Cannot get into my Z1!!

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badboy
Joined: Fri 20 Feb, 2004 12:40
Posts: 43

  Z1 roadster

Cannot get into my Z1!!

Post by badboy »

Bit of a dilemma..

My car has the hardtop on and the battery has gone flat. How can I get in without smashing the window?

Thanks

Garo
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Jet
Joined: Fri 14 Nov, 2003 16:24
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Post by Jet »

badboy
Joined: Fri 20 Feb, 2004 12:40
Posts: 43

  Z1 roadster

Post by badboy »

Thanks Jet,

Tried the key, which is turning the lock but when I push the button to release the door nothing is happening. Door remains locked. I cannot seem to get into the car !!


Any other suggestions?

Thanks

G
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Jet
Joined: Fri 14 Nov, 2003 16:24
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Post by Jet »

Silly question, but the door is not still locked? Not sure if the Central locking is powered by the battery, but when you turn the key 90degs, that obviously unlocks the door, you should hear a slight "click" sound. If it is unlocked, it maybe the door is just stiff, apply some pressure when pushing downwards. Also try the procedure on both doors.
apollo
Joined: Thu 27 Jul, 2006 20:28
Posts: 241

  Z1 roadster

Post by apollo »

Its easy, just open your boot remove your light in the boot get a battery or booster and put the positive on the light terminal and the negative onto an earth/chasis. This will power the central locking. Go over to the door and it will unlock. Dont leave it on too long as the wire will get warm :head:
My Z1 is too FAST and my Gallardo is too SLOW
badboy
Joined: Fri 20 Feb, 2004 12:40
Posts: 43

  Z1 roadster

Post by badboy »

Hi Guys

Sorry to bring this one up again!!

Tried the easy step of simply putting the key into unlock. This did not work. No clunck from the central locking system. There is resistance when turning but when pushing the button in nothing happens.

Took the rear light cluster off not much to connect the jump lead to. There are a couple of metal clips to connect the positive to, and the negative to the boot lid hinge.

Have I done this right???

Thanks

G
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Jet
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Post by Jet »

I may be wrong but I dont think the hinge is connected to the chassis for you to get an earth.
sfh3l
Joined: Fri 02 Sep, 2005 16:07
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  Z1 roadster
Location: Buckingham

Post by sfh3l »

I think that the boot hinge might be well enough earthed, but I'm more worried about what you are planning to connect the positive to:

If it is a trickle charger then that might be OK if the positive circuit that you are connecting to is connected even when the ignition is off, which I guess it must be if you can't get in. If you can get to such a wire then it will allow the battery to trickle charge and for there to be enough current there in any case to activate the central locking.

However, you surely aren't connecting a JUMP LEAD to such a circuit? This will either achieve nothing at all or fry the circuit you are connecting to.

The car should unlock manually if you insert the key into the door lock button and turn it fully forwards as far as it will go, remove the key and then push the button in untill the usual harch 'clunk'. This will release the door from its latch and then allow you to puch the top of the door downward so that the door and window fall. Then you'll be able to remove the soft-top and get at the battery in the usual manner. If the door isn't unlocking then you have more than a flat battery? Try the same on the passenger side......?
Best regards,

Sam Lever.

Anyone who says money isn't everything hasn't found the right classic car yet.
Z1 - 3.0csl - 987 Boxster - Austin 7 Special - Rolls 20 - '72 911 - '95 318is
Black Sport Evo M3 & SG M3 CSL - now someone else's pleasure
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a1z1
Joined: Tue 04 Sep, 2007 20:43
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  Z1 roadster
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Post by a1z1 »

sfh3l wrote:
The car should unlock manually if you insert the key into the door lock button and turn it fully forwards as far as it will go, remove the key and then push the button in untill the usual harch 'clunk'. This will release the door from its latch and then allow you to puch the top of the door downward so that the door and window fall. Then you'll be able to remove the soft-top and get at the battery in the usual manner. If the door isn't unlocking then you have more than a flat battery? Try the same on the passenger side......?
A variation on a theme but try putting the key in the lock turning it forward to the stop (1), press the barrel in gently (2) and turn it further forward (3)after passing the pressure point. Then remove the key back to the vertical and press in the lock barrel.

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Jet
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Post by Jet »

sfh3l wrote:I think that the boot hinge might be well enough earthed
On 2nd thoughts, I think your right there SamSam, it must be, sold as a rock them things usually.
apollo
Joined: Thu 27 Jul, 2006 20:28
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  Z1 roadster

Re: Cannot get into my Z1!!

Post by apollo »

Its very easy, open your boot and remove the interior boot light ( NOT THE REAR LIGHT CLUSTER) its in the centre on the underneath, you may have to get on your knees to see it. Remove one of the wires and connect a positive from a battery or booster to it, then place the negative onto the boot hinge for a good earth. Do this quickly and press the door lock and it will open. Better still get someone else to push the door lock as the wires do get slightly warm if left for too long. It will work :head:
My Z1 is too FAST and my Gallardo is too SLOW
sfh3l
Joined: Fri 02 Sep, 2005 16:07
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  Z1 roadster
Location: Buckingham

Re: Cannot get into my Z1!!

Post by sfh3l »

I still don't get why the door won't open with 'juts' a flat bettery though. Sure, it won't motor down like it should, but the unlocking of the door is entirely manual and driven by what you do with the key in the lock and then the releasing of the door from the latch similarly manual and motivated by pushing the door button. Yes, it is nice to have clever ruses for charging the battery back up while the door remains shut, but why mess around when it can be easily opened?

Once unlatched, my doors push down easily, with or without any battery charge and you're in - am I completely mad or shouldn't this car do the same?

If I'm wrong then please put me out of my misery :?:
Best regards,

Sam Lever.

Anyone who says money isn't everything hasn't found the right classic car yet.
Z1 - 3.0csl - 987 Boxster - Austin 7 Special - Rolls 20 - '72 911 - '95 318is
Black Sport Evo M3 & SG M3 CSL - now someone else's pleasure
Blue 2800cs - now someone else's pain
Old cars - the original "Not for Profit" organisation
Independent Financial Adviser in Buckingham
My Financial Blog
apollo
Joined: Thu 27 Jul, 2006 20:28
Posts: 241

  Z1 roadster

Re: Cannot get into my Z1!!

Post by apollo »

You would think that its completely mechanical but when i had this exact problem the doors would not unclock which leads me to believe that a small amount of power is needed for the central locking. I left the window down and when it happened again i opened the door from the inside handle which is completely mechanical. It all depends if you lock the doors once you close the door,or leave them unlocked.Its all down to you now badboy to put everyone out of their misery. :!: :!:
My Z1 is too FAST and my Gallardo is too SLOW
apollo
Joined: Thu 27 Jul, 2006 20:28
Posts: 241

  Z1 roadster

Re: Cannot get into my Z1!!

Post by apollo »

Come on badboy no point asking for advice and not letting us know weather it worked or not. Or did you use a brick in the end. :head: :head:
My Z1 is too FAST and my Gallardo is too SLOW
badboy
Joined: Fri 20 Feb, 2004 12:40
Posts: 43

  Z1 roadster

Re: Cannot get into my Z1!!

Post by badboy »

Sorry guys, been busy not had the chance to try again. Will post later in the week once I have another go!!
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Racing Tortoise
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Joined: Mon 07 Nov, 2005 15:53
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Re: Cannot get into my Z1!!

Post by Racing Tortoise »

I randomly encountered badboy outside my house yesterday evening after he clocked me taking my Z1 out of my garage and stopped to say hi (good to meet you). Does sound like he has tried all the various options listed here and so far got precisely nowhere.

@ badboy: further to our chat, I would think your best bet (once you get into it) is to take the car to a properly experienced specialist (ie one who knows about the doors on Z1s) and get the door system thoroughly overhauled (belts, micro-switches etc), as, not to put too fine a point on it, it sounded like it was somewhat ***ked. As I mentioned, Munich Legends near Haywards Heath know what they are doing in this respect (they look after mine). Alternatively, I'm sure others can suggest more places with the requisite experience.
Currently: bereft of Z1
Previously: 1991 Ur-grun Z1 and 1991 Traum-schwartz Z1
badboy
Joined: Fri 20 Feb, 2004 12:40
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  Z1 roadster

Re: Cannot get into my Z1!!

Post by badboy »

Hi Gang

Terribly sorry for the delay....Long last managed to get sometime and figure this one out. a1z1 it was your diagram that proved invaluable! It does work. The manual override was a bit fiddly to work out but finally the door dropped and managed to get in....

Battery was knackered but was delighted to hear the engine run smooth..Had the service done battery changed and ready for the summer...
ChrisS
Joined: Thu 30 Jul, 2009 09:11
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  Z1 roadster
Location: Witney

Re: Cannot get into my Z1!!

Post by ChrisS »

Happy New Year, y'all,
The inevitable has happened. I usually park the Z1 in my garage with the driver's door down. On my last trip a few days before Christmas, it rained, so I parked with the roof up and doors closed. Now, I can't get into the car; the alarm system has gone into sleep mode and the boot light glimmers faintly. Pretty clear sign of an ailing battery. I know about the emergency method for opening the doors without electric power and have practised it a few years ago. This time, I can turn the key to almost horizontal, but I don't hear any click of the lock releasing and I can't press the door down. Do I have to hold the jey pressed in and horizontal while pushing the door down, or can I release the jey and press the door with both hands? I have tried the passenger door as well by the way. Any further advice, like how to connect the charger to the boot light, would be welcome.
Best wishes for better times in 2021.
badboy
Joined: Fri 20 Feb, 2004 12:40
Posts: 43

  Z1 roadster

Re: Cannot get into my Z1!!

Post by badboy »

Great to see this post come alive 9 years since I had the original issue!

I generally never lock my car now since this issue and as it’s been a long while since I managed to get in, I can’t remember exactly.

All I do know is there is the manual override and I think it was a1z1 diagram above somewhere that guided me to make it happen.

It was a bit fiddly but persevere and it will eventually work. Once you hear the click just push the door down.

Good luck
Lord Taki
Joined: Mon 21 Nov, 2005 17:33
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Re: Cannot get into my Z1!!

Post by Lord Taki »

You have to push further the button while the key is inside and turn.
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Gazza
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Re: Cannot get into my Z1!!

Post by Gazza »

Gazza

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