Emergency front trunk procedure not working

[Xcellr8]

Help! Dead battery lead me to follow the jumper procedure for opening front trunk on 2002.

Except, when entering the car, I unlocked door and then removed key before following the procedure. (The procedure in the owners manual calls for the key to remain in the lock the whole time, but the procedure illustrated on the directions located on the paper kept in the fuse box cover does not include that instructoin, so I wonder if it is important or not.)

Pulled out the fuse box post, hooked up positive to that post and to the positive post on a second 12V battery that was charged. Hooked up second jumper from negative battery post to door latch. Alarm immediately sounded. Inserted key into door lock and turned to unlock motion expecting the alarm to stop. It did not. Pushed the front trunk unlock button anyway, nothing.

Tried holding the key in the door in the unlock position for 20 seconds, no difference. Alarm still going off and trunk release button did not work.
Tried turning the key to lock and unlock, no difference.
Tried inserting key into ignition switch and turning to on, no difference.
Alarm never stopped, and release button never worked.

What am I missing? Thanks, Joe

[alanqning]

What about starting the key in the door.

I used a jumper pack.

[san rensho]

Take off the front right wheel, take off the wheel well cover and you will find the manual pull for the frunk. A bit of a pain. The plastic whell well cover has several plastic fasteners. They are two part fasteners. Pull out the outer pin with a trim removal fork tool. Take the pin out all the way, then the rest of the fastener will come out easily with the same trim tool. To reinstall, push in the fastener without the pin, then push the pin in to lock. Oil or use silicone to lubricate the plastic fastener so you can get it out easily the next time.

[alanqning]

Originally Posted by san rensho

Take off the front right wheel, take off the wheel well cover and you will find the manual pull for the frunk. A bit of a pain. The plastic whell well cover has several plastic fasteners. They are two part fasteners. Pull out the outer pin with a trim removal fork tool. Take the pin out all the way, then the rest of the fastener will come out easily with the same trim tool. To reinstall, push in the fastener without the pin, then push the pin in to lock. Oil or use silicone to lubricate the plastic fastener so you can get it out easily the next time.

Don't pull the wrong thing! haha

[schnellman]

I don't know your parking situation, so this may not be possible. But, if you can reach the car with an extension cord, you could use a cigarette lilghter plug battery maintainer/charger. An hour or two would give you the juice to open the frunk.

[Xcellr8]

Thanks for the helpful tips. Tried again leaving the key in the door. No difference.
Using thin wire with alligator clips to carry power from donor battery. Will that work, or do I need jumper cables?

Meanwhile, I've removed the fender splash shield/liner and looked up at the area near the back of the headlight, felt around the sheet metal next to that and am not seeing or feeling the pull ring.

Came back home to read the postings again to see if I missed something about the cable. Wondered if it had been pulled once before, would the ring come off?

Also now wondering if the cable has already been re-routed. I'll go back out to check the tow hook area when it warms up a little. Today is 15 degrees with wind, making it close to zero.

[alanqning]

Instructions are to use Jumper Cables. I used Jumper Cables at it worked.

Put the key in and turn to unlock, that should turn off the alarm.

Originally Posted by Xcellr8

Thanks for the helpful tips. Tried again leaving the key in the door. No difference.
Using thin wire with alligator clips to carry power from donor battery. Will that work, or do I need jumper cables?

Meanwhile, I've removed the fender splash shield/liner and looked up at the area near the back of the headlight, felt around the sheet metal next to that and am not seeing or feeling the pull ring.

Came back home to read the postings again to see if I missed something about the cable. Wondered if it had been pulled once before, would the ring come off?

Also now wondering if the cable has already been re-routed. I'll go back out to check the tow hook area when it warms up a little. Today is 15 degrees with wind, making it close to zero.

[pjq]

Here's what it looks like on a 2004. I had the bumper cover off to clean the rad's so,... take some pic's.


top view, look below right headlight and below headlight washer.


right front headlight view


re-routed wire

[Xcellr8]

Very nice photos. They are much appreciated. Once I get the frunk open, this would be a great project.

[fatmike]

Originally Posted by schnellman

I don't know your parking situation, so this may not be possible. But, if you can reach the car with an extension cord, you could use a cigarette lilghter plug battery maintainer/charger. An hour or two would give you the juice to open the frunk.

THIS.


I've been where you are before, and this is the path.


Don't try to start the car through the cigarette lighter, if you do you will short the wires. Just put enough juice in to charge the battery enough to open the frunk.


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