Emergency Entrance

[A20 LEE 0]

Got an interesting problem. My C no longer has any external locks, so any bright ideas on how i can get into my car if the battery goes flat? (no bricks and breaking of glass :lol: ). Ideas? Hidden second external soleniod button for the tailgate?

[vr6storm 0]

Got an interesting problem. My C no longer has any external locks, so any bright ideas on how i can get into my car if the battery goes flat? (no bricks and breaking of glass :lol: ). Ideas? Hidden second external soleniod button for the tailgate?

 

or how about the TVR push-buttons on the mirrors :wink:

[andycowuk 0]

charge the battery! :lol: :-P :D :) :lol:

 

 

Seriously tho.......how is a solenoid going to work without the battery?? Or is that a totally stupid question?

[Blair 0]

But you've still got the problem of the battery being flat so the solenoid won't work...? :)

 

Maybe two hidden power terminals to remotely 'jump' your car so you can operate the solenoid and at least get in & start the engine?

[andycowuk 0]

Just had a thought, my be a little crazy....but why dont you put in long wires attatched to the battery terminals that can be coiled up stored behind the bumper, if ur battery goes flat, you can pull these out so you can hook up jump leads, to get the doors open, then use the jump leads in the normal manor.

 

As long as you remember to NEVER jump the car off these tail pieces, you could use pretty thin, and easily store-able wires.

 

This also leaves the car totally secure, as you still need the key/fob to open it, but it does depend on an external power source (a scooter battery in you r back pack would also suffice to get the doors open!!!)

[andycowuk 0]

haha beaten to it by Blair :!:

 

Can i compliment you on a tottaly excellent idea...... you must be a pretty bright chap to com eup with one that good!!! :D

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Now that's a good idea. Or perhaps tie a connector up behind the front tow eye cover?

 

You'd have to carry a 12V Ni-CD or NiMH battery back around with you though....just in case!

[A20 LEE 0]

Yeah, suppose i only need to be able to charge the battery externally. I'll look in maplin for a plug connector to stash behind the tow eye.

[Skimask 0]

What if it rains and it shorts out ...fire. Also in an accident same result.

[Henny 0]

There were 2 ways I used to do this on Beetles which I used to de-lock when I was a mechanic...

1) Connect a pair of electrical wires to ONE of the door lock actuators with a 9V battery terminal in a plastic bag under the body somewhere only you know about. If you ever get locked out, the odds are that you'll be able to find somewhere local who will supply you with a fresh 9V battery which will unlock that door for you... 8)

2) Connect up a Bowden style cable with a hidden pull under the car somewhere which unlocks one of the doors mechanically. No parts needed if the battery ever does go flat, but if someone discovers it, you're knackered security wise... :?

 

Making up hidden battery terminals is all well and good, but you do HAVE to make sure that there is NO way to short them, even in an accident as they could turn a minor shunt into a major fire... :? :crazyeyes:

 

Which ever route you choose, make sure YOU are the only person to know about it to ensure the security of your car! ;) :D

[coolrado 0]

you only really need one cable hidden to charge the battery in an emegency just run a small cable from the possitive of the battery and fuse it near the battery with a 10A fuse

when you need to get in just connect a battery/other car to yours neg to a bare point on the body and pos to the cable then just unlock the door open the bonnet and charge it or jump start it normally

the fuse will prevent any risk of fire in an accident

[Sanj 0]

Sorry to throw water into a good plan, but is it legal to remove external locks from a car i.e. for MOT purposes etc?? I was also planning to delock my car but decided not to cos I got advised not for this reason.

[Henny 0]

Sorry to throw water into a good plan, but is it legal to remove external locks from a car i.e. for MOT purposes etc?? I was also planning to delock my car but decided not to cos I got advised not for this reason.

 

It's alwasys been legal to de-LOCK a car, plenty of new cars have just a fob to unlock them and have no key holes... 8) (Renault Laguna doesn't even have a Key, it just has a card...)

 

Judging by new TVRs, it's also now legal to have no handles at all on your car and to just have electrically operated opening mechanisms... 8)

[A20 LEE 0]

wonder how TVR have got around this problem of gaining enter with no lock or handles with a flat battery?

[Jim 2]

Hm.. might be worth asking someone on a TVR forum, and see how they have got around such problems... surely there must be some 2nd option for when the under-mirror buttons pack up or the battery goes flat.

[biggrim 0]

Hm.. might be worth asking someone on a TVR forum, and see how they have got around such problems... surely there must be some 2nd option for when the under-mirror buttons pack up or the battery goes flat.

 

No doubt a wire coat hanger or a half brick :roll: I'll ask my mate and see what he says about it. Tis a good question.

[Blair 0]

Ah yes - good call about sticking a fuse on it too.

 

If you're just using it to provide power, the terminals don't have to be that well hidden - but clearly you'd want them somewhere they wouldn't get splashed with water, mud etc.

 

Alternatively, you could use a similar power connector that Flymo use to join the short cable that comes out of the mower to the long cable you plug into the socket. It's a slight case of overkill as you're never going to send mains current down it (or at least I hope not!) BUT they (or at least the two I've seen) do have a spring-loaded cover that flips over and protects the terminals in the socket.

 

The only downside is you need the carry the plug around with you ;)

[PhatVR6 0]

just rip the sunroof out. it'll probably be broken already anyway so it won't matter much.

:lol:

[h100vw 0]

With ref to having no locks or handles. The MOT says during the test you have to able to open all doors from the inside and outside. There is no mention of the methods you are allowed to use.

It just has to work on the day of the test. Transmitters and solenoids are no problem as long as they work for the tester.

Gavin

[PhatVR6 0]

leave the hole where the boot lock sits, and have a bit of wire rigged up connected to the latch mechanism.

 

then you can pop off your rear number plate trim and pull the wire.

 

saying that, you'l ve probably had the tailgate all plated up.........

[rmn 0]

you could just put an extra cable for the bonet underneath somwhere either, no fear of electrical issues with that :lol:

[kongo127 0]

Here is my home made schematic for de-locked systems.

 

How it works:

 

This is a simple back up system who keeps your alarm and central lock system powered on even when your battery is discharged. :idea:

When ignition is on while you are driving your C the backup battery is being charged.

When ignition is off the battery stops being charged and it backs up your alarm and central-lock.

It will work even if you forgot your lights on :D because this little battery only feeds the alarm and central lock.

It won´t discharge with that!

Just hope the alarm doesn´t sound while the car battery is discharged. :oops:

Because it will discharge the small battery too! :!:

Well... but that won´t happen 8) or else you are a very unluck guy! :cry:

Too much bad luck!

Any other questions please PM me! :)

[gibber 0]

Just a note, the MOT has now been changed, if you have the doors smoothed that section no longer applies!