My 1st post - Bad Battery? How do I get in?

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2005ViperRam

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Hey all,
This is my 1st post... Long time viewer though....

Here is my question... It is like 7 below zero and my battery is dead. No problem, I'll just jump it off...
However, I can't get into the truck. The truck is locked, and with the battery dead the remote doesn't work... Ok, so I use the key instead. Well the key doesn't open the doors either. It seems like the door locks are electrical and you need power for them, or, my doors are hosed up and the mechanical portion of the doors doesn't work. The key turns the lock, it just doesn't open the door.

So, when using the key, are the door locks mechanical? Which means mine are broken.
OR
Are they electrical door locks?

How would get into the truck to access the hood latch to enable me to jump it off? I'm thinking if I can get just enough power, then my remotes will work. The only outside truck electrical connection I can get to is the Tow Hitch electrical receptacle. But I don't think that would feed power back to the battery... My only option would be for a locksmith to come out and "pop" the lock open...
Any ideas?
 
2005ViperRam said:
Hey all,
This is my 1st post... Long time viewer though....

Here is my question... It is like 7 below zero and my battery is dead. No problem, I'll just jump it off...
However, I can't get into the truck. The truck is locked, and with the battery dead the remote doesn't work... Ok, so I use the key instead. Well the key doesn't open the doors either. It seems like the door locks are electrical and you need power for them, or, my doors are hosed up and the mechanical portion of the doors doesn't work. The key turns the lock, it just doesn't open the door.

So, when using the key, are the door locks mechanical? Which means mine are broken.
OR
Are they electrical door locks?

How would get into the truck to access the hood latch to enable me to jump it off? I'm thinking if I can get just enough power, then my remotes will work. The only outside truck electrical connection I can get to is the Tow Hitch electrical receptacle. But I don't think that would feed power back to the battery... My only option would be for a locksmith to come out and "pop" the lock open...
Any ideas?
Click to expand...


Willing to bet your locks are just frozen unless you turning it broke a linkage. Go the pop lock guy to prevent further damage IMO! Or try running warm water into the door to thaw linkages.
 
2005ViperRam said:
Hey all,
This is my 1st post... Long time viewer though....

Here is my question... It is like 7 below zero and my battery is dead. No problem, I'll just jump it off...
However, I can't get into the truck. The truck is locked, and with the battery dead the remote doesn't work... Ok, so I use the key instead. Well the key doesn't open the doors either. It seems like the door locks are electrical and you need power for them, or, my doors are hosed up and the mechanical portion of the doors doesn't work. The key turns the lock, it just doesn't open the door.

So, when using the key, are the door locks mechanical? Which means mine are broken.
OR
Are they electrical door locks?

How would get into the truck to access the hood latch to enable me to jump it off? I'm thinking if I can get just enough power, then my remotes will work. The only outside truck electrical connection I can get to is the Tow Hitch electrical receptacle. But I don't think that would feed power back to the battery... My only option would be for a locksmith to come out and "pop" the lock open...
Any ideas?
Click to expand...

The doors may be frozen shut,The rubber seals get wet,Then freeze.That keeps you from being able to pull them open even if they unlock.
 
The door key turns the lock cylinder, but the thing (don't know what it's called) that you push down on the inside of the door doesn't pop up when the key turns.... The lock is not frozen, it does turn the cylinder.

Are you guys saying the key is a mechanical devices that will pop the thing you push down, up? If so, then I bet I've got a broke plastic thing that holds the lever together. It's too bad, because the passenger side doesn't have a lock in the handle.

The only other way is for me to crawl under the truck and find the starter and put power there, but lets face it, I think I'm probably better off just paying the guy to pop the lock...

I have a spare car, and since I wanted to replace some parts in the tranny, I wasn't driving it anyway. I just went out today to grad some stuff I needed that I had in it.
 
Call a towing company. They will have a slim-jim that can open the door. I have used a hair dryer to heat the locks and seals before, but it is a long shot.
 
My 08 would freeze at the door seal...pour a bottle of rubbing alcohol around the top and sides of the door..
.worked for me several times!!!
 
Last edited:
You could try to locate the lever where the cable is attached to open the hood and try to open it from outside with iron wire.
Might be easier if you have an inspection camera. :dontknow:
Just a thought.
Or try to load the battery by attaching the battery charger to the starter connection for the + and somewhere on the chassis for the -. :dontknow:
Just an other thought.
Now i 'have to stop; my brain starts to boil. :vollkommenauf:
 
AMA "slim jim" will get ya opened up. I recently started my truck, rolled it halfway out of the garage to let my son load his Hockey equipment in the back. when I went back to open the door, it was locked!! Doh!!! Only one key! i had to leave it idle until AMA showed up to unlock it.
 
yellowfever#154 said:
Is there any resistance when turning the key or is it really easy?
Click to expand...

It easily turns. No resistance at all. That's why I thought it was just a electronic type of door opener.

The truck is brand new to me. This is one of those things I never checked to see if it worked or not. I just assumed it did.

I think I will call a locksmith. I was just hoping there was another way of getting just enough power to the battery (ie maybe going through the tow bar light connector on back) to let my key fob to work. I was even thinking of putting power to the starter, but that means I need to get on my back to find it. I much rather pay someone to open it....

Next time you guys have your battery disconnected, try to see if the doors open with the key. Just make dang sure you leave the hood open....

qyb6o0.jpg


bilz0p.jpg
 
Last edited:
2005ViperRam said:
It easily turns. No resistance at all. That's why I thought it was just a electronic type of door opener.

The truck is brand new to me. This is one of those things I never checked to see if it worked or not. I just assumed it did.

I think I will call a locksmith. I was just hoping there was another way of getting just enough power to the battery (ie maybe going through the tow bar light connector on back) to let my key fob to work. I was even thinking of putting power to the starter, but that means I need to get on my back to find it. I much rather pay someone to open it....

Next time you guys have your battery disconnected, try to see if the doors open with the key. Just make dang sure you leave the hood open....

qyb6o0.jpg


bilz0p.jpg
Click to expand...


Door locks open just fine with key and no battery. It's mechanical linkages inside the door and a power lock actuator that will operate manually as well.
 
VENOMOUS1 RACING said:
Door locks open just fine with key and no battery. It's mechanical linkages inside the door and a power lock actuator that will operate manually as well.
Click to expand...

Thank you for checking... I know the problem is now under the door panel... Hopefully it's a easy fix....
 
Well,...... looks like it's HAMMER TIME!!!:D

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxm_mwz9sRo&playnext=1&list=PL2237AB98BCAC670C&feature=results_main]MC Hammer - U Can t Touch This - YouTube[/ame]
 
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