I have a 02 hse which I cannot open due to suspected flat battery, can anybody advise how I can either open bonnet or gain access. Thanks in advance

cant you unlock via key ?

Agree that the first thing to try is to open the drivers door with the key. That should work unless the door card has been taken off and the physical lock link hasn't been put back on properly.

If that doesn't work you need to resort to getting some charge into the battery another way. It doesn't need enough to start the engine, but does need enough to operate the door locks. The superlocking is very effective so even breaking a window won't help much.

You can get power into the battery in two ways.

1. If you have towing electrics fitted, including either a 12S (grey) socket or a Euro 13 pin socket, there are earth and perm +12v pins in there. It's not too hard to fashion a way of connecting a booster pack or battery charger to the right pins there. It will also let you check that the battery really is flat before you start.

2. Otherwise it's time to remove the engine under tray and connect a battery charger or booster pack to a suitable earth and the heavy power cable on the starter motor. Be careful, though, not to have anything short out onto bodywork.

Depending on where you are etc, it might be a job for a breakdown service. Hope the physical key works. Much easier! Current: 2010 Range Rover L322
Vogue SE, TDV8 3.6, Bournville
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Last edited by verydisco on 2nd Jan 2017 3:25pm. Edited 1 time in total

His problem is he is unable to open the car to access the bonnet pull lever. John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
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From what I can see the only way into a car with a flat battery is through the drives door using the key... if for some reason the key doesn't work your going to be in a world of pain, cos somethings going to get broken... not sure if you can release the bonnet from behind the grill (which would be a cheaper option than a window)  Yesterday I couldn't spell Engineer... Today I are one!
Inventor of the 'Guide-o-Matic automatic wheel alignment tool'
Former long term L322 owner, Up/Down graded to a Classic Tractor!

Would sacrificing the grille allow access to the mechanical mechanism? 405 AB exec seats Baltic and Cirrus
93 RR Classic efi

Remember it's easier to get forgiveness than permission!

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4.4 TDV8 SE - gone to a good home
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03 L322 Oslo Blue
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Thank you all for your advice. I called AA and he air bagged door and popped bonnet that way. The key doesn't work in the lock is this another problem and can it be fixed, and if so how. Lol
Thanks again

Door card off and you will probably see where it's disconnected. Do it asap so you're not stuck again.

It's a lesson to us all! Check your key unlocks the driver's door!  2006 4.2 SC
2019 Renault Zoe Dynamique Nav

I too thought that it was a door-card off job, but apparently not. It appears you can sort it out by taking the exterior handle off and then refitting carefully, making sure that the short rod connecting the key barrel to the lock mech is at 90 degrees to the door and so working properly. Not sure if that's any easier than taking the door card off, to be honest.

Pic inset in the bottom left below might help. It's hard to describe, but should be fairly obvious once apart.

Click image to enlarge

Anyway of getting a positive connection onto the starter from underneath the vehicle to back feed and open door

Pretty sure the manual driver's door lock should work without any charge in the battery. Whilst I was working on the EGR valves I had the battery disconnected for days on end but was using the keys to lock and unlock the vehicle. Admittedly I had unlocked it using the remote and the locked it with the key so perhaps didn't engage all the locks. Ed

Yes, it should. Mine didn't. I removed the lock as per manual (one screw in the door shut area) and found the piece that connects the lock to the mechanism had drooped a bit when being fitted so it didn't engage. Simply refitting it worked. BMWs are known to break these pieces, repair parts are available on eBay.