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My car [Ford Falcon BA] battery completely died the other day (was reading 8 Volts) and I couldn't even unlock my car to pop the bonnet, since the locks are sol

My car [Ford Falcon BA] battery completely died the other day (was reading 8 Volts) and I couldn't even unlock my car to pop the bonnet, since the locks are solenoid actuated. It also only has one external lock, on the driver's door. I ended up having to wedge the door and open it from the inside with a coat hanger. Apparently the only other way to open the car when the battery has completely failed (as opposed to having charge, but not enough to turn the starter) is to connect jumper cables to the positive lead on the starter motor and the chassis. Of course my jack was in the boot, which I couldn't open since the battery was dead! I've now attached a wire to the bonnet latch, so if this happens again I can just pull the wire to open it.

jackvalentine 6y ago
I've got to ask - why weren't you able to use the key in the driver's door?
- toomanybeersies 6y ago
  The lock itself is actuated by a solenoid, so when the car has no battery (or it's turned into a paperweight) the doors won't unlock. The key will turn, but that's it.
  - jackvalentine 6y ago
    Hah, what an amazingly dumb design. Ford Aus certainly came up with some weird ones.
abenga 6y ago
Most cars seem to have a subtle trick to open doors when the battery is dead. Mine (an E90 3-series) has a physical key, but you have to know to pull the lock on the driver's door then turn the key to open it. Turning the key does nothing. Turning the key then pulling the lock does nothing. I found this information buried in the comments of a YouTube video that had elaborate instructions to get underneath the car, and look for some wires in the engine bay to pull so as to pop the bonnet.
rusk 6y ago
> I've now attached a wire to the bonnet latch, Such a happy ending! I’m so glad I read to the end :)
mnw21cam 6y ago
Yeah, my car does actually have a power-fail-safe lock where you can pull off a cover and get a real keyhole. For some bizarre reason, it's on the passenger side.

jackvalentine 6y ago

I've got to ask - why weren't you able to use the key in the driver's door?

toomanybeersies 6y ago
The lock itself is actuated by a solenoid, so when the car has no battery (or it's turned into a paperweight) the doors won't unlock. The key will turn, but that's it.
- jackvalentine 6y ago
  Hah, what an amazingly dumb design. Ford Aus certainly came up with some weird ones.

abenga 6y ago

Most cars seem to have a subtle trick to open doors when the battery is dead. Mine (an E90 3-series) has a physical key, but you have to know to pull the lock on the driver's door then turn the key to open it. Turning the key does nothing. Turning the key then pulling the lock does nothing. I found this information buried in the comments of a YouTube video that had elaborate instructions to get underneath the car, and look for some wires in the engine bay to pull so as to pop the bonnet.

rusk 6y ago

> I've now attached a wire to the bonnet latch, Such a happy ending! I’m so glad I read to the end :)

mnw21cam 6y ago

Yeah, my car does actually have a power-fail-safe lock where you can pull off a cover and get a real keyhole. For some bizarre reason, it's on the passenger side.