pauls911

2006 997.1... My battery died and as usual the front lid would not release with the switch so I attempted to open it with the "emergency" release tab at the fuse box. I've used it before and it worked fine but this time when I attached the 12 volts I heard a relay chatter and then it would no longer release the lid.

Does anyone know where this relay is located? I thought maybe it was a fuse but the list of fuses does not show a fuse for the front lid release. This seems odd as the rear lid does have a fuse listed.

Thanks in advance for any help with this.

yvesvidal

There is a cable under the lining of the left front wheel (inside the wheel well). You may want to find it and pull on it to open the frunk.
That is your last resort before bringing the torch... :-)

Yves

frybear

I have not done this yet but I don't think it's an actual fuse...I think there is a red piece that pulls out of the fusebox under the drivers side footwell and you attached your jump pack or other battery to that, then you use the key fob, not the trunk release button in the car to open the frunk

frybear

CAVU

If a relay chatters, I would first suspect that the 12volt source did not have enough amperage. There has to be enough amperage to keep the contactor in the relay closed AND to power the front control module. What was your source, and if it is a battery, does it pass a load test?

pauls911

Thanks for your response. I used a 12v 7.2 AH motorcycle battery which caused the chattering. I then tried my battery charger which didn't even energize the relay. That is why I thought I damaged the relay.

Wayne Smith

Battery charges are tender or trickle. Neither is a good option as a power source. You might want to put the charger on the motorcycle battery overnight and try again in the morning.

997.2GTS

The motorcycle battery is more than adequate, if you know its charged. I would ensure the jumper post was pulled firmly out, you had a reliable ground point and your alligator clip was clipped on sideways to the red post. The relay chatter points to something simple like this, I have heard that slight chatter when I used the procedure with my car (initial connection), then no problem popping the frunk with the key.

Petza914

Also, those current polarity detecting jumper cables won't work if the battery is completely dead. If you used that type, that's why it didn't work and you need traditional ones to connect the second battery to the jumper tine in the fuse box.Also, only the frunk pop button on the key will work, not the frunk release switch on the sill.