How to open the car or hood when battery is dead
#16
Wow! This is a serious deficiency. I always assumed that the emergency key would mechanically open the door especially when the vehicle battery was dead. It appears this is not the case with the 4th generation.
#17
Racer
Yes, I have tried the mechanical key. It turns but does not open the door which is solenoid operated and needs the car battery to activate it even with the mechanical key, I understand that earlier RX350's could be opened mechanically with the mechanical key even with a dead car battery but this is no longer the case for the 4th generation RX350.
The mechanical key would therefore work for the 4th generation in the case of the electronic key battery depleted but with a good car battery.
The mechanical key would therefore work for the 4th generation in the case of the electronic key battery depleted but with a good car battery.
#18
Lexus Test Driver
How could the engineers have missed that??
#19
First, we have not confirmed that the mechanical key does NOT open the door if the vehicle battery is completely dead. Second, even if this were so, it most certainly would not have been an engineering “miss” but rather a deliberate decision by corporate decision makers.
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Cocal (01-11-22)
#22
I recently turned in my 2017 RX at the lease end so I can't try this. I just find it hard to believe there would be no way to access your car with a dead battery. Dead batteries are not all that rare, so what are you supposed to do, pry open the door with a crowbar?
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Cocal (01-11-22)
#23
#24
Racer
#26
#27
Racer
#28
Lexus Test Driver
#29
OK, you talked me into it.
I went out and used the key to unlock the doors with the battery connected and I could hear the solenoids fire and the door/doors unlocked. So, if the battery is good and you use the key, it will electronically unlock the doors.
Next, I disconnected the battery negative cable and tried the remotes to unlock the doors - nothing. Lock, of course didn't flash the parking lights either. Then I used the key and it mechanically raised the door lock button. Then I was able to open the drivers door.
I have a video of it with me fumbling in the cold with the key...
My thoughts are that something is mechanically wrong with the OP's vehicle and the rod connection between the lock cylinder and the door latch mechanism is broken or not connected. Lexus DID provide a way to unlock and open the drivers door if the vehicles battery is totally dead.
I went out and used the key to unlock the doors with the battery connected and I could hear the solenoids fire and the door/doors unlocked. So, if the battery is good and you use the key, it will electronically unlock the doors.
Next, I disconnected the battery negative cable and tried the remotes to unlock the doors - nothing. Lock, of course didn't flash the parking lights either. Then I used the key and it mechanically raised the door lock button. Then I was able to open the drivers door.
I have a video of it with me fumbling in the cold with the key...
My thoughts are that something is mechanically wrong with the OP's vehicle and the rod connection between the lock cylinder and the door latch mechanism is broken or not connected. Lexus DID provide a way to unlock and open the drivers door if the vehicles battery is totally dead.
The following 7 users liked this post by FlopTop04:
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#30
OK, you talked me into it.
I went out and used the key to unlock the doors with the battery connected and I could hear the solenoids fire and the door/doors unlocked. So, if the battery is good and you use the key, it will electronically unlock the doors.
Next, I disconnected the battery negative cable and tried the remotes to unlock the doors - nothing. Lock, of course didn't flash the parking lights either. Then I used the key and it mechanically raised the door lock button. Then I was able to open the drivers door.
I have a video of it with me fumbling in the cold with the key...
My thoughts are that something is mechanically wrong with the OP's vehicle and the rod connection between the lock cylinder and the door latch mechanism is broken or not connected. Lexus DID provide a way to unlock and open the drivers door if the vehicles battery is totally dead.
I went out and used the key to unlock the doors with the battery connected and I could hear the solenoids fire and the door/doors unlocked. So, if the battery is good and you use the key, it will electronically unlock the doors.
Next, I disconnected the battery negative cable and tried the remotes to unlock the doors - nothing. Lock, of course didn't flash the parking lights either. Then I used the key and it mechanically raised the door lock button. Then I was able to open the drivers door.
I have a video of it with me fumbling in the cold with the key...
My thoughts are that something is mechanically wrong with the OP's vehicle and the rod connection between the lock cylinder and the door latch mechanism is broken or not connected. Lexus DID provide a way to unlock and open the drivers door if the vehicles battery is totally dead.
@OP: you aren’t trying to break into someone else’s car, are you? Ha, JK! Hope you get it resolved!