'13 S5, no electrical power whatsoever

[Jeffreykins]

I recently bought a '13 S5 Cab premium plus that's been in a front end collision. I have 12.6V at the jump post underhood, and all fuses seem good. Although, I can't figure out a way to get into the trunk to check the main battery fuse or the third fusebox. I've been thinking this may be a bus issue but I have no clue where the main power/ground lines for the fusebox are located, or if there's something underhood area that could have been damaged to cause a no-power situation. Car is acting like it has a dead battery. Thanks in advance for any advice!

[shortbloke]

I recently bought a '13 S5 Cab premium plus that's been in a front end collision. I have 12.6V at the jump post underhood, and all fuses seem good. Although, I can't figure out a way to get into the trunk to check the main battery fuse or the third fusebox. I've been thinking this may be a bus issue but I have no clue where the main power/ground lines for the fusebox are located, or if there's something underhood area that could have been damaged to cause a no-power situation. Car is acting like it has a dead battery. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Based on your symptoms sounds like it trigged the fuse on the battery that gets trigged in the event the airbags go off. See this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5laTQhbcokc

[hahnmgh63]

What shortbloke said. You can buy a replacement module on Ebay that is OEM but out of a wrecked car that wasn't triggered. Make sure it is a reputable seller. Temporarily you can swap the positive connection from the top of the fuse over to the positive lead on the battery as there is a extra connection unused (maybe the intent to have the extra connection for emergencies?).

[Jeffreykins]

Thanks very much for the replies. The issue now is, how do I get into the trunk? Is there a manual override for this?

[03TLSinCO]

Thanks very much for the replies. The issue now is, how do I get into the trunk? Is there a manual override for this?

There has to be a release on the inside. Can you drop the back seats and reach through to it?

[Jeffreykins]

According to the manual, the release to lower the rear seats is accessed from inside the trunk. Seems like a catch-22 but there must be some way. I physically scoured the backseat and couldn't find any type of strap or lever.

[03TLSinCO]

According to the manual, the release to lower the rear seats is accessed from inside the trunk. Seems like a catch-22 but there must be some way. I physically scoured the backseat and couldn't find any type of strap or lever.

Pretty sure I folded them (or at least one) down in my car. Can't remember how at the moment.

[Jeffreykins]

Turns out I'm an idiot. You can use the physical key and there's a hidden keyhole right by the rearview camera. Took everything out of the trunk and the battery read 1.9V, despite the jump terminal reading 12. No idea how that's possible, but I put the charger on and obviously have some power in the car now. Battery fuse looked ok, a bunch of the pulleys and tensioners are shattered and broken on the front of the engine so I probably won't try to turn it over until that's sorted out. Got my first mileage reading which was 39,490. Not bad. Thanks all for the help I'm sure I'll need more in the future.

[eskimo0101]

Any pics of the damage so we can get an idea how much of a project you're in for?

[Jeffreykins]

Yes, will update tomorrow once I get some better pics and figure out a good way to post em!

[hahnmgh63]

You can fold the rear seat down from the trunk side and from the back seat. They let you do it from both sides for convenience. With that much of an impact there is still a good chance your battery fuse is gone, did you test it? It is not a visible fuse but in a black module attached on the front side of the battery with a positive lead closes to the center of the battery, not one of the positive leads to the left side.

[Jeffreykins]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/185051631@N04/albums/

Pics.

Best I could do, couldn't get the HTML copy/paste to work. As far as the rear seats, I still wasn't able to find a lever other than in the trunk. Both rear seat belts are locked so it wouldn't matter much anyway. Battery fuse appears to be intact, I charged the battery fully and was able to test operation of the power top, seems fine. Next issue is, does anyone know about the motorized (front) seatbelt movements? That plastic arm keeps extending and retracting, no idea if that is normal or not. The passenger side plastic arm is broken.