Hello. I have a 2014 fabia estate. After sitting for 2 weeks the battery is flat and I cannot get in to pop the bonnet. Nothing online I've seen helps.  The manual key lock on the driver's door does not have a cover so I thought it was just a case of using the key. Despite the key turning freely in the barrel nothing happens. Am I doing something wrong? (Apart from not starting my car for 2 weeks!) Thanks in advance

Had you ever tried to use the key manually before this incident?

 

How long have you owned the car?

 

It's always a wise precaution to try these things before the worst happens, also trying all the keys supplied with the vehicle, do they all unlock the door and start the car.

 

Sometimes an ignition barrel may have been changed but not the door lock(s), keys may have been lost & a new key blank cut but without copying or coding of the immobiliser chip.

 

If the door cannot be opened you are going to have to release the bonnet by accessing the cable or the catch from underneath or through the grille, google may help, there will probably be videos.

Thanks JR. I was the 2nd owner of the car when I bought it in 2019. I have both keys and they certainly seem to fit the barrel but there's no real resistance when you turn the key. I can't get underneath where it's currently parked so through the grille may be an option. Will need to find a video. It's never happened toe before and I thought the manual key lock would sort it out. Obviously not. Thanks again for the reply

Try removing the blanking cover from the passenger side and seeing if the key will open that side, instead. Might be a simple "Fix".

Still locked out! Rac could not get in either. Locks are deadlocked. Pulling the handle with wire did not work. Even if I could get in there won't be able to open the passenger door to be able to pull the bonnet lever. I currently have no car and a very large garden ornament . I can't believe there is no way into the car. The manual key lock on the driver's door doesn't do anything. 

Can you reach under the car and attach a jump lead to either the big bolt on the starter motor or the alternator ?

16 minutes ago, nige8021 said:

Can you reach under the car and attach a jump lead to either the big bolt on the starter motor or the alternator ?

 

This will work, the starter solenoid is connected directly to the battery positive terminal, you just need to jack the front of the car high enough and put it on axle stands before attempting it, once you have jump leads connected you can operate the central locking.

Thanks for this advice. I will need to remove a plastic shield under the front of the car too I think. What would I attach the negative terminal on the charger to?

A big chunk of gearbox, like a stiffening web.

54 minutes ago, billymack7 said:

Thanks for this advice. I will need to remove a plastic shield under the front of the car too I think. What would I attach the negative terminal on the charger to?

 

Any bare piece of metal, the whole car is grounded to the battery negative terminal.

I strongly advise you to just buy a new battery and jump the car off it to get it open, then fit the new battery, the original battery won't be any good if it went dead flat in less than two weeks!