Unlock car door

[Tazan007]

I locked my keys in the car Yes, yes, go ahead and say it. In any case, it happens to the best of us. Any ideas on getting the door unlocked without costing me money ? I was going to try a hanger but I was not too sure if that would be good idea. Anyone tried using a hanger to unlock the door on a 96 tercel ? Any ideas would be helpful.

Thanks

 

[loup garou]

Brick.

 

[Tazan007]

lol, yea thought about it but that would cost me money in the long run

 

[pyonir]

haha, sucker.

 

[SWirth86]

Advice that could have helped you a day ago: Keep a key behind your liscense plate, with the screw throught the top of the key.

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: SWirth86
Advice that could have helped you a day ago: Keep a key behind your liscense plate, with the screw throught the top of the key.

What kind of car do you drive?

 

[ATLien247]

Originally posted by: SWirth86
Advice that could have helped you a day ago: Keep a key behind your liscense plate, with the screw throught the top of the key.

That's one of the first places I look when I... uh... er... nevermind.

Ummm... know anyone that has AAA?

 

[Tazan007]

Nope, don't know anyone with AAA. I did have a spare but I can't find it. It seems i'm going to have to give the hanger a try. I'm just worried about messing up the door with the hanger somehow. I don't want the hanger to get stuck in the freaking door.

 

[fastz28]

Try a cop.

 

[308nato]

Around here the cops will still use a "slim jim" to open it up for you. They just have you sign a damage waiver. If they don't know you, they will have you provide proof of ownership after they open her up. So, if a huge bag of rope is gonna' fall out of the glovebox when you get your registration don't call the law for assistance.

 

[hoihtah]

what kinda door lock do you have?
manual or power?

that makes a huge difference.

 

[BCYL]

It's best to get a professional to open it for you... you can damage your door if you just stick a hanger in and start poking...

I had a friend who locked his keys in the trunk once, and got BCAA (same as AAA) to open his door using the "slim jim"... his door never worked the same afterwards...

 

[Tazan007]

Hehe, I don't know if the cops will open it up for me seeing how my car is sitting in my apartments parking lot. It is a manual push/pull lock. Have any of you tried to use a hanger to open the door before? I rather not damage my door. All in all its an economy car and doesn't have any power anything.

Thanks for all the input guys. I appreciate it.

 

[hoihtah]

in most senarios...
it'll be a smarter thing to go and get your spare key.

if you try to jimmy it... you can potentially break it.
in which case... it'll cost you money to repair.

if you have a co-worker or someone that can take you to wherever you keep your spare key...
and pay him for the gas... i think it'll be a far better.

just my 2 cents.

and yes... we've all done it.
it's not a something to be ashamed of.
as long as you don't repeat your mistakes. good luck

 

[bunker]

I used to be a master at opening my 91 Ranger with a hanger. Definitely easier with manual locks than electric.

Just make a bend in the shape of an L at the end.....about an inch and a half or so and start fishing for something to hook on to. Since it's a manual lock, you should probably be able to find it near the back of the door, where it latches.

As a summer job I was a security guard for Ford while in college. Everytime an employee locked their keys in their car I was the one they called to pop it open. Of course we had a professional kit to use there.

 

[Evadman]

I actually own a jimmy bar. I made it when I locked my keys in my truck. ( gmc jimmy ) Just take a bar, cut a notch in it, and stick it between the glass and door. Slide it down till you hit somehting. Gently try to hook what you hit and gently pull up or towards the back of the car. Be gentle, as you can bend the linkange pretty easily.

Your car may have the linkage protected. ( astrovans do ) I have gotten pretty good at it unlocking customers cars. I think customers just leave their brains at home when they come to home depot.

<---- not a locksmith. If you damage your car using my info, too bad.

 

[Thegonagle]

Why not use a coat hanger? Bend one end into an "L" shape, stick it into the edge of the door frame, with the bottom of the "L" perpendicular to the door seal, twist the hanger so the "L" pivots past the seal, and start going at it. I've locked myself out countless times, and I even prefer to use a coat hanger to a slim-jim.

 

[Shelly21]

About 35 to 50 clams. If you have AAA or some other club, it's free.

 

[Vortex22]

Lucky for me, it is really hard to lock my keys in my car. The power lock only locks the front door when the keys are in the ignition, it makes a crazy alarm beeping sound if I open the door while the keys are still there, and the front driver door can only be locked through the keyhole if they are out of the ignition.

 

[RossMAN]

After you get your keys out, do yourself a favor and get a car alarm with keyless entry.

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
After you get your keys out, do yourself a favor and get a car alarm with keyless entry.

Yeah, but what good does that do if the key fob is attached to his keys inside his car? .

Unless, of course, you're talking about one like Ford has with a keypad on the outside of the car.

 

[Tangerine]

I didn't see what kind of car you have, but if it's relatively new, under 3-5 yrs old, you probably have free roadside assistance.

Most of the major auto manufacturers offer this for free!

For example

Lol , now I see what kind of car it is, 96 tercel. So nevermind but maybe someone else could use the info. I agree, try to get a cop to open it for you.

 

[Tazan007]

thanks for all the info guys. I tried the hanger, no go. The hanger doesn't go past the keylock, seems to be blocked. It only catches on to something like 3 inches from the top of the frame, but it doesn't seem to be the locking mechanism.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: bunker

Originally posted by: RossMAN
After you get your keys out, do yourself a favor and get a car alarm with keyless entry.

Yeah, but what good does that do if the key fob is attached to his keys inside his car? .

Unless, of course, you're talking about one like Ford has with a keypad on the outside of the car.

D'oh! I never thought about that.

Ok go out and buy a new car which is equipped with GM's OnStar system

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Ok go out and buy a new car which is equipped with GM's OnStar system

and then complain when you find it for $1.00 cheaper two months later!