Model 3 emergency opening of frunk when battery isn't dead

[mrfiat74]

Hello. I have read that there are two conditions where you can use a 9 or 12 volt battery to open the frunk.

1. Dead 12 volt battery.
2. Car is unlocked.

I just tried it on my M3 with the car unlocked and it did not open the frunk. I opened the frunk from the touchscreen without any issue.

Is #2 no longer true or does my car have an issue?

Thanks!

 

[android04]

What did you use to power the two wires behind the tow hook cover? As far as I know the car will still pop the frunk open for you if it's unlocked (I last tested it out 2 or 3 months ago with an A23 battery).

 

[mrfiat74]

I used a brand new Duracell 9 volt battery that is at 9.64 volts. (just checked it) I have some A23's on order.

 

[mrfiat74]

It will indeed unlock the frunk with 12 volt battery source. The 9 volt battery did not work, but when I tried 8 AA batteries, it popped right open. I have seen multiple people say it would open with a 9 volt battery though. Thanks.

 

[android04]

It will indeed unlock the frunk with 12 volt battery source. The 9 volt battery did not work, but when I tried 8 AA batteries, it popped right open. I have seen multiple people say it would open with a 9 volt battery though. Thanks.

Tesla must have changed something that caused 9v not to work anymore. I do remember 1 or 2 people posting on a forum a while back saying that 9v didn't work anymore, but I didn't pay too much attention since I have a 12v battery (A23) stashed behind my tow hook cover and I know that works.

 

[Gasaraki]

Hello. I have read that there are two conditions where you can use a 9 or 12 volt battery to open the frunk.

1. Dead 12 volt battery.
2. Car is unlocked.

I just tried it on my M3 with the car unlocked and it did not open the frunk. I opened the frunk from the touchscreen without any issue.

Is #2 no longer true or does my car have an issue?

Thanks!

Your 12V is not dead if you can open the frunk from the screen...

 

[mrfiat74]

Yes, of course. But the 12 volt battery doesn't have to be dead to pop open the frunk.

 

[Gasaraki]

Yes, of course. But the 12 volt battery doesn't have to be dead to pop open the frunk.

Yes it does. To use the external battery wires to open the frunk, the car's 12V has to be "dead".

 

[android04]

Yes it does. To use the external battery wires to open the frunk, the car's 12V has to be "dead".

That's incorrect. The 12v does not have to be dead. If the 12v is not dead, the car just has to be unlocked. I've tested this multiple times in 2020 and 2021 with an A23 battery.

 

[KenC]

Okay, I'm confused.

 

[mrfiat74]

No confusion, you can open the frunk with a 12 volt power source when the car is unlocked. I did it on my 2019 M3, so it works for sure.