Any thoughts?

[moredun]

Looks like my boot release is frozen solid, and battery flat 

Does anyone know a point where I might be able to jump start the car other than the engine dept. or be able to get charge back into the battery?

[Carolyn]

You could jack her up and place a positive charger lead on the nut that connects the lead from the battery to the starter motor.  Connect the negative lead to the chassis. 

Small fan heater under the bumper should thaw the boot release.

[moredun]

Thanks for the ideas Carolyn, but neither solution possible just now, to far from house to get heater working and road very icy, busy to safely jack up and work under it (would need to remove nappy as well).

I think the best solution is to try and get some charge back into the battery somehow. The battery is at 10.3 Volts, just not enough power to crank over the engine but should not take much to get it fired up if done soon.

[Carolyn]

Well, you will need to run a mains power lead to the car in order to charge it.  So if that can't be done, then I suggest you tow or push the car to a place where that can be done.
There is now where in the frunk that I can identify that would work as a charging point.

[Call the midlife!]

I'm fairly confident you can manipulate the black plastic mesh out of the bumper without destroying it which should give you access to the lock mechanism for your de icing method of choice?

[moredun]

Hoping I might have a solution ...

By connecting a Jump start battery pack to the OBII socket, I should be able to top up the car battery, and no I wont try to crank over the engine while it's connected

I am sure the OBII has a direct connection to the battery, so the car battery and the battery pack should even themselves out, and with luck, enough power to crank over the engine.

Heavy sleet just now, but forecast for heavy snow and ice over the next few days

[moredun]

I'm fairly confident you can manipulate the black plastic mesh out of the bumper without destroying it which should give you access to the lock mechanism for your de icing method of choice?

I had a look at it, but could not work out how to get it off, and old plastic become very brittle, so little room for mistakes

[Carolyn]

Hoping I might have a solution ...

By connecting a Jump start battery pack to the OBII socket, I should be able to top up the car battery, and no I wont try to crank over the engine while it's connected

I am sure the OBII has a direct connection to the battery, so the car battery and the battery pack should even themselves out, and with luck, enough power to crank over the engine.

Heavy sleet just now, but forecast for heavy snow and ice over the next few days

that would be putting far too many amps down a very thin wire!

[Call the midlife!]

I'm fairly confident you can manipulate the black plastic mesh out of the bumper without destroying it which should give you access to the lock mechanism for your de icing method of choice?

I had a look at it, but could not work out how to get it off, and old plastic become very brittle, so little room for mistakes

Again, not entirely sure as mine is behind a Zunnsport grille anyway but I think there's 4 little "legs" on the corners that spring behind the bumper.

Come to think of it I think I have a spare one in the garage anyway so let me know if you do need a replacement and I'll send it up North.

[Call the midlife!]

I'm fairly confident you can manipulate the black plastic mesh out of the bumper without destroying it which should give you access to the lock mechanism for your de icing method of choice?

I had a look at it, but could not work out how to get it off, and old plastic become very brittle, so little room for mistakes

Again, not entirely sure as mine is behind a Zunnsport grille anyway but I think there's 4 little "legs" on the corners that spring behind the bumper.

Come to think of it I think I have a spare one in the garage anyway so let me know if you do need a replacement and I'll send it up North.

DON'T listen to me!!😆 I've just popped the lid and looked from inside, it's the Zunnsport that's hooked in the corners, the plastic is fastened with tags all along the top and bottom. Booger..

[moredun]

Thanks for the offer Call the midlife!, luckily the snow, then the darkness prevented me from having a bash before I saw your undated post  Pity, as that could have been the perfect solution.

Round 2 starts tomorrow, weather permitting 

[paulj]

just a bit of lateral thought.  Is it the catch which is frozen or is it the lid frosted to the frame?  if the latter perhaps someone with a lever to gently pry when you pull the release.

In the morning can you go armed with the biggest thermos of hot water you can muster.  Pour it around the catch area and cross your fingers!

[Joesson]

just a bit of lateral thought.  Is it the catch which is frozen or is it the lid frosted to the frame?  if the latter perhaps someone with a lever to gently pry when you pull the release.

In the morning can you go armed with the biggest thermos of hot water you can muster.  Pour it around the catch area and cross your fingers!

Recently my daily weekly* drivers door stuck and needed a good pull to open.
When we lived  in Staffordshire my company car doors froze such that I had to resort to hot water.

* That is typically how often I use the car now for our weekly Tesco click and collect run.

[SV-3]

just a bit of lateral thought.  Is it the catch which is frozen or is it the lid frosted to the frame?  if the latter perhaps someone with a lever to gently pry when you pull the release.

In the morning can you go armed with the biggest thermos of hot water you can muster.  Pour it around the catch area and cross your fingers!

Recently my daily weekly* drivers door stuck and needed a good pull to open.
When we lived  in Staffordshire my company car doors froze such that I had to resort to hot water.

* That is typically how often I use the car now for our weekly Tesco click and collect run.

Try talcum powder on the seals, prior to the bad weather (if that's not too personal)

[moredun]

just a bit of lateral thought.  Is it the catch which is frozen or is it the lid frosted to the frame?  if the latter perhaps someone with a lever to gently pry when you pull the release.

The release lever works ok, so not the cable.
There is plenty of movement on the lid apart from the very center where the catch is. My guess is the striker is frozen to the release mechanism.

Round 2 will start with either deicer or anti freeze (which every is in the shed) being sprayed through the mesh grill on the offending parts ...

[Joesson]

just a bit of lateral thought.  Is it the catch which is frozen or is it the lid frosted to the frame?  if the latter perhaps someone with a lever to gently pry when you pull the release.

The release lever works ok, so not the cable.
There is plenty of movement on the lid apart from the very center where the catch is. My guess is the striker is frozen to the release mechanism.

Round 2 will start with either deicer or anti freeze (which every is in the shed) being sprayed through the mesh grill on the offending parts ...

Remember that " anti freeze, as used in cooling systems, can strip paint.

[Joesson]

just a bit of lateral thought.  Is it the catch which is frozen or is it the lid frosted to the frame?  if the latter perhaps someone with a lever to gently pry when you pull the release.

In the morning can you go armed with the biggest thermos of hot water you can muster.  Pour it around the catch area and cross your fingers!

Recently my daily weekly* drivers door stuck and needed a good pull to open.
When we lived  in Staffordshire my company car doors froze such that I had to resort to hot water.

* That is typically how often I use the car now for our weekly Tesco click and collect run.

Try talcum powder on the seals (if that's not too personal)

It does stop chaffing, but not sure if it would help if the parts were frozen.

[Call the midlife!]

just a bit of lateral thought.  Is it the catch which is frozen or is it the lid frosted to the frame?  if the latter perhaps someone with a lever to gently pry when you pull the release.

In the morning can you go armed with the biggest thermos of hot water you can muster.  Pour it around the catch area and cross your fingers!

Recently my daily weekly* drivers door stuck and needed a good pull to open.
When we lived  in Staffordshire my company car doors froze such that I had to resort to hot water.

* That is typically how often I use the car now for our weekly Tesco click and collect run.

Try talcum powder on the seals (if that's not too personal)

It does stop chaffing, but not sure if it would help if the parts were frozen.

A favour vaseline but have to be careful not to get it on your trousers...

[Alex Knight]

I cannot believe that nobody has mentioned pouring hot water into the catch mechanism.

[Joesson]

I cannot believe that nobody has mentioned pouring hot water into the catch mechanism.

Please see #11, 12

[Alex Knight]

I cannot believe that nobody has mentioned pouring hot water into the catch mechanism.

Please see #11, 12

I stand corrected. That'll teach me to skim read!

Happened to me recently. The charging port on the Mercedes was frozen shut. Bit of quite hot water did the trick instantly.

[shnazzle]

Maybe if hot water is struggling to get to it, a blow dryer?

[Call the midlife!]

Maybe if hot water is struggling to get to it, a blow dryer?

The one that comes in the toolkit?🤓

[Joesson]

Maybe if hot water is struggling to get to it, a blow dryer?

The OP couldn't get mains power to the car.
I could when I needed to remove the plastic shell cover of the wing mirror on my daily. It was freezing but it "needed" to be done then so carefully used my hot air gun.

[Petrus]

Hoping I might have a solution ...

By connecting a Jump start battery pack to the OBII socket, I should be able to top up the car battery, and no I wont try to crank over the engine while it's connected

I am sure the OBII has a direct connection to the battery, so the car battery and the battery pack should even themselves out, and with luck, enough power to crank over the engine.

Heavy sleet just now, but forecast for heavy snow and ice over the next few days

that would be putting far too many amps down a very thin wire!

The cigaret lighter plug should be able too take enough to charge a bit rapidly if not enough to stárt.
No need for mains as simply connecting a charged battery overnight should do the trick to crank the engine over.

Starting is almost the equivalent of shorting the battery, which is why it goes over a relay and not a fuse.