What to do when you have TWO dead batteries, and the key doesn't open the door.

[ABQ-Jammer]

I found this out the hard way.  I had to let my truck sit for at least a month, since I had to go out of town due to a death in the family.  When I got back, the fobs wouldn't do anything, and turning the key in the driver door did nothing as well.  I checked YouTube, as my wife suggested, and found a guy who "tested" this trick he heard of by completely disconnecting his battery, and it WORKED!  The fix for him was to connect a JumpStart unit to the starter.  Well, I didn't have a JumpStart unit, so connected another battery I had laying around.  I connected the positive on the battery to the red post on the starter, and the negative on the battery to the frame.  Pushed the button on the fob, and it unlocked the doors!!  I was thrilled!  Now, came the EXPENSIVE part, though...replacing BOTH batteries!!  I checked them with a voltmeter, and one tested at 5.3v, and the other at -1.3v!!  Checked a few auto parts placed in town, and found prices anywhere from $202 to 300, EACH!!  When we got to the cheapest place, they actually had a 20% discount on items over $100, so I got the one for $178, since I took the 1 battery with me, they didn't charge me the $22 core charge, and the other for $202, which included the core charge, but I'm going to take the other in to get that back, soon.  Still, it was a LOT more than I expected to pay for batteries!!  I was originally going to use the battery from my wife's car that we had gotten only a few months ago, before her car died, as the 2nd battery, but since it wasn't "heavy duty", I figured I better not.  Was afraid it might cause the other "new" battery to go bad quicker, and since I don't use this truck that often, and it's going to sit for a week or two at a time, I thought I better get the "good" ones!

Anyway, just wanted to share in case anyone else gets in a similar situation.

[richard wysong]

the batteries should be the same so that they charge and discharge equally 

[dna9656]

Make a wedge (think door stop) about 10: long and push it inot the upper aft corner of the either front door. Use the insuing gap to insert a unbent coat hanger with a hook on the end and catch the door lock on the same door your working with and unlock the door. Get a battery isolator.

[richard wysong]

I don't know if the 08 has slides or button interior locks. that method will work with the slide lock but newer tucks have gone back to the button by the window so theres nothing to grab with a wire or lock out tool

[ABQ-Jammer]

On 8/11/2022 at 7:37 PM, richard wysong said:

I don't know if the 08 has slides or button interior locks. that method will work with the slide lock but newer tucks have gone back to the button by the window so theres nothing to grab with a wire or lock out tool

My '08 has the slide locks.

The odd thing, for me, is that the key would NOT open the door, either.  I'm going to try spraying inside the lock with WD-40, and see if that makes a difference, but if not, I'll have to take off the door panel to make sure the rod is attached.  Just seems weird that the fobs work fine, when the batteries are full.  Is there a different connection to the lock than the fob actuators use?

[richard wysong]

the fobs just activate the power lock solenoids which use a seperate rod than the lock