Dead battery and key dosent work.. what now? start cutting?

[Meat Evo]

I recently purchased a 98 e36 from a auction. I got a key made and now its time to start her up.....


I can hook a running car up to the front positive terminal and graound under the hood and get it to crank, but only for a second, then she dies. even with a running SUV hooked up to it.

i can insert my key into the trunk lock and turn it, unlocking and locking the doors. but the trunk will not open.

There is not a ski hole behind the rear seats, however, the hole is covered and tac welded. I could easily cut the welds off and remove the plate and gain access.... but i dont wanna do that, now do I?


I searced and every answer leads me to the terminals under the hood.

any other ideas?

[slocar]

Sometimes with a completely dead battery, the battery of the car jumping, combined with the length (and thickness) of the cables simply can not provide enough juice to start it.

That said, I have heard of people not being able to open their trunk before and pretty much the only solution is to cut that ski pass through and work on it from back there ... I mean even if you do manage to start the car this one time, you'll need the trunk eventually at some point. :/

edit: but for a start, I guess you could try a bigger battery with larger gauge jumper cables.

[Meat Evo]

looks like ill cut the ski pass and try to pull the emergency lever in the trunk

[paniolo]

With the jumpers on have you tried the interior lock button in the center counsel to see if that gets the trunk actuator wot work?

[westfield]

I'm just curious..I never bought a car at an auction before. Do they allow you to start the car before hand ? Make sure all systems work?

[whoshaunq]

there is no emergency handle to open the trunk. that I know of atleast. but fuck it why not try what slocar said. better power hookup. an hit the lock button. sometimes my trunk button doesnt work, the lever in side cones detached and I have to crawl in the trunk through the back seats and open it that way. you may have to cut. but what's the big deal with cutting it open?

[Meat Evo]

I ended up cutting the ski hole and took the 10mm bolts that hold teh trunk latch in out. I think that freed up the trunk lock becuse i was able to pop it right open.

replaced the battery, got it started. runs fine. clutch is stuck..

[jijacob]

Clutch might very well be slave. They are the most likely point of failure.

[walker7182006]

Nice glad you got her open and running. how about some pics of her ;)

[Meat Evo]

working on slave next and pics soon.