I had to disconnect the main battery in the boot (to reboot the infotainment system). So, opened the tailgate. Lifted the boot floor. Propped up the spare wheel with a woodburner log. Disconnected the battery. While waiting 10 minutes to dissipate all circuits it started to rain. So I lowered the tailgate. It clicked shut. So now my car is a brick. I managed to get access to the cabin using the physical key. That allowed me to open the bonnet. I connected FFRR #2 to the jumping points but that didn't provide the energy to allow power up FFRR#1 (not sure why). Rear seats are electric and I couldn't find a manual override. Due to body shape constraints I wasn't able to slip over the rear seats, even with the head rests removed. I called Eugene Tombes but he'd put on weight too. Ski Hatch wasn't an option. Also, the angle created by the raised boot floor over the propped up spare wheel meant I couldn't properly get access to the battery.

After two hours with an unravelled coat hanger I managed to get the battery terminals reconnected from the back seat. Trust me; this takes some patience and dexterity. The infotainment system popped back to life. This is not a solution. Surely Land Rover didn't create a locked room puzzle by only allowing access to the battery by electronic means??

Does this also mean it's pointless keeping a jump pack in the boot?

My actual Question: Can the boot be opened with a physical key?

No physical key barrel in the rear tailgate exists to be opened in the same way the main door might be.

You'd have to take the interior panel of the upper tailgate off and reach in and pull the cable arm on the latch mechanism to undo it without electrical power I reckon ( even if thats accessible ) ... which requires you to be in the rear boot in the first place !


Next time, could you just pull the fuse for the entertainment system? May save the hassle happening again. V8 or else ...

Thanks Fisha - as I had feared. So JLR have created a locked room problem with access to the battery.

Fuse definitely a better option for infotainment problem. Save my back from lifting the spare out too.

I recently had a similar problem. After having the car parked up for a few months the battery died completely. Tried charging it via the under bonnet terminals but the charger was saying the battery was faulty now so wouldn’t take any charge.
As the car was backed up against the garage I couldn’t open the tailgate and also I couldn’t release the park brake to move the car forward. Eventually I got a Noco boost unit which fired the car into life so I could move the car and access the boot to swap the battery. 2013 SDV8 4.4 Vogue SE Aintree

PhillV8s - same idea. I have a charge pack now but lesson is not to keep it in the boot!

So this pair had the same problem and got over it this way,

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I do remember when I did the same thing as you I called out the AA and I was told to hold the tailgate release at the same time as he put the jump pack on the terminals under the bonnet which worked. 2017 SDV8 4.4 silicon silver AB
2012 TDV8 4.4 Stornaway Grey AB
2011 TDV8 4.4 Buckingham Blue
2012 VW V6 3.0 Tougreg