Locked out, how do I break in?

[camguynj]

Originally Posted by Badbubba

The positive cable does not connect directly from the battery to the starter. It connects to a solenoid on the starter, then a cable from the solenoid connects to the starter. If it was connected directly to the battery, the starter would run constantly. The solenoid acts as a switch/relay. If you connect a large enough cable and charger or battery source directly to the starter, it will spin the starter and attempt to start the engine. If it is a manual and not automatic, it could move the car and kill you if your underneath it. Depends if the car is in gear and how well the e-brake holds. Be certain you are connecting to the correct terminal on the solenoid and that you don't short them together. Use a small amperage source, such as a 2 amp charger. That way it will blow a fuse or not have enough current to spin the starter if connected to the wrong terminal. Make sure your on the large cable to the battery. In addition, some vehicles have the terminals exposed that activate the solenoid. If you jumper to one of the small wires, the solenoid will pick up. And if the battery was not dead, it would attempt to start the engine. Just need to be careful.

Good explanation! This is what I thought ...there really is no easy or safe way to start a car by trying to jump the starter, nor can the battery be charged from the starter.

[farm rat]

Originally Posted by camguynj

Good explanation! This is what I thought ...there is NO way to charge the battery from the starter

I disagree. Yes the battery cable is hooked to the solenoid, but it is pretty obvious which cable/wire it is. For safety's sake you can unhook it from the solenoid to avoid possible accidental crossing of the solenoid. That cable is a direct line to the battery. You can hook a charger to that and the other side to a ground (frame, etc) and get enough juice to unlock the car. You wouldnt want to really try to charge the battery this way. You are just trying to unlock the car so you can pop the hood, OR pop the trunk so you can get at the battery itself.

[camguynj]

Originally Posted by farm rat

I disagree. Yes the battery cable is hooked to the solenoid, but it is pretty obvious which cable/wire it is. For safety's sake you can unhook it from the solenoid to avoid possible accidental crossing of the solenoid. That cable is a direct line to the battery. You can hook a charger to that and the other side to a ground (frame, etc) and get enough juice to unlock the car. You wouldnt want to really try to charge the battery this way. You are just trying to unlock the car so you can pop the hood, OR pop the trunk so you can get at the battery itself.

Yes that would work. Just got be real careful. Thanks for clarifying