Dead Battery Open trunk
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 34
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Dead Battery Open trunk
Heyguys i am at a loss. I have 2000 C5 convertible. The battery is completely dead and i cant open anything that doesnt have a key or a latch. i need to get to my starter cables that are (you guessed it) in the trunk. how do i get the trunk open with no power at all? i casnt evenm get the front trunk open to put the top up.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City MO
I am not sure how this would work, but if you have jumper cable and another battery just hook ground up and and positive side to back side of alternator. I don't think I would start it, just give it power to open lid.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
Release cable location could vary by model (coupe/conver) and model year.
My 98 owners manual shows the convert release cable located in the center rear storage area, coupe has two release cables for the left/right sides located in each of the side rear compartment storage areas.
Either way on a 98, you have to crawl into the rear compartment to find them.
Send someone small !
Just reread your original post and saw that your top is down, don't have a vert but suspect that your chances of getting to the rear compartment is limited.
My 98 owners manual shows the convert release cable located in the center rear storage area, coupe has two release cables for the left/right sides located in each of the side rear compartment storage areas.
Either way on a 98, you have to crawl into the rear compartment to find them.
Send someone small !
Just reread your original post and saw that your top is down, don't have a vert but suspect that your chances of getting to the rear compartment is limited.
Last edited by MAC5; Feb 3, 2007 at 10:15 AM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,743
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From: Omaha Nebraska
St. Jude Donor '06
WOW, if it's that dead, I'd charge it a bit first, even before trying to jumpstart it if you can... Your alternator wil be running at max trying to keep up... I don't know that this is really a problem but on these cars, with what stuff costs, I'd charge it at least for a couple or more hours first... If you have the time?? 
OR... Maybe after a few minutes of charging, there will be enough power to open the trunk? Maybe you don't have a battery charger??? If you own a Vette, yiou need one!! At least a tender.
Sorry about the cable...
OR... Maybe after a few minutes of charging, there will be enough power to open the trunk? Maybe you don't have a battery charger??? If you own a Vette, yiou need one!! At least a tender.
Sorry about the cable...
Last edited by VRROOOM2; Feb 3, 2007 at 09:36 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 34
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WOW, if it's that dead, I'd charge it a bit first, even before trying to jumpstart it if you can... Your alternator wil be running at max trying to keep up... I don't know that this is really a problem but on these cars, with what stuff costs, I'd charge it at least for a couple or more hours first... If you have the time??
OR... Maybe after a few minutes of charging, there will be enough power to open the trunk? Maybe you don't have a battery charger??? If you own a Vette, yiou need one!! At least a tender.
Sorry about the cable...
OR... Maybe after a few minutes of charging, there will be enough power to open the trunk? Maybe you don't have a battery charger??? If you own a Vette, yiou need one!! At least a tender.
Sorry about the cable...
is it jst me or is it stupid to not have a trunk release backup?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 147
Likes: 2
O.K. step away from the Vette! Go next door, or down the block, and borrow a set of cables, call AAA for a jump, call a friend tell them to buy a good set of cables, bring them over and help you get the car started, then give your friend (1) the money for YOUR new SPARE cables that stay in the garage, and (2) BEER for coming over to help you out, and (3) a big Corvette Wave to me for all this great free advice 
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Omaha Nebraska
St. Jude Donor '06
maybe your right. i think ill go onto town and get a battery tender or something. to get me and the battery through the winter. now i have to figure out where that cable went that i dislodged. it has a connector spade on the end so i didnt really brake it. jst need to find out what it connected to.
is it jst me or is it stupid to not have a trunk release backup?
is it jst me or is it stupid to not have a trunk release backup?
You'll need something more if you want to get it going sooner than tomorrow.If you live where it's winter, you need both chargers anyway!! Good luck!!
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Green and Wet Western Oregon
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
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Maybe you need to go buy a new battery. If your battery is completely dead as you state, you may or may not be able to charge it and you could have intermittant electrical problems associated with a low battery for months. New battery = money well spent.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Chesterfield MO
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10,'13-'14
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 455
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From: manahawkin,nj
This wont help you now but I had the same prolem 00 vert. What I did when I finally got into the trunk was tie a piece of cord to the wire manual trunk release and bring up behind the drivers seat. Called engineering what GM screwed up.
Jerry
Jerry
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 201
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From: Lee's Summit Mo
St. Jude Donor '07
One of the best $39.00 I ever spent is for a battery jump start pack. This thing will jump start, be a 12v power supply, do away with jumper cables, is a compressor and a light.
You can throw it in the trunk if you have any doubts about your battery, also. Never have to worry about reverse polarity blowing an alternator or how you are going to get another car close enough to jump.
They have them everywhere, parts stores, Harbor Freight, Costco.
I dont think you would ever regret the money.
You can throw it in the trunk if you have any doubts about your battery, also. Never have to worry about reverse polarity blowing an alternator or how you are going to get another car close enough to jump.
They have them everywhere, parts stores, Harbor Freight, Costco.
I dont think you would ever regret the money.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 333
Likes: 1
From: Laughlin NV.
I Have a 2000 convertible and you are right on for the tonneau cover. But the trunk manual release is inside the center storage compartment. You have to take the cover off and feel along under the back wall to find it, but it is there. So it should work to open the tonneau cover and but the top up then you will have to climb in and open the center compartment to find it. But by then you already can reach the cables. good luck. Jack