Locked out

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Freddie
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Dear All,

So i had a call from my wife to say that the remote control would not open my 1999 G 500, i told her to use the key in the drivers door

but again no luck, turning the key did nothing, any idea how to gain entry and what the problem may be? not sure if this is related but out of the blue the radio would not turn on the other day.

 

 

KInd regards

 

Freddie

 

 

Jdring
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Location: South of Oxford, UK. 87' 230GE SWB Manual, 89' 230GE SWB Auto, 2012 G350Bluetec LWB
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Re: Locked out

Does sound like a completely flat car battery?

But I would have thought the physical lock would still work to get you access and then if no lights on the ignition, its the battery (although there may be enough battery to light up the dash only).

Try key access via the rear door also.  You'll need access to do anything.

Nick123
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Re: Locked out
This has just happened on our ordinary car. Although the car never goes on a short run and had given no warning it suddenly failed. Although unusual, it is not unknown - especially on stop/start systems. Incidentally, I always override the stop/start: where we live the fuel savings would be negligeable (if any) and the cost starter motors/ring gears would be horrendous. A new battery (and reprogramming of the gizmology) solved it. "Advanced Battery Supplies" were enormously helpful and knowledgeable. advancedbatterysupplies.co.uk
Jdring
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Re: Locked out

Yes Stop/Start batteries seem to be backed by 'gizmology'.  It won't be on the OPs G500 from 1999 though :)

But since you mention it _ we had it on my wife's Fiat500 and it failed just as you said, one day.  The AA jump started the car to get it going and then the Fiat Garage were given the job of replacing the battery.  The result - Stop/Start and half the BlueMe system no longer worked and Fiat blamed it on a fried component (expensive) which could have been caused by the jump start.  Result:  4 years later the car still doesn't have those gizmos.  But hey, the battery hasn't failed since either and we don't miss it.

Now, I don't see what can be special about a stop/start battery, other than it needs to be heavier duty to take the more frequent use.  So issues are more likely with the gizmology, not the battery.

Back to this post - why didn't the physical key unlock the car?  My guess is it probably did.

 

 

Freddie
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Re: Locked out

Thanks for the advice,

The rear door locked work but my wife was worried how much time she has to climb over the seats and unset the alarm/immolbilizer and if there will be an issue with the immobilzer if she takes to long?

 

Regards

 

Freddie

 

Jdring
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Location: South of Oxford, UK. 87' 230GE SWB Manual, 89' 230GE SWB Auto, 2012 G350Bluetec LWB
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Re: Locked out

Well if its a flat battery, none of that will work.  So it will be a test.  Worst case, take a spanner to disconnect the earth terminal on the battery.  

JASONGDS
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Re: Locked out

Unfortunately alarm will still work or should do as they have rechargeable batteries , to prevent such a situation,  key in lock will be very stiff, use care not to break key!

bigblock
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Re: Locked out

I am not sure why you can open the rear door but not the drivers door using the manual key. Could the front locks have been changed at some point but the ignition and rear door were not ?

I think you have three possibilities as to why the remote fob is not activating the cental locking.

1) As has been suggested the car battery is flat.

2) The battery in the key fob is flat, does the red light blink when you press it ?

3) The fuse has blown for the central door locking actuators. This might share the same fuse as the radio which is why it stopped working. Check which fuse is for the central locking in the handbook and then check the fuse panel to see if it has blown.

Obviously none of this helps you to get into the car ! If the key fob is still  live then when you press open it should deactivate the alarm and you can open the rear door manualy with the key to gain access. If the alarm does go off then you should still be able  to start the vehicle as normal with the key and the alarm will shut down, assuming its not an aftermarket alarm.

 

Freddie
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Re: Locked out

Thanks for all the help, we now have access to the G the battery is completely flat...

Jdring
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Location: South of Oxford, UK. 87' 230GE SWB Manual, 89' 230GE SWB Auto, 2012 G350Bluetec LWB
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Re: Locked out

OK, next is to figure out why?  Completely flat means something drained it.  Even a failing battery doesn't go completely dead.

If you left the lights on, easy.  Or something else that bypasses the ignition.  Just replace the battery and try not to repeat :)

The door buzzer on my 460 that is supposed to remind me of my side/head lights no longer works, so it can be an easy mistake to make.  In the 463, the lights are on Auto and never let me down so far.

 

Nick123
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Re: Locked out
I am no electro-boffin. However, when the eight year old battery on our ordinary car went completely flat (it couldn't even light the dashboard) it had never before let us down and had never given even a hint that it might. A few miles earlier it had simply worked; a few miles later it simply stopped. The garage guru (thank you, Loch Shiel of Acharacle) said such cases were rare but did happen. One new battery and many miles later and all is tickety-boo.