HELP - Key stuck in ignition barrel, boot won't open... bad battery connection suspected

makeshiftUK

Member
Messages
1,089
Just to draw this conclusion (and resolution), I managed to get enough charge into the battery for it to start willingly Tuesday AM, making the decision to drop it off to Autofficina. They were able to fix the boot locking barrel without ordering replacement parts... great success.

As for the battery and my suspected parasitic drain, these were their findings:
  • Charging rate 14.2 volts, 13.8 volts under heavy electrical load
  • Amp drain very low... 35-40 milliamps
  • Load test battery; battery good
  • Surface charge of battery 12.8 volts
However, they did note that the negative battery terminal wasn't seated properly - the connecting 'ring' (insert joke here) should be seated comfortably below the level of the top of terminal... when I hooked it back up myself I clearly wasn't thorough enough.

In summary my school-boy error is to blame, and I'll willingly take that any day of the week vs. more fault-finding, time and expense. All has been fine since... long may that continue.

Ummm, what? Both my GT and my continental were / are permanently connected to a CTEK. The boot will close just fine on either the 240v or 12v cable. Clearly you need to keep the plugs under cover, but I just run cables under the garage door.
Got myself a 2.5m CTEK extension cable... as I don't have a garage I'm using one of our bay windows serving the same purpose, and it seems to work. Gone are the days of running a mains extension lead down the side of the house... another great success.
 

Bigbaddom

Member
Messages
102
Amazingly over the last heatwave the same thing happened to me.
I couldn’t remove the key although I could open the boot. I am blaming it on the heat and one of the Bluetooth lighter things.

All charged up using my neighbours CTEK and everything seems fine now.

For some reason my cigarette lighter in the front doesn’t work so I need to use the one in the rear armrest. I also can’t get the USB in the glovebox to actually charge my phone.

Is there a secret technique to either of these things?
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,539
Check the fuse for the lighter, but it will only go live with ignition on.

The USB socket may not be the version that supplies power. It also may not provide enough power to charge a modern phone (particularly an Apple, if that's your bag)

C
 

Devonboy

Member
Messages
1,289
Amazingly over the last heatwave the same thing happened to me.
I couldn’t remove the key although I could open the boot. I am blaming it on the heat and one of the Bluetooth lighter things.

All charged up using my neighbours CTEK and everything seems fine now.

For some reason my cigarette lighter in the front doesn’t work so I need to use the one in the rear armrest. I also can’t get the USB in the glovebox to actually charge my phone.

Is there a secret technique to either of these things?
I had the same problem first off identify what type of USB you have - Page 143 of owners manual 88554
Second pull it out and check it’s connected…and whilst out - clean it, hoover out any dust and dirt, a micro brush with some alcohol to clean contacts and ensure good connection etc.

I have a GTS and the charge from the USB full socket does happily recharge an apple phone

if you have the recharge socket - then I do not know if that will charge an iPhone - but someone else will!
 

MikeyMaser

Member
Messages
473
I had a similar issue with a flat battery on Sunday and your thread was very useful in terms of extracting the key and opening the boot. :)

I managed to get it started with a battery booster and the the AA fitted a new battery yesterday as it was on its way out. They fitted a Bosch S5A13 which was same as the existing one. It had lasted less than 4 years which shows how hard the QP is on batteries if you don't use it much or just do short journeys.