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Dead Battery - Can't Unlock Doors

10731 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Thejarhead
First post...

So, my daughter left her lights on on her 2001 Beetle TDI. Lights were on all day. Went out to start her car and couldn't get in. Key doesn't work in the door because, I'm assuming, it's some sort of solenoid and not a true manual lock. No trunk lock. No passenger door lock. So what the heck do you do to unlock it? Reach underneath the front bumper and release the hood release and put jumper cables on it and then unlock the doors? This is the most ludicrous design I've ever seen!

On a side note, is there a mod to turn the headlights to a switched light that turns them off with the ignition?
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First welcome to the Org
To get in the car with a dead battery.
On the outside door handle, when you pull on the handle, there is one section that wont move when you pull the handle. It stays at the door. This is where a normal car would have tumbler and a key to unlock the door. Your car has this same tumbler, but its under that cap that you are seeing on the door handle. You need to pop the cap off to access the tumbler, then use your key.

A far as the light mod, I am guessing the car has a failed micro-switch. If this is the case, the warning buzzer wont come on to tell you the lights are on after the key is pulled.

I thought the 2001's had the rear swivel trunk emblem? It pivots and there is a key slot underneath it, and a flip up pull handle. I know my 2000 did.
At some point they went to a normal stick on rear badge, and did away with the swivel type.
Thanks. How do you pop that cover off?
Yes, the 2001 has the swivel trunk emblem. Crawl in that way, pop the hood, charge up that battery.


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Thanks. How do you pop that cover off?
While I have never done it, I would try to find a plastic tool or wrap a cloth around a knife to avoid scratching the paint, and try prying it off.
First welcome to the Org
To get in the car with a dead battery.
On the outside door handle, when you pull on the handle, there is one section that wont move when you pull the handle. It stays at the door. This is where a normal car would have tumbler and a key to unlock the door. Your car has this same tumbler, but its under that cap that you are seeing on the door handle. You need to pop the cap off to access the tumbler, then use your key.

A far as the light mod, I am guessing the car has a failed micro-switch. If this is the case, the warning buzzer wont come on to tell you the lights are on after the key is pulled.

I thought the 2001's had the rear swivel trunk emblem? It pivots and there is a key slot underneath it, and a flip up pull handle. I know my 2000 did.
At some point they went to a normal stick on rear badge, and did away with the swivel type.
I tried to pop off the cover to mine and the whole tumbler is trying to come out with the cover. How do I separate it?
Dead battery correct? Jack the front drivers side of the car up. Once in the air you will see the starter. A large heavy gauge black wire comes down from the battery to the starter and hooks on it. There is often a plastic shield the covers the bolt where it attaches to the starter.
Pop the small plastic shield off and hook the red wire of a pair of jumper cables up to the bolt on the starter where the black wire is connected. Hook the black jumper cable lead to somewhere on the frame underneath the car.

Now hook the other end of the red jumper cable to the positive (+) side of another cars battery and the black jumper cable end to the negative (-) side of the battery. Now hit the unlock button on your key fob.

The power back feeds up through the starter to the battery.
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