How do I open the hood on my 1999 996 if the battery's dead?
01-27-2019, 09:30 PM
#1
How do I open the hood on my 1999 996 if the battery's dead?
I'm concerned that I won't be able to open the hood in the event of a dead battery. Apparently, on Gen 2 cars, Porsche addressed this issue. I'm wondering if my battery charger installed through the cigarette lighter would allow me to open the hood?
01-27-2019, 09:37 PM
#2
1999 cars have a manual cable pull... non-issue.
01-27-2019, 09:48 PM
#3
Rennlist Member
So to answer your question, basically yes, any way you can add power to the car it will allow you to pop it so if you have a jump box you can plug into the cigarette lighter that will work. The later cars do have a pull out in the fuse box that allow you to connect a jump box directly to it for power, then i usually ground it on the door hinge.
As DGI said your 99 should have an emergency pull cable which is a pain in the *** to get to. If I recall correctly there are 4 openings on the bottom side of the from bumper and the easiest to grab it from is the Left-center one. Reach up the hole to about elbow height and you should be able to find it with your hand although may be easier to jack it up and put eyes on it first so you know what you are dealing with. Give it a tug and towards the passenger side (I Think) and that should open it up. Been a while since i've had to do it on an older one so anyone can feel free to correct me, but that should get you pretty close.
As DGI said your 99 should have an emergency pull cable which is a pain in the *** to get to. If I recall correctly there are 4 openings on the bottom side of the from bumper and the easiest to grab it from is the Left-center one. Reach up the hole to about elbow height and you should be able to find it with your hand although may be easier to jack it up and put eyes on it first so you know what you are dealing with. Give it a tug and towards the passenger side (I Think) and that should open it up. Been a while since i've had to do it on an older one so anyone can feel free to correct me, but that should get you pretty close.
01-27-2019, 09:49 PM
#4
The main hood and bonnet pulls are cable on the 99...
battery or not, they work unless they snap.
battery or not, they work unless they snap.
01-27-2019, 10:57 PM
#5
Thank you for responding, that really uncomplicates things. I'll get a flashlight and find the manual pull release. I have a plug into lighter charger, but my batteries usually die in a parking lot...
01-27-2019, 11:13 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
I just replaced the battery in my 99. Not only does the frunk have a manual pull cable, but you can also unlock and open the door with...wait for it...the key. Haha, old school!
99s rule!
99s rule!
01-27-2019, 11:32 PM
#7
For model year 2000, even though the frunk has a manual pull cable, a battery is required to open it. I wasn't aware of that until I checked the manual. The engine lid can be opened without a battery, so you can put cables on the jump points. Are you sure that 99's work differently?
Last edited by wyovino; 01-27-2019 at 11:58 PM.
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01-28-2019, 08:17 AM
#8
For model year 2000, even though the frunk has a manual pull cable, a battery is required to open it. I wasn't aware of that until I checked the manual. The engine lid can be opened without a battery, so you can put cables on the jump points. Are you sure that 99's work differently?
01-28-2019, 09:13 AM
#9
Im not sure how that contradiction works, but the '99 (my 99 at least) has a manual hood/frunk release and the battery is not required as its on a cable. I have opened my frunk with the battery disconnected. Either the op is joking or needs more clarification. On a 99 you don't need to fish out any hidden wires just reach down beside the seat and open it. If your battery dies no problem.
01-28-2019, 09:40 AM
#10
Drifting
Im not sure how that contradiction works, but the '99 (my 99 at least) has a manual hood/frunk release and the battery is not required as its on a cable. I have opened my frunk with the battery disconnected. Either the op is joking or needs more clarification. On a 99 you don't need to fish out any hidden wires just reach down beside the seat and open it. If your battery dies no problem.
On the 2000 (I can’t speak for other years), which is still cable operated release, there is a solenoid actuated tab and slot that locks the lever on the door sill in the closed position. With a dead battery there isn’t an easy way to release the locked down latch. Some people are able to undo the locking tab with a small tool, but I’ve never tried that - having had that assembly apart, I can confirm that the tab is not easily assessible.
01-28-2019, 10:51 AM
#12
Rennlist Member
For model year 2000, even though the frunk has a manual pull cable, a battery is required to open it. I wasn't aware of that until I checked the manual. The engine lid can be opened without a battery, so you can put cables on the jump points. Are you sure that 99's work differently?
01-28-2019, 12:06 PM
#13
Drifting
Yes, so does my 2000, but it also has a locking tab that prevents it from opening unless the solenoid disengages it. If you haven’t had it apart or had a dead battery, it’s pretty likely that you’d be blissfully unaware of this “feature”. You may be able to see the tab/slot if you look carefully with a penlight.
01-28-2019, 12:08 PM
#14
Drifting
Well, now that you mention it, the question on the lock mechanism is curious. If the frunk hood is locked and there’s not enough battery juice to unlock the car, to unlock the frunk latch mechanism, then even though the frunk uses cables, the frunk may still be locked.
01-28-2019, 12:18 PM
#15
In the 2000 Owners Manual it's on page 92 - Front and Rear Hoods.
Note
When the battery is discharged, the lever for the front hood can't be unlocked. Using jumper cables, the battery of another car can be used to open the front hood. To connect the cables, refer to "Emergency Starting with Jumper Cables".
I'm curious if the '99 has the same thing,
Note
When the battery is discharged, the lever for the front hood can't be unlocked. Using jumper cables, the battery of another car can be used to open the front hood. To connect the cables, refer to "Emergency Starting with Jumper Cables".
I'm curious if the '99 has the same thing,
