How do I pop the hood open to access the battery in a 2001 911 with a dead battery, the fuse box jump doesn't do anything, and there are no release wires found to pull in the wheel wells?

 

Are you able to pop the engine lid? I can on my 2000, not sure about 2001. If so, put jumper cables on the jump terminals. If not, there are release cables hidden in the front and rear bumpers.

 

Ouch... this sucks doesn't it? And, it's more common than many think. Porsche chose to use electric actuators instead of good ol' reliable cable driven mechanisms. Sucks a big one when you lose a battery.

Question... When you hooked 12V to the fuse box and ground to the door "closing element" (looks like a chrome loop), did you try to start the car? This would determine if you're getting the right amount of current and it's grounding properly.

If you're totally unsuccessful at providing the 12V to the fuse box, you're going to have to try and locate the manual frunk cable. The cable feeds to the right (passenger side) out of the frunk's lock and is supposed to feed to the air duct on the passenger side. That way, you can noodle you hand around the rubber surround of the air duct and retrieve the cable. (see picture)

 

For model year 2000, the latches are cable operated but the front latch has an electric lock. The engine compartment lid does not require a battery to unlock. I'm not sure if MY 2001 is the same. It should tell you in the owners manual.

 

Mine is a 99 1st gen. The rear engine latch opened even with the battery 100% dead. I was able to connect another 12v battery to the terminals pictured in wyovino's post and was able to start the engine and ultimately open the front trunk.

Take note that when you power up the car for the very first time, the central locking system will not disengage yet. You have to unlock the central locking system by pushing the unlock button on the dash. After that, you'll be able to pop the FRUNK open and get to your dead battery.

Be sure to immediately disconnect the 2nd battery after you've successfully started your engine. hope that helps.

(There is another way just in case your rear engine bay is not accessible and that is to take out the trunk release lever assembly beside the driver's seat. There are 3 alen screws that secures that. Open it up and you will see a piece of metal that prevents the lever to be pulled. Just move it on the side and and you'll be able to pull the lever)

 

I had a similar issue in my 2002 Boxster but my central alarm would not release the electronic switch, even with a jump box on the fuse panel. What I did was:

• Hook up jump box to the positive terminal on the fuse box
• Hook up negative part of jump box to a wire; wrap wire around the door hinge
• Turn on jump box
• Close door
• Lock/Unlock
• Enter car
• Switch ignition to ON
• Try frunk release
• If that didn't work I had a 2nd person sit in the car w/ 2nd key and lock/unlock from outside, don't open door, then have 2nd person inside use different key to turn ignition on

Much easier if the window is down...2nd person isn't needed (just reach into car instead of opening the door).