Keyed Entry Quandry

[Les-Boots]

A buddy was recently sharing a story of his late model F150.

His truck had been sitting for a few weeks in the cold and his battery died. (Happens to the best of us)

The huge problem was that his door couldn’t be unlocked.

From what he shared, the key hole in his door didn’t actually connected to linkages to unlock the door. The key hole activated a solinoid, which wouldn’t actuate ... because the battery was dead. No power, no door unlocks. He ended up fighting his way up from under the engine bay to hook on jumper cables to the battery to get power. (Couldn’t open the hood because he couldn’t get into the cab)

I bring this up, not to trash Ford, but to inquire about the the operation of the Jeep door locks.

If the battery is dead or disconnected, can you still unlock the Jeep doors with the physical key? Obviously getting into the battery is not a problem with the Jeep.

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[FrenchSSGTMike]

His truck has to have either a design issue, or a 1 vehicle assembly issue.
As I store my Mustang for winter (stays in my garage), even if I try to start it every now and then, my battery had died last winter. I used the key inside the fob, and was able to open my car through the key hole hidden under the cap next to the door handle...
So I dunno if his F-150 has been designed after or before my Mustang (2015) but it seems weird...

 

[MojitoJLUR]

His truck has to have either a design issue, or a 1 vehicle assembly issue.
As I store my Mustang for winter (stays in my garage), even if I try to start it every now and then, my battery had died last winter. I used the key inside the fob, and was able to open my car through the key hole hidden under the cap next to the door handle...
So I dunno if his F-150 has been designed after or before my Mustang (2015) but it seems weird...

Mike is right. You can even start your car with a dead key fob battery using the push start button

 

[aml]

I am not sure about the door key, but at least you wouldn’t be locked out from opening the hood.

 

[Jeepsterfreak]

That is an interesting story about the F-150. I’ll have to do some research on that but I can’t imagine any auto maker would design a vehicle that can’t be unlocked with a dead battery. That just seems outright dangerous with potential for lawsuits.

On the other hand look at Tesla. Not sure if the model 3 even includes a physical key.

 

[Jeepsterfreak]

I am not sure about the door key, but at least you wouldn’t be locked out from opening the hood.

But what if your only jumper cables are stowed in the vehicle?

 

[aml]

But what if your only jumper cables are stowed in the vehicle?

A much better scenario than the truck. At least you can borrow someone else’s. Unless you are going to use a jump box, you are going to need to use someone else’s / another vehicle.

 

[ThirtyOne]

I started to get nervous about this but then i remembered.

I'm getting a soft top.

 

[Jeepsterfreak]

I started to get nervous about this but then i remembered.

I'm getting a soft top.

Right. So those rear quarter panels can easily be removed without opening the swing gate?

 

[simpleJL]

Right. So those rear quarter panels can easily be removed without opening the swing gate?

He's going to cut his way in. Ha

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

Right. So those rear quarter panels can easily be removed without opening the swing gate?

Universal soft top opener:

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