Tesla Frunk Manual Release: A Guide for Tesla Owners

Thst’s right, you can manually open the frunk even if your 12V battery is completely flat. Imagine, you can access your frunk and grab that emergency bag with essentials, extra cables, or even a trickle charger to revive your car!

Here’s how you can open Tesla Model 3’s frunk with a dead battery: 

• Find an external 12V power source.
• Release the tow eye cover.
• Pull out the two wires located within the tow hook opening.
• Connect the power supply.
• Turn on the external 12V power source.
• Disconnect the cables.

In this guide, we will walk you through the steps on how to manually open your Model 3 frunk in case of a dead battery, so you’ll be prepared for any situation on the road. From finding an external power source to releasing the tow eye cover, we’ve got you covered. Let’s get started and make sure you’re never stranded again!

How To Open Tesla Frunk Manually

If you can’t open your frunk via the traditional methods (these are explained below in case you don’t know what they are), the steps below outline how you can open it manually.

1. Find an External 12V Power Source

You can’t manually open the frunk of your Tesla Model 3 without an external power source.

Check If Your App, Key Or Fob Works First

You should keep in mind that all of the methods listed in the table above should only be used when your Tesla’s touchscreen, key fob, or mobile app can’t open the frunk.

2. Release the Tow Eye Cover

The tow eye cover is easy to release. Here’s how you release it on the Tesla Model 3 in just a few simple steps:

1. Press the top right corner of the cover firmly until it rotates inward.
2. Pull the raised side towards you without using excessive force.

We can always refer to YouTube for a visual representation of this process.

While the Model 3 requires you to remove the tow cap, other Tesla models use different methods to access the frunk with a dead battery.

For example, Tesla Model S has the most complicated manual frunk opening process. The process requires you to remove some of the wheel arch protective trim. You can see more about it in this YouTube video:

3. Pull Out the Two Wires Located Within the Tow Eye Opening

Once you’ve removed the tow cover, you’ll need to pull out the wires located inside. One of the cables should be attached to the cover with a piece of double-sided tape. The attached cable can be either negative or positive.

Once you’ve accessed the area and located the cables, determine which cable is positive and which is negative. Both should be clearly labeled with some tape. The cable marked with the red tape is positive, while the one marked using black tape is negative.

While the process might seem like a regular jump-start, the wires in the front tow eye do not charge the car’s 12V battery. These wires are only used to unlatch the frunk and provide access to its contents.

4. Connect the Power Supply To The Cable

The next step in opening the Model 3 frunk with a dead battery is to connect the power supply to the cables in the previous step. Here’s how you do that:

1. Connect the positive (marked with red or +) cable from the power supply to the red cable from the car.
2. Connect the negative (marked with black or -) cable from the power supply to the black cable from the car.

If you’re using a 9V battery instead of a donor car or a jump starter, the smaller terminal on the battery should be the positive end.

5. Turn On the External 12V Power Source

If you’re using an external power supply such as a jump starter kit, you’ll need to turn it on following the instructions for the device. Once the jump starter is on, the latch should release immediately, providing you access to your Model 3’s frunk.

In case you’ve decided to use a donor ICE car or a 9V battery, there’s no need to turn anything on. The latch should release as soon as you finish connecting the cables.

6. Disconnect the Cables

The final thing to do in the process of opening your Tesla Model 3’s frunk manually is to disconnect the cables. Just like when jump-starting a car, you must follow a particular order for cable removal:

1. Disconnect the negative cable on the vehicle side.
2. Disconnect the negative cable on the power source.
3. Disconnect the positive cable on the vehicle.
4. Disconnect the positive cable from the power source.

Once this final step is done, you can access your Tesla’s frunk. From there, you can jump-start or replace the 12V lithium battery found within.

What To Do If The Frunk Still Won’t Open After Following The Instructions

Safety First

Before attempting to open the front trunk (frunk) of your electric car, make sure that the car is in Park and the parking brake is engaged. It is also important to note that these instructions are specific to the Tesla Model 3 and may not apply to other Tesla models.

Try Emergency Release

If your electric vehicle’s touchscreen, key fob, or mobile app can’t open the frunk, there are emergency releases that can be used to open the frunk manually.

The emergency release is located in the front bumper and can be accessed by removing the black panels. If you are unsure of the location of the emergency releases on your Tesla model, refer to the appropriate guides or contact Tesla service.

Connecting the Power Supply

The next step in opening the Model 3 frunk with a dead 12 volt battery is to connect the power supply to the cables located within the tow eye opening. Make sure to determine which cable is positive (marked with red or +) and which is negative (marked with black or -) before connecting the power supply.

The positive cable from the power supply should be connected to the red cable from the car and the negative cable from the power supply should be connected to the black cable from the car.

If you’re using a 9V battery instead of a donor car or a jump starter, the smaller terminal on the battery should be the positive end.

Turn On the External Power Source

Turn on the external 12V power source, following the instructions for the device. Once the jump starter is on, you should hear a clicking noise coming from the front of the car. This indicates that the front trunk is now unlocked and can be opened.

Don’t forget that Other Tesla Models have Slightly Different Process

While the Model 3 requires you to remove the tow cap, other Tesla models use different methods to access the frunk with a dead battery. For example, Tesla Model S has the most complicated manual frunk opening process.

If All Else Fails

If the frunk still won’t open after following the instructions, it is best to call for roadside assistance or contact Tesla service. EV owners can also refer to their vehicle’s quick start guide, owner’s manual, or Tesla’s website for more information on how to open the frunk.

It is also important to note that a software update or a low voltage system issue may prevent the frunk from opening, so it is best to have a Tesla technician check the car’s systems before attempting to open the frunk manually.

Good luck with opening your frunk, and drive safely!

How To Open Frunk Tesla Model 3

If there are no problems with your battery, you just don’t know how to open your frunk at all, here is a quick guide for you. Opening the front trunk (frunk) of your Tesla Model 3 is easy. Just follow these steps:

1. Ensure that your Model 3 is in Park mode.
2. Choose one of the following methods to open the frunk:
   • On the car’s touchscreen, look for the Open icon associated with the frunk and simply touch it.
   • If you have the key fob, double-click the front trunk button on it.
   • Alternatively, you can use the Tesla mobile app to open the frunk by tapping the dedicated button.

When the frunk is open, you’ll see a Door Open indicator light on the touchscreen, and the image of your Model 3 will display the open frunk.

Remember to always check the area around the hood for any obstacles before opening it. Safety first!

How To Close Frunk Tesla Model 3

Closing the frunk (front trunk) of your Tesla Model 3 is a simple process. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Gently lower the hood until the striker touches the latches.
2. Now, place both hands on the front of the hood in the green areas shown (see image), and press down firmly. This action engages the latches securely.

It’s important to note that the Model 3 hood is not heavy enough to latch by itself, so avoid applying pressure on the front edge or center of the hood as it may cause damage.

To ensure that the frunk is fully closed, carefully try to lift the front edge of the hood. If it doesn’t lift, then it’s closed properly.

If you happen to leave the frunk open when attempting to shift out of Park, the touchscreen will display a notification asking you to confirm your intention to drive. Also, please be aware that driving with the frunk open will limit your vehicle speed.

The frunk automatically locks when you lock your Model 3 using the touchscreen, key, or mobile app. It also locks when you leave your Model 3 with the key (if Walk-Away Door Lock is enabled) or when Valet Mode is active.

FAQs

Check out these 20 great gift ideas for yourself or a Tesla fanboy.

Contact Us if you have any questions or queries.