Breaking Electric Or Automatic Locks
Accessing The Car Without The Hidden Key
If you have misplaced the hidden key blade and still have the fob and the fob light works when you hit the key, accessing is still possible but a lot more work.
This process involves getting power into your cars system which is difficult because everything is locked including the hood and trunk. It is possible to open the hood by popping the catch, but its difficult. Instead follow the process below, but youll need tools and time.
Tools youll need:
- Locate the starter motor
- Fit ground cable to charged donor battery and to car chassis or engine casing
- Fit battery positive cable to metal shank of long screwdriver
- Place the screwdriver / power probe on the starter power feed
- Holding the screwdriver on the starter feed, have a helper connect the positive jumper to the donor battery positive feed
- Now have helper press the unlock key fob button while holding power to the starter
- The vehicle should now unlock
Tip Number Three: Break The Windows
All right, this method should be your last option, and you should only rely on it in the cases of emergency such as your toddler or your pet stuck inside on a hot day. Even then, you should contact the emergency services before trying this out. Still, if you believe that its absolutely necessary to do so, make sure to stay safe as much as possible.
Find a sharp object and make sure to break the side window thats not too close to your child or pet. Focus on the side windows, and hit closer to the edges, since the center is the windows strongest point.
As previously mentioned, make sure to resort to this method only when its absolutely necessary.
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What To Do When Youve Locked Your Keys In The Car
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Its one of those things that happens to everyone at least once.
You were in a rush. Maybe your keys didnt quite make it into your pocket . Or perhaps you thought youd set those keys down for only a second while you grabbed something from the trunk. Youd never actually;forget;they were there.
No one is judging you here. At;Insurify, weve got your back. We want you to feel secure in any situationespecially when youve made a forgivable mistake.
Because weve all been there: stranded in a diner parking lot all because we spilled coffee on our shirt and had an extra one in the trunk.
So read on for a few simple steps to get your doors unlocked and get you on your way.
The Screwdriver And Rod
This is the same method as the wedge that we just detailed only you would use a Phillips head screwdriver instead of a wooden wedge. The reason we mention this is you’re probably much more likely to have access to a Phillips head screwdriver than you are to a wedge of wood at any given moment. The wedge method is better though because it’s going to cause less damage. A screwdriver has a very high likelihood of scratching your paint or causing dents in the metal. However, if it’s an emergency and you have no other option, you can do the exact same thing with the screwdriver instead of the wooden wedge.
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The Plastic Strap Method
If you don’t happen to wear shoes that have laces on them, you may be able to pull this one off. If you can find a strip of plastic, the kind that is used to bind stacks of newspaper for instance, you can bend that in half to create a loop and insert that through the door jamb of your car into the cabin of the vehicle. From there it works almost exactly the same as the shoelace method. You’ll need to manoeuvre the loop over the lock and pull it up. Again, this only works for the kind of locks that have mechanisms that you can easily grab and pull out. If your lock has a small switch or a button, you may need to move on to the coat hanger method.;
Unlocking An Automatic Lock
This is an effective way to unlock your car without key when you have an automatic lock. Use a wedge tool to create a space between the cars body and door. If the auto lock is located on the armrest of the drivers side, you can activate it by just pressing with a thin metal rod. If the button is on the central console, attach a hook at the end of the tool or use a clothes hanger to reach the lock.
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The Tennis Ball Method
This ones been spread around the internet for years now, and it claims that you can poke a small hole in a tennis ball, line that hole up with the keyhole on your car door, and then hit the; tennis ball forcing a burst of air into the lock which will pop the mechanism in it and open your door for you. This method has been tried again and again with no success by many people. It’s just an urban legend and pretty much a waste of time. Don’t bother getting yourself a tennis ball if you find yourself locked out of the car, you’re just going to spend a lot of effort with no success.;
Use Your Windshield Wiper
You can usually remove your car’s windshield wipers pretty easily, but the method differs between each car model. No matter what car you have though, a windshield wiper might save you from having to call a locksmith to open your locked car door.
First, remove the wiper from the front of your car. If your window is slightly ajar, or you can wedge the door open, you maneuver it into the interior of the car. Use the wiper to either grab the keys on the chair or hit the unlock button on the side of the door .
You can practically use anything long enough that fits through your window, but if you’re in a hurry and don’t see anything else around you that can fit through the crack, the windshield wiper is your best bet.
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Unlock Your Car With A Screwdriver
A car door can also be unlocked using a Philips head screwdriver and a thin steel rod. Simply pry the door open slightly using the screwdriver then use the rod to push open the unlock button. It takes a little twisting to insert the rod inside and you could potentially damage the exterior of your car. Remember a damaged car door will definitely cost you much more than what youd pay a towing service to handle the task professionally.
Are You Really Locked Out
First, make sure youre actually locked out. This may sound silly but youd be surprised how many times Ive arrived to unlock a customers car just to find out one of the car doors was unlocked.
Before you do anything else, check all the doors and make sure theyre all actually locked. Try the trunk too, its often overlooked and many times you can get back into the vehicle by folding the seats through the trunk.
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An Old School Coat Hanger
You may have seen this in a movie before, but it does work for real if you have the right kind of car. Modern cars with electronic door locks will probably not respond very well to this method to jimmy a lock. However, if you have an older car that has the little knob that looks kind of like a golf tee on the inside of your door that you lift up to unlock and push down to lock, then a coat hanger maybe the magic wand you’re looking for.
For this to work what you need to do is straighten out the coat hanger as best you can and then form one of the ends into a small hook. You have to force the hook; down between the rubber molding that holds your window in the window frame itself and the window glass. Now you’re going fishing.;
Carefully lower the hook into the door along the window until you can hook it around the door lock button itself. Get the hook underneath it and pull up to unlock the door. It really is that simple, and that’s why old school cars were subject to being stolen with this method. It doesn’t take a lot of work if you know what you’re doing.
You can also use something called a slim jim for this method if you happen to have one handy. Of course, if you happen to have a slim jim handy but not the keys to a car, that’s a little unusual in and of itself. Just make sure the car you’re trying to unlock actually belongs to you.;
Breaking The Window Isnt An Option
Locked out of your car?; Heres a bright idea that immediately magically pops into any locked out motorists head. Thats because in pressure situations, not knowing what to do can lead to unwise decisions.;
Remember that by breaking a window, youll make this entire situation much more costly than it needs to be. Not only will it cost a lot to repair, but you also run a pretty high risk of hurting yourself with shattered shards.;
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What Should You Do When You Arelocked Out Of Your House Or Car
No matter how careful you are with your house keys, you will eventually lock yourself out of the house. Whether you’ve lost them or simply can’t find the spare key, the moment of panic will hit immediately. But what do you do? Dont worry help is at hand! Always keep a spare set of keys in a safe place for emergencies. Its a good idea to have a spare set hidden somewhere in your home so you can access them easily when youre in a pinch.
Unlocking A Door With Manual Locks From The Inside
Using a tool like a wedge , it is possible to open the top of the door wide enough to get a metal rod around the locking pin and pull the pin up, thereby unlocking the door.
- Tip: In most vehicles, it is possible to open the door just enough to insert a thin metal rod or a bent hanger and use it to unlock the doors.
It is important to use a technique that addresses the specific type of lock the vehicle has. There are two main types of locks:
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Types of Car Locking MechanismsType of LockUnlocking ProcedureManual lockHave fewer pieces and wires to hinder someone trying to unlatch the lock from outside the vehicleLess sophisticated alarm systemsEasier to reach and pull up when wedging the door openAutomatic lockMore secureMore likely to be connected to an alarm systemNeed to be unlocked via a remote controlled button
Step 1: Use a wedge or tool to hold open the door space. Find something thin that can be used to open up a gap at the top of the door, between the cars body and the doorframe or window.
- Tip: You could use a putty knife, a ruler, or even a doorstop for this purpose.
Step 2: Slide the tool into the door gap. Wedge the tool into the space between the body of the vehicle and the top of the door on the side opposite the hinge . Pull the space open with your fingers to make more space for the tool to fit into.
- Note: Be careful not to tear or damage the weather stripping while inserting the tool.
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What To Do When You’re Locked Out Of Your Car
Its happened to a lot of us, in fact more than four million drivers locked themselves out of their car in 2015 according to AAA. The solution, as long as you have some kind of roadside assistance whether that be through State Farm, AAA, or OnStar, is as easy as using your cell phone.
Some motorists leave spare keys with nearby family members, and also sometimes stick a magnetized Hide A Key somewhere in their cars engine bay where they can easily access it from underneath. These are all good options, but what happens if you dont have cell service or roadside assistance? Dont be afraid, there are numerous ways to unlock your car without using the keys.
Coat hanger
Its fair to assume a lot of motorists have heard of the coat hanger technique, however, this isnt foolproof. After all, how many people have a coat hanger lying in wait for the inevitable keyless entry? Further, how many people carry one around outside of their car? If youre in a well-populated area, chances are someone around you will have one solving that problem. Be sure to let them know if they want it back, its not going to work as intended anymore.
An easy way to use a coat hanger that doesnt damage your car as much as other coat hanger-related techniques, is to unwind the end that meets the hook and straighten the wire.
Use A Coat Hanger Or Slim Jim
One of the most common methods to unlock a car door is by using a modified wire coat hanger, which is a DIY slim jim. The principle is the same. This method works better for manual locking doors; for automatic locks, see one of the other methods.
With the help of some pliers, unravel the coat hanger so that you have one straight side and the other hooked, which you’ll be using to pull up the control arm inside the door that’s connected to the lock rod.
Next, slide the hanger down between the car window and the weather stripping until the hook is about 2 inches below where the window and the car door meet, near the interior door handle, which is where the control arm usually is.
Rotate the hanger until the hook is facing the inside and fish around for the control arm, which isn’t always easy to find. Once you’re locked in, pull up and the car door will open.
Again, the coat hanger trick only works on certain lock mechanisms, usually on older cars, so this most likely won’t work on newer model cars. For newer cars, you can still use a coat hanger, but you’ll have to stick it in between the door and the rest of the car to unlock it from the inside.
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If You’re Locked Out Of Your House Don’t Panic
There are things you can try that might just help you get back inside without too much effort. The first thing you should do is to try to take the doorknob off. The majority of doorknobs are held on by a screw on the other side. Take a screwdriver and try to take the doorknob off. If it doesnt budge, press the button on the key fob until it does. The number one use of your house key is its ability to open any lock. Whether the property is in an apartment complex, a single-family home, a mobile home, a condo, or a boat, your home key will work on these types of doors. Any lock, however, requires a code to open. These codes vary by the door type and are usually permanent. In other words, if you lose your house key, you won’t be able to go into any other door until you get a new one. Fortunately, with todays technology, you can take your home key codes with you whenever you leave the house. However, even with todays technology, someone could find a way to enter your home right after you exit. If you need a place to lock up, try finding a friend or family member nearby who has a key. Most of the time, the last person who leaves the house will usually be the person who has the least amount of access to it. Although you may not want to leave it unlocked, dont lock yourself out of your home unnecessarily. After all, you dont want to go through a terrifying procedure when there is a chance something may break in the process.
