987.1 Boxster, battery dead, can't get into car - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

I haven't driven my Boxster for a little while now, and it appears that the battery is completely dead and consequently I can't get into the car... which means that I can't pop the frunk to charge the battery. The remote central locking does nothing -- and yep, I've tried pulling the door handle to wake it up out of sleep mode, it doesn't change anything. Putting the key into the door manually and turning the lock doesn't seem to do anything either -- are the doors electrically actuated even with the key? If I turn the key anticlockwise I can feel a small amount of resistance, but nothing if I turn clockwise. Either way, the door doesn't open. I'm aware that there's an emergency frunk release cable behind the NSF wheel-arch liner, but with where the car is parked I'm not sure there's enough room there to get access to it so I'm stuck. Anyone got any bright ideas?!

When the battery is flat on my 986 the drivers door opens with the key just as a traditional car door would. Does yours not do this?

No, nothing. I get the feeling from reading online that it's definitely supposed to, and that my door lock mechanism is probably stuffed.

That's a pain. Have you tried the passenger side?

No keyhole on the passenger side.

Is the key fob battery definitely ok? Any chance it is flat? Other than that the only thing I can suggest is to use the emergency cable but it sounds like that may be difficult. If the security key for the locking wheel nut is inside the car you won't be able to remove the wheel. This makes it more difficult to access the cable. Beyond that you might need to find a locksmith who can get in. A post on Boxa.net might find some more advice.

The red light on the fob illuminates when I press the button, but I suppose that isn't necessarily a solid indicator. I'll see if I can find the spare. //edit: No, spare no workie either. Edited by gazchap on Wednesday 26th March 15:07

I had a battery die on a later version but the manual key didn’t seem to work at first, then I realised it needed just a little more effort to turn the lock. I was initially a bit worried about damaging the lock so held off a bit but I think it needed a little more effort to open.

There is an emergency release cable in the passenger side wheel arch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQkpMFhHIyI It can be stiff and the wire has been known to break. You will need a pair of pliers to get enough grip to pull it properly.

gazchap said: If I turn the key anticlockwise I can feel a small amount of resistance, but nothing if I turn clockwise. Either way, the door doesn't open. I'm aware that there's an emergency frunk release cable behind the NSF wheel-arch liner, but with where the car is parked I'm not sure there's enough room there to get access to it so I'm stuck. Anyone got any bright ideas?! That resistance is the mechanism unlocking. Turn it clockwise and then with some force anticlockwise to open it. It should unlock the door - just be careful of the window as it will not drop and you could do some damage. You could get away with removing one or two of the wheel arch screws, peel the plastic back and get an arm up in there to reach for the cable. Granted, narrow between the tire but with a screw bit and an angled socket wrench, it will work. Bit of a faff, i know.

I also have a 987.1 and the car should unlock with the key. It does for me, even when there is no battery in the car.

Connect another battery to the fuse box in the driver footwell so you can power the bonnet release and access your battery.

cslwannabe said: Connect another battery to the fuse box in the driver footwell so you can power the bonnet release and access your battery. OP said he can’t open the door ??

With a key, as others have already advised.

The key doesn't open the door. As I'd already advised.

Far from being a Porsche know all how about using a battery and jump leads to the chassis and the live terminal of the starter motor? Apologies if this is wrong and the Porsche drivers on here know better, only trying to help

Have you tried your other key/lubricating the lock?

Mercdriver said: Far from being a Porsche know all how about using a battery and jump leads to the chassis and the live terminal of the starter motor? Apologies if this is wrong and the Porsche drivers on here know better, only trying to help ^^^^^^ You need a friendly AA man. My son has done this a few times with 911's when he was a patrol man. I actually have my 986 up in the air atm so will have a look... Scratch that, impossible with a Boxster.

Easiest method, get the locking nut removed, any tyre shop or AA etc. Remove front offside wheel and inner liner, (10 mm plastic fixings) look for this silver cable. A gentle pull and you should be in the frunk. It's really easy.

Fortunately I don't think there is a locking nut on it, but I'm not sure I'll have enough room (with how close to the wall I've parked it) to whip the wheel off and get down there to remove the arch liner. I'll give it a whirl tomorrow though, assuming that I can find a jack in the back of my Niro.

cslwannabe said: Have you tried your other key/lubricating the lock? Other key, yes. Don't have anything available to lubricate the lock with though. I don't think it'd matter either way, I don't have any problems turning the key 90 degrees in either direction -- it just doesn't unlock the mechanism, so I'm assuming it's f ked.

Was this a car you had from new?

No, I've only had it a couple of years.

As in, a previous owner might have extended the frunk release cable? Yeah, not a bad shout. I won't hold out much hope, but I'll take a look!

Yup, but most of us loath to say it on forums...will delete in a minute.

Just for confirmation. I have just put my key in the lock of my 08. 987. 1. Key blade is upright on entry and turns clockwise exactly 90° so the key now is flat and level to unlock. Key returns to upright position and will turn anticlockwise exactly 90° to lock the car.

Yeah, my door mechanism must be knackered then. Something to look at once I can get it moving again! 😂

Yeah, my door mechanism must be knackered then. Something to look at once I can get it moving again! 😂

If it’s fecked may as well take some pliers to the key to help it turn. Nothing to lose at that point, and if it moves could be problem solved.

Squirt some crappy WD40, no I am not a fan, but needs must, and gently run the key back and forward so you spread it on the tumblers that might free them off. Better still if you have a can with the thin tube squirt it into the lock, be generous it may save you a lot of time

I'm not having any issues with the key _turning_, it's just that the turning isn't working the lock mechanism. I'll try WD40 tomorrow morning, but I'm not sure pliers will help given the above!

The link between the key tumbler and the door mech has disconnected. This is a proper pain to be honest. You are going to have to get the emergency release cable. Then get the door card off and see if you can feel the link hanging down, it might be sat in the bottom of the door.

Cable it is. Once you have opened the door from inside, assuming there isn’t another problem with the lock, you can remove the outer barrel, surround of the door handle from the inner door shut of the door. Once this is released, you can gain some access where you might be able to do something, but as said, door card off and see where the problem lies.

Crow bar?

Just to put a closer on this, I finally had the time yesterday to get this sorted. Lifted the car up, removed the wheel arch liner, and (with enormous difficulty) managed to pull the emergency release cable enough that it popped the frunk. I’ll need to charge the battery but for now I’ve left the frunk unlatched and the two doors unlocked. Fingers crossed that leaving the frunk unlatched (but not open) won’t allow water in… think we’re gonna get a lot of rain soon!

Now you have the door unlocked you can close the frunk. You will need to put power on the jumper links in the fuse panel to get power to pump the frunk again, but at least you can close the doors and frunk.

Ed.Neumann said: Now you have the door unlocked you can close the frunk. Having experienced this already I always leave the frunk slightly open in case the battery craps out. Always garaged though.

Ed.Neumann said: Now you have the door unlocked you can close the frunk. You will need to put power on the jumper links in the fuse panel to get power to pump the frunk again, but at least you can close the doors and frunk. I didn’t think to test that yesterday, but I don’t want to assume that the jumper connection in the fuse box will actually work until I have, so for now it’ll stay unlatched I think! Got a battery charger coming tomorrow so if I can charge it up via the jumper connection that will make it easier.