser. The one for the engine lid should be just under the drivers side taillight.

Many Thanks guys. I'll give it a look see.

Quotes source post: 15609256

This feature exists on 996.2 cars, not 996.1

Once you are able to access the wire pull, I recommend relocating it to a location that is easily accessible but relatively invisible. Here is where I relocated my engine compartment release release. You would only see if it if you know what you're looking for. For the front, I extended the wire pull and ran it out towards the fender liner by the passenger front tire.

I ran the front one through a 1/4 inch hole in the passenger side air duct for the radiator, Its fairly far back and I used a piece of black gorrilla tape to hold it in place. My rear release cable is unde rhte driver taillight,, but I fed it in to a gap I can get to from under the car.

Quotes source post: 15598044

I�ve had this happen twice with a good battery but somehow the security system got confused. Had to lock/unlock at driver�s door, then the door sill handle will release the frunk latch.

Re the metal "emergency" pull cables for the frunk and rear engine lids: I added a length of sturdy cord to the frunk cable, and terminated it behind my passenger side side marker light (so I can get to it easily) when I had the passenger headlight out (in case the battery dies...) For the rear lid cable (the ONLY time you would use it, is if the wiring/solonoid failed) I routed it to the left side wheel well liner stud. To get to it, I would have to remove the wheel and liner, but as I said, it will only be used if the solenoid (or it's wiring failed) https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...d-release.html Paul