Help opening Audi TT

Omega28

Hi

I'm trying to open a 99 Audi TT. The keys won't open the car for some central locking issue and we have tried opening it from the fly window to catch the handle but the car has no power, the battery is dead so the locks won't open it

Someone suggested to me to take the wheel off and cut a hole in the plastic covering and grab the bonnet release cable, remove the battery, recharge it? Is anyone familiar with this?

Any help would be great

TherapyBoy

I'm not being funny or anything but can you open the car by turning the key in the door? Even with the battery dead & central locking not working, physically turning the key in the door should operate the lock mechanically.

Omega28

Yeah I tried that pal but seemingly the key won't open it, I'm not sure why but it won't

TherapyBoy

Only thing I can think of then is the locking is all done electronically & turning the key in the door just operates a switch. You'll need power to open the deadlocks.
If you can't get the bonnet open you could jack-up the front of the car, remove the skidpan & connect another battery or a battery pack to the car, negative to the body of the car & positive to the starter motor or alternator. That will give you power to operate the locking or at least turn the key in the door.
Drilling a hole to find the bonnet release cable sounds good if you know where to drill, if it came to me drilling holes I'd probably prefer to break a window and open the bonnet the old fashioned way.

Sorry I couldn't be any more help, hope you get it sorted quick & easy!

Omega28

Thanks for your help pal!

I might just smash the window though as that seems a bit messy for me. Any ideas what side the bonnet release handle is on? My friend thinks its the passenger but usually with Audi, VW its the drivers side?

TherapyBoy

My Dad used to have one & he says drivers side, but you'll probably have to climb through anyways (unless you have long arms)

Omega28

I was going to smash the front fly window and reach from there on the drivers side but didnt want to smash it if it wasn't the right side

Omega28

is it easy enough to remove the skidpan?

TherapyBoy

Yes, should be just a few small fixings. If you have doubts though, just break a window! I can't find anything definite about which side the bonnet release is on.

Omega28

Yeah I just wanted to smash the smaller windows and not the main side windows. Ive been googling and cant find out which side the handle is on

mickdw

I had a 00 reg TT and I cant remember the bonnet release being anywhere other than the drivers footwell
Id be tempted to connect power to the 12v lead at the starter as described above. Should power up and get you in.

Neilw

If it has deadlocks the interior handle still won't open the door.

George Dalton

mickdw wrote: »

I had a 00 reg TT and I cant remember the bonnet release being anywhere other than the drivers footwell
Id be tempted to connect power to the 12v lead at the starter as described above. Should power up and get you in.

This ^^

Omega28

Neilw wrote: »

If it has deadlocks the interior handle still won't open the door.

so I'm wasting my time powering it up then it seems

Omega28

George Dalton wrote: »

This ^^

but if its deadlocked surely I'd be wasting my time then?

George Dalton

Power it up and use the remote on the key.

TherapyBoy

Once the car has power you can get past the deadlocks.

Omega28

can anyone confirm what side the bonnet handle is on? just I dont want to be smashing windows everywhere and its cheaper to replace the smaller fly windows then the side windows

George Dalton

The bonnet handle is 100% definitely on the drivers side.

Tell me this though, what is smashing the window going to achieve that cannot be achieved without smashing the window?

Omega28

well do u think its best to jack the car up, remove the skid cover and power it up that way?

George Dalton

Definitely. Why are you so intent on breaking glass? :pac:

TherapyBoy

Best guess so far has been drivers side. If you're gonna be breaking a window anyways I say break the main window in one of the doors. How often do you get an excuse to smash up some glass!

Don't forget, if you break a window & get the car moving you don't want to be sitting on shattered glass on the drivers seat. I say break the passenger side and climb in.

Happy smashing!

Omega28

George Dalton wrote: »

Definitely. Why are you so intent on breaking glass? :pac:

It just seemed the easiest and fastest option

George Dalton

Yes but not when you take the subsequent cleanup and repair into account.

Omega28

George Dalton wrote: »

Yes but not when you take the subsequent cleanup and repair into account.

surely a fly window wouldn't cost much, 50e?

George Dalton

Yes but it would take longer to fit the replacement window than it would to jack up the car and access the starter wire to power it up!

michael999999

If you are going to smash it, get a roll of duct tape and tape off the window pane before you smash it.

Should stop most of the mess.

mickdw

Break the window if it makes you happy but it makes little sense.

OldmanMondeo

Do you know anyone with AA cover? It is the driver covered and not the car. Get a patrol out and they should be able to open it. Save smashing window and jacking the car.

Omega28

I don't really want to smash it and would rather not. My concern is if I jack it up, take off the skid cover, things might get a little tricky from there as I'm not mechanically minded

Omega28

OldmanMondeo wrote: »

Do you know anyone with AA cover? It is the driver covered and not the car. Get a patrol out and they should be able to open it. Save smashing window and jacking the car.

no man I don't know anyone with AA cover sadly

OldmanMondeo

Where you based? A fellow Boardise with cover might be near by.

galwaytt

Bonnet release is on drivers side. Fact.

If your key won't open the door mechanically, I'd wager either lock or ign has been changed previously. ....wheres the spare key ?

Breaking window sounds dumb to me....my 0.02

MetzgerMeister

Instead of drilling holes in plastic, would it not be wiser to just undo all the small clips and remove the wheel arch liner altogether to access the bonnet release?

If there's any mobile mechanics in your area, give them a ring and see if they can call to you. The last thing you should do is smash any window, I'm surprised you're even considering that at this point!

arleitiss

Would the alarm not go off on car once it detects one of it's sides been lifted up? I tried jacking up my car once (had key in pocked and by accident key got pressed so it locked.) alarm went off as soon as I started lifting the front.

MetzgerMeister

arleitiss wrote: »

Would the alarm not go off on car once it detects one of it's sides been lifted up? I tried jacking up my car once (had key in pocked and by accident key got pressed so it locked.) alarm went off as soon as I started lifting the front.

Battery = dead

Unless there's a back-up power supply for the alarm it won't go off.

unkel

Alarms typically do have back up power, don't they?

arleitiss

Imagine if alarm would go off, and someone was doing something under car or breaking window. I am pretty sure the first thing that comes to peoples mind who see it is: "oh look, a person trying to manually open a car that's been set on alarm, pretty sure it's his car".

Seriously though: that would be one thing I wouldn't want to happen with me

tossy

What's the history of the car has it been driven recently? Are you 100% sure the battery is dead?

I would replace the battery in the key fob first. My sisters golf suffered similar symptoms recently , parked up and a few hours later the car wouldn't open and key wouldn't turn in locks. New battery in key fob sorted it.

Skatedude

As far as i know, all cars made in the last 10 or so years are required to be able to open the doors if the battery is dead. usally by holding up the handle and then turning the key.

the boot/ trunk is electronic on the tt and the release is:
-In the roadster, the manual release is located in the small compartment behind the passenger seat.

-In the coupe, the manual release is located under the cupholders. You must remove the rubber pads on the cupholders and unscrew them to access it