Can’t get in!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 3
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C-class 2001
Can’t get in!
I have an old 2001 c-class. It’s been unused for the past months (in cold weather 🥶🙈
.
Now I can’t get into the car! Battery is dead. Manual key doesn’t work. What can I do? 😅
Thank you.
. Now I can’t get into the car! Battery is dead. Manual key doesn’t work. What can I do? 😅
Thank you.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 236
From: BC, Canada
2003 C230K Coupe Orion Blue
What do you mean the manual key doesn't work? 
Without being able to access or jump the car battery, you're looking at jimmying the door open or smashing a window.
Without being able to access or jump the car battery, you're looking at jimmying the door open or smashing a window.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 236
From: BC, Canada
2003 C230K Coupe Orion Blue
^ That would work if the sedan has some kind of handle for folding the seats from the trunk, and if his trunk can be manually unlocked. Remember his car battery is dead.
Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 158
Likes: 56
From: Madison, Alabama
13 E550 Coupe & 99 C280
^ There was no need to use the seat release handles that are in the trunk to fold the seats forward. The trunk manual lock was the only lock that worked. I just got the trunk opened and put a battery charger on the battery in the trunk. 20 mins of charge and the key-fob opened the doors and the car started.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 236
From: BC, Canada
2003 C230K Coupe Orion Blue
The 2001 C class may have a manual trunk lock for the sedan, though OP mentioned his manual key doesn't work.
MB removed the manual hatch locks for the coupe in MY2003, so I assume this would also be the case for the sedan trunks.
The W203 battery is under the hood and not the trunk, so your solution wouldn't work.
MB removed the manual hatch locks for the coupe in MY2003, so I assume this would also be the case for the sedan trunks.
The W203 battery is under the hood and not the trunk, so your solution wouldn't work.
Last edited by slammer111; Mar 26, 2021 at 08:58 AM.
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Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
C-class 2001
I don’t have any way of entering the trunk, there’s only the drivers door that can be opened with the key. And that doesn’t work, I can’t turn the key 😱
Thanks for the replies so far.
Any ideas? 😅
Thanks for the replies so far.
Any ideas? 😅
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 236
From: BC, Canada
2003 C230K Coupe Orion Blue
The part of the handle with the keyhole doesn’t quite line up. Guessing someone replaced the tumbler in the past with one from another car. You may want to get that fixed at the dealer.
There may be a keyhole next to the trunk handle. They were installed on the earlier build coupes at least. Dip your head and look upwards.
Otherwise you’re looking at connecting to the starter cable or the brick method.
There may be a keyhole next to the trunk handle. They were installed on the earlier build coupes at least. Dip your head and look upwards.
Otherwise you’re looking at connecting to the starter cable or the brick method.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
C-class 2001
The part of the handle with the keyhole doesn’t quite line up. Guessing someone replaced the tumbler in the past with one from another car. You may want to get that fixed at the dealer.
There may be a keyhole next to the trunk handle. They were installed on the earlier build coupes at least. Dip your head and look upwards.
Otherwise you’re looking at connecting to the starter cable or the brick method.
There may be a keyhole next to the trunk handle. They were installed on the earlier build coupes at least. Dip your head and look upwards.
Otherwise you’re looking at connecting to the starter cable or the brick method.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 236
From: BC, Canada
2003 C230K Coupe Orion Blue
Starter motor is accessible from underneath the engine. Basically you'll be using the terminals as a jump point instead of the battery terminals.
In theory it should work since the starter draws a high amount of current. However I don't have information on which exact wires to use. You're trying to charge the battery, not crank the engine. Basically you'll need to disconnect the positive and negative wires (unless there is enough room to attach a thick enough jumper cable) to the motor and add a 12VDC power source there, possibly from another car or a battery of some sort.
In theory it should work since the starter draws a high amount of current. However I don't have information on which exact wires to use. You're trying to charge the battery, not crank the engine. Basically you'll need to disconnect the positive and negative wires (unless there is enough room to attach a thick enough jumper cable) to the motor and add a 12VDC power source there, possibly from another car or a battery of some sort.
Last edited by slammer111; Mar 28, 2021 at 10:52 PM.
Member
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 105
Likes: 9
From: Aberdeen Scotland
180 Elegance
Wouldn't need that much power. If you can connect a charger from underneath the draw power might be enough to open the door. If not just leave it to charge and you should be good to go.
