Help! Disconnected battery, closed hood - jumper method doesn't work!
 

Hey all, I did something stoopid...
I disconnected my battery before pulling the wiring harness of my passenger seat, and then closed the hood.
A quick google search found the method of attaching a jumper to the "hood-release terminal" in the fuse box. When I did this, it did release the steering wheel lock, however I still could not release the hood. My suspicion is that this isn't working because the battery is disconnected, as opposed to simply dead. Anybody know if this is the case?

I've also seen reference to the cable-release in the front driver's side wheel well, which you need to take the wheel off to access...
... and of course you need the tool kit to get the wheel off...
... which is in the trunk. <insert facepalm here, porsche engineers!>

Is there something I'm missing here?

Thanks for any ideas.
Jon

http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/61316-have-you-done-yet.html

The cable is in behind the passenger (right side) headlight. ;)
If you can turn the steering wheel, crank it all the way to the left and you should be able to get the liner pulled back enough.

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I can’t answer you question about the battery being disconnected, but I recently ran my battery dead and had to use the fuse box method to open the frunk and I didn’t think it was working at first because I didn’t hold down on the release button long enough. Tried several times before realizing my error. I know this is an oversimplification but its what happened to me. Good Luck.

[QUOTE=particlewave;514174]http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/61316-have-you-done-yet.html

Oooooooo...passenger side...I'll try that! I just got back in from cranking the wheel to look under the driver-side...
And yeah, re-routing that cable will be the at the top of the list after I fix this..
Thanks!

And MARTHA, I did try holding the release switch open for several seconds, thinking it might require that... nothing.

[QUOTE=particlewave;514174]

When you say "be able to get the liner pulled back enough"... do I need to unscrew some or all of the torx head screws holding it in place?

Yes.

........

Cool, thx..
when you say passenger... I should mention this is a north-american car. I mention this because this video shows it the NA driver side...

On base boxsters you can reach up through the bottom of the bumper and reach the release cable. That's if you have skinny enough arms.

The hood is open :) :) :)

Thank you everyone for your replies! It turns out MARTHA's suggestion of holding the release switch longer was the ticket!

Happy driving all!

The hood is open :) :) :)
Thanks everyone for your help! In the end it was MARTHA's suggestion of holding the release switch longer when using the 12V jumper method.

Happy Driving All!

Hi,
I have a 2001 Boxster. I know the 2000 and 2002 both have emergency release Cable located behind the plastic guard around the wheels.

I opened up both and it seems like the 2001 does not have an emergency release Cable in any of these spots, I checked behind the pass. headlight.

Further, I checked the latch part online for that year. There does not seem to be a cable Cing out of it. Just the electrical wires.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/oes-genuine-genuine-hood-lock-assembly-o2001934561oes/11697681-P

I have tried to boost it through the little thingy in the fuse box and grounding it on the door latch.

I have tried to jump it too.

I also tried to wedge a screwdriver in there.

Any help would be VERY appreciated.

Also can some one confim that the 2001 is different than the 2000 and 2002?

Iss there a pic of this I'm not sure where it is. I know the cables are usually very short . Can you confirm where it would be in a 2001 base boxster from Canada?

Thank you

Are you the original owner? If so, it's up inside the right-hand side wheel well behind the headlight, assuming nobody moved it. If you bought it used, it's most likely been moved for easier access. Some people relocate it behind the tow hook cover, some relocate it to somewhere they can reach it from underneath, or the radiator intake openings.

It's stainless steel and looks like a bike brake cable.

Download this catalog:
https://www.porsche.com/all/media/pdf/originalparts/usa/986_USA_KATALOG.pdf

Go to page 218 and it's item number 12

Or you can search this part number in the catalog: 996 511 521 00

One thing you can try is loosen up the bumper cover from underneath and look up in there. Unfortunately, I don't recall if you can remove the bumper cover completely without the frunk open.

You can remove the wheel well without removing the tire. If you jack it up it will give you enough space. Your maybe able to do it without jacking. There is a good solid spot to jack where a typical car manual would suggest.
Let me know what model Porsche YYOU have and what engine if you find the release Cable let us know where.

Could be on either side near the headlight ( two possible places to look)
Could be under the bumper
Could be around the fuse box.

Thanks will check that out tomorrow, just one question, can you confirm that this is for the base 2001 boxster ?

2 other ways:
1. If ur not in a hurry, get a battery tender that can be hook to the cigarette lighter to charge the battery.

2. Remove the fuse cover under the dash by the driver side. You can see the front hood cable and try to pull it.

You get the problem solved yet?

I can't tell you—not in any detail, anyway—how the '01 differs from the '00 and '02. But I DO know that I found the pull cable you're looking for on my '01S behind the wheel well lining on the passenger (ie right) side of my Box. The ring attached to the cable is right next to the little screw driver:


http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1575045136.jpg

Photobucket? Photobucket? :rolleyes:

Same thing just happend to me...

My mistake... anyway... lockout of the car... battery not connected and front closed....

NO latch cord behind the front divers wheel... LHD... 2001 US import... had to use the OT method of direct power in fuse box which did the job... but no freaking latch... strange..

I found the cable on the 2001 Boxster it was in the front of the car, you have to go from under the car if you don't see it remove the plastic. Use good lighting, I couldn't find it, but then I noticed a thin shadow of the cable and finally located. Jack up the car if you have too

When I had the front bumper cover off to clean my radiators, I re-routed the cable to behind the tow hook cover plug. That has come in handy once so far, when I had a dead battery. I just popped the cover open and pulled the cable to release the hood.

The cable on my 98 is in the passenger fender well, accessible with passenger door open. Seems like they can be and have been routed just about anywhere one desires. Haha.

Putting it under the tow hook cover is a good idea.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

If you're able to get in the car but not the trunk why not just use a jumper cable on the alternator wire?

2002 Boxster S, played it safe and unhooked battery before working on engine, then closed hood, never got around working on engine, this is a nightmare, I cannot find emergency cable anywhere. I've been fighting with wheel well on driver's side, unable to take off wheels because lug adapter is under hood. Any ideas how to open my hood??
Thanks !

Okay, number one, the emergency release cable is on the right side, passenger side, not driver side. If you aren’t the original owner the cable may have been rerouted to behind the front bumper toe hook access. Check there. If it isn’t then crank your wheels as far to the right as you can and you should get some access to the wheel well liners and remove some of the plastic retainers. The cable should be tucked up inside the fender below the headlight assembly.

Once you get things back up and running, reroute the cable to behind the toe hook and keep your tool kit, with the lug nut lock, behind your seat where you can get at it if the battery fails.

Also, this issue has been discussed many many times so further searches may yield some other suggestions. Good luck.

You are not the first and you won't be the last. The nightmare will be over soon. I have a narrow garage and I was physically pin between my wheel and wall to get into the wheel well from the passenger side. Follow the instructions given for the passenger side wheel well. I find that turning the wheel inwards as much as possible to gain more arm access helps. Like others said, you should re-route it to somewhere you find more comfortable to get to in case it happens again.


I believe the emergency trunk release cable on the driver side wheel well and I could be wrong is for UK models.

I'm on the RH side now, still see nothing, I have a sickening feeling it has been removed.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1590680712.jpg

I'm on the RH side now, still see nothing, I have a sickening feeling it has been removed.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1590681223.jpg

look behind tow hook cover... previous owner may have already relocated...

Good luck :)

no luck there either. Just wondering, I unhooked the ground wire on the battery, I'm wondering if the "jump" method would work just to open the lid.
If not I smell tow truck.

All this and all I wanted to do was change air filter!!

For future ref...
I have a small, square piece of 2x4 in my garage. If I ever disconnect the battery, the FIRST thing I do is to place that in the are where the latch comes down when the frunk hood is closed. Having the problem once was plenty.

Just out of curiosity, why would you disconnect the battery just to change the air filter?

No clue why I decided to unhook battery, certainly won't happen again, and if I do the 2 x 4 is a must.

This method will work regardless of the battery, but it's a lot of work. Take the driver's seat out and remove the blue connector from the security module under the seat. Connect a source of +12 volts to pin #31 on that connector and ground the other end of your power source to the car.
Video video from my flood car frunk opening:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uk8-yJXKUxA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Great idea. Will do this on mine ASAP just in case!

This happened to me too just the other month! Won't happen again lol. I called AAA and they can connect a jump to the fuse panel for the fuse that governs the front release...

My jumper cables were locked in the frunk too... lol

Opening frunk with dead battery on 1997 Boxster 986
 

If you own a '97 Boxster (or a year that does not have the red jumper attachment on the fuse box), here is easiest way to open frunk without having to remove parts to get to the mechanical cable pull:

1) Make a small jumper using insulated 12 gauge solid copper wire. Strip 1/2 inch insulation and use a hammer to flatten both ends to fit into fuse location (about 1/8 inch wide). Also strip about 1 inch insulation in the middle. Bend the jumper into a U-shape. (see photo)
2) Remove C3 fuse (Row C - 3rd row down, 3rd fuse over from left, s/b 15 amp - Function is "Control unit for central locking system, alarm system")
3) Insert both flat ends of wire jumper into now vacant 15A fuse ports, one in each fuse "receiver".
4) Connect 12V source to bare center strip on wire jumper
5) Turn key in driver side door lock a few times open and close. Frunk (and trunk) levers next to driver seat should now open the enclosures.
6) Disconnect temporary items, reinstall fuse, and access battery for charge.
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1730153370.jpg

Hope this helps someone

Might work and ingenuity always appreciated. FWIW, would recommend only inserting wire into 'load' side of fuse female slot if using this method.


Alternatively...


use a very thin flathead screwdriver (between the frunk and rear release levers on driver door sill) and delicately rotate white plastic lock 90 degrees allowing levers to articulate and therefore open frunk and/or rear trunk lid. Works thru MY2000 (maybe 2002?) as I recall before Porsche moved over to electric switch controlled releases.

Good luck :)