Hi guys,

So, left the cat safely under wraps for long enough to avoid the worst of the winter snow, and wanted to give her a wee warm up...

but I have left it too long, and have a dead battery - no worries, I thought, use the magic keyhole at the back...

except, this isn't working, and I am wondering - just how much "oomph" does that keyhole need to work - I assume if I am thinking I am at risk of snapping the plastic off the key, then it's seized?

in which case... help! how do I get into the car if I can't open the boot or the drivers door?

 

Why can't you open the door?
Try spraying lock lubricant (or WD40 if you haven't got any) into the boot lock - it doesn't need much to open the boot.
One lesson for all to learn (oft repeated) is to go round all the locks with some graphite lubricant at regular intervals so they work if needed.

 

Apparently, the reason I couldn't open the door was that I hadn't sworn at it enough...

So, I went from a dead car - no response to the remote, nothing when I tried to open the driver's door... (which confused me, because I didn't think you needed power to do that...) and the boot lock is clearly siezed, snapped or just not playing ball.

One last round of sweariness, some general pleading to the powers that be, and the drivers door opened on the key..

at which point, the alarm started "bong"ing away to let me know that it was about to go off...

which it promptly did. In an involuntary response, I pressed the "disarm" button - which worked.

I popped the boot and bonnet so I could get at the battery if needed, but figured I would try my luck - and the blasted thing started.

These old jags are bloody possessed, I tell you.

 

You hadn't given her a weekly bonnet pat.
That's all they need - not much to ask.

 

Putting the key in the ignition interrupts this alarm cycle.

Time to invest in a battery tender if you plan on leaving it standing for lengthy periods. Apart from preventing the inconvenience of a flat battery or lockout, it also extends battery life.

Graham

 

Graham,
Do you mind me asking how much your trickle charger was - they're asking €67 for the same model here.

 

I've left mine for several weeks at a time.
I have noticed that it won't open with the remote when I come back but if I open the door manually it will start fine and everything is back to normal.

 

ouch!

 

I've got the CTEK-XS7000. It was around £78 but I've had it for about two years now.

Graham

 

Ok so the Frog price isn't too horrendous.
Thanks.