Tip Number : Use A Coat Hanger
Another common way to unlock the car door is by the modified wire coat hanger . This one is suitable for manual locking doors, usually on the older cars.
Step 1: Unravel the coat hanger with the help of some pliers until you have one straight side and one hooked. You will use it to pull up the control arm inside the door.
Step 2: Slide the hanger down between the weather stripping and the car window so that the hook will be inside nearly 3 centimeters at the meet of the window and the car door. The exact location is where the control arm usually is .
Step 3: Make the hook face the inside and fish around for the control arm by rotating the hanger. This is the hardest part because it isnt easy to find and fish around. When you are locked in, pull up and the car door will open.
You could also study how to use the coat hanger to unlock the car door here.
Unlocking The Door From The Outside
In some cases, it is faster and easier to make a lockout tool to unlock the door from the outside. This technique takes a little bit more finesse, and is more likely to damage the weather stripping and/or the wires inside of the door.
- Warning: This is not a recommended method for opening doors containing automatic locks and/or automatic windows. The significant increase in the amount of wiring inside of the door itself makes serious damage too much of a risk.
Here is how to use this method:
Step 1: Make a Slim Jim tool. To fashion a Slim Jim, it is best to use a coat hanger or other long, relatively thin piece of metal and straighten it out, bending a hook into one end. This is the end that will go into the door.
- Note: If this tool bends under the strain, double the hanger over and make the end that is folded over into the hook as this is much stronger.
Step 2: Insert the Slim Jim into the door. Since there are usually more wires in the drivers door, it is best to use this method on the passenger side door. Slip the tool in between the weather stripping along the bottom of the window and the window itself.
- Tip: Pulling the black weather stripping back slightly with your fingers will make this move a lot smoother and easier.
Step 3: Open the lock with the hook. The locking mechanism is located right under the locking pin, so try to use the hook to grab the inside of the locking mechanism by sliding the hook back toward the lock and pulling up once the hook grips the lock.
How To Unlock Automatic Car Door Without Key From The Inside
This depends on whether the automatic door latch is located on the control panel or the inner side of your car door. If the latch is located right under the car window, the method is similar to breaking manual locks.
Locate the latch by looking from outside of the glass window, then estimate the distance
As in the case of breaking manual locks, an antenna or coat hanger will become your best friends for this purpose
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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.
Unlocking A Car Door Without A Key
The locking mechanisms on different types of cars vary pretty widely. All newer models have power locks with remote controls to open them, but older cars open only manually. Also, some vehicles have the locking knob on the inside top of the door by the window, and others have it by the handle.
Before reading on, make sure you know where your car door’s unlock mechanism is on both the interior and exterior of the door. It’ll impact which of these methods you may want to try.
Image via Shutterstock
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Enter Through The Trunk
Another way to gain access through a car with manual locks it to go through the trunk. The trunk is usually unlocked even if the doors are locked. Heres how to unlock your car through the trunk:
1. Open the trunk and find access to the interior
Once youve opened the trunk, touch the walls of the trunk and find an opening to gain access to the interior. There is usually an opening in the middle of the backseats. The seats can be folded or lowered by simply pulling on a cable.
2. Crawl through the interior and manually unlock the door
Now that there is enough space for you to go in, you can now crawl through the opening and manually open the door. Although this works well, it can also look weird and suspicious. Make sure you keep your id close so you can clear things out in case the police comes.
How To Open Car Door Without Key Manually
Find a long and thin rod, but it still should be hard enough
The first thing you need to do is find a small long rod, the thinner the better, but it still should be hard enough. It is necessary to estimate that the rod is small enough to pass through the door and long enough to reach the lock. If you cant seem to find anything that fits, a coat hanger or a car antenna might be good suggestions. After that, try to bend the end point of the rod to create a hook.
Using a wedge to create a gap in the door
Next, you need a wedge to create a gap in the door. You can use a piece of wood with sharp ends or something similar. Slide this object into the slot until you can slide your fingers in to widen the gap.
Put the rod or long stick through the gap in the direction of the door lock
To limit the damage to your cars paint, you can put a cloth or soft paper on this wedge-like object.
It might take a few tries to get the door unlocked
After you have created enough space, you can put the rod or long stick in the direction of the door lock. It might take a few tries, depending on your ingenuity.
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What Is A Deadlocked Car Door
Many modern cars come with deadlock systems. These locks provide an extra layer of security for your car by allowing unlocking only through the rotation of a lock cylinder.
These exist to make entering your car harder for criminals. Instead of smashing the window and unlocking your car by pulling the tab or knob, theyll trigger an alarm instead!
One specific type of deadlock is the child safety lock. This type of deadlock prevents doors being opened from the inside. These types of locks are commonly installed on rear doors only.
In some car models, doors with deadlocks require you to turn the key a bit further than you normally would. Many car owners dont know this perhaps their dealership forgot to mention it, or they missed it in their owners manual.
And with how rarely many of us use physical keys nowadays, its not completely unreasonable that youd never realise this.
If your car lock isnt letting you in, give this a shot who knows, it might work!
Safely Breaking Into Your Car Part 1
Though we wish it werent true, there comes a time in most car owners lives when they find themselves locked out of their vehicle whether theyve locked the key inside or lost it altogether. When youve locked yourself out, the best thing you can do is call a professional locksmith. However, if youre in a huge time pinch or need to access something important inside your vehicle, you may be tempted to break in.
Luckily, there are some methods you can use to attempt breaking into your vehicle. One method you should avoid is breaking a window. Modern cars use tempered glass which is treated so that it will shatter into thousands of pieces upon impact. This prevents large shards of glass from causing damage in the event of a car accident. However, if you break the glass in an effort to gain entry to your vehicle, youll only be creating a big, dangerous mess. It is especially important to avoid breaking glass when there is someone locked inside the vehicle.
If there is ever a person locked inside of your vehicle, call 911 and PALSavesKids immediately. PALSavesKids prevent and rescue children who are locked inside vehicles. We will unlock your car free of charge to ensure your childs safety. Otherwise, here are some helpful strategies to help you unlock your car safely.
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Do Slim Jims Work On New Cars
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A Slim Jim tool may work on a new model car, as long as there is not a shield covering the lock button on the door. Slim Jims vary in success when used to unlock cars with power locks.
In fact, the Slim Jim company advises on their website not to use this tool to unlock cars with central locking systems. A Slim Jim is better suited for unlocking a car with the lock switch on the door frame/base of the window.
How To Get Into A Locked Car
You go to your car and you have the unfortunate realization that youre locked out. Maybe you locked your keys in the car or the keys are lost or in a mere moment, the keys break in what feels like a freak accident. You want to scream internally, but you try to remain calm. What do you do? It doesnt matter if youre on a road trip or just on your way back from the grocery store, these things can happen with no warning at all. Though it can be annoying and frustrating, here are some tips for how to get into a locked car.
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Use A Wire Hanger To Unlock
Although Hollywood makes it seem simple, we can tell you that it is not. The power lock/unlock button on your automobile, however, can be used to open the door with a wire hanger. Just above the unlock button, straighten your hanger out, place it inside the door frames seal, and slowly pry it open until the hanger slides in. Show it where the to unlock button is.
What Is The Cost Of A Car Door That Has Been Locked
Many factors influence the cost of fixing a cars door, including the replacement parts and the causes of the lockout. It cannot be easy to pay the price for repairing a locked car door. Price ranges will also depend on the vehicle type, as spare parts prices vary.
The repair cost for a job requiring a locksmith includes both the locksmiths service and repair costs. The complexity of the job will determine the labor costs. The cost to hire a locksmith for the job is between $75 and $220. However, you can be confident that your car will be fixed.
The most costly option is to tow your vehicle to the dealership. You will first need to pay the two charges and agree to the price set by the dealer.
You can be sure that your cars locked door will be repaired if you look on the bright side. You might have to wait longer for your door to be fixed by an auto locksmith. The cost to repair your cars locked door at a dealership is between $200 and $650.
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Car Door Method #: Use A Coat Hanger
The coat hanger method is one method I’m pretty familiar withI remember watching my dad use a coat hanger to unlock his car a few years back. I will say that it took him a pretty long time, but he eventually got it, saving him a call to the local locksmith and probably a hundred bucks or so.
You’ll need a wire hanger so you can untwist it and make a hook that goes inside the weather stripping in the window. From here, you have to jiggle it around until you find the locking mechanism. It may take some time, but it’s worth the trouble when you’re desperate. If you have your phone handy, you can try googling your car’s door locking mechanism to figure out where to aim the hanger.
This method works with horizontal locks as well, since you’re working on the locking mechanism inside the door, not aiming too pull up or push down the button inside the car.
If you prefer plastic clothes hangers over metal, then you might want to try some other options…
How To Unlock A Car Door With Power Locks
100% FREE! No committment.
Getting locked out of any car can be a nightmare, but if your car uses a power locking system, getting the doors to unlock can be extra challenging.
If you want to know how to unlock a car door with power locks, we cover some of the best methods you can use in this article.
To successfully unlock a car with power locks, you will need to either use your spare key, contact a local locksmith or use a wedge and rod to pick the lock yourself. Auto jiggler keys and slim jim tools vary in success when used to unlock cars with a central locking system, it is best to avoid these tools and call a professional locksmith instead.
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Hide The Spare Key On Your Vehicle
Its important to have a spare key. There are many places outside of your car where you can hide your car keys, for example, the tire well, inside the gas tank flap, behind a license plate, or even behind the bumper.
You could even ask your mechanic to be creative and design a place outside your car where you can hide the keys.
Where Is Your Spare Key
So you checked all the doors and the car is definitely locked. Whats next?
You may consider using your spare key, but this can be tricky depending on your situation. Is your spare key at home? How far are you? Do you have someone who can bring it over? If youre in a hurry or far away from home, trying to open the car yourself or calling a locksmith may be your best choice.
An average locksmith fee for unlocking a vehicle is around $70, but it can go as high as $140 depending on your vehicle. And yet sometimes its still a better option than going through the hassle of rushing home to get the spare key. If your house keys are also locked in your vehicle, keep in mind its almost always cheaper to get your car unlocked by a locksmith, than your house.
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Car Door Method #: Just Call Aaa
If all else fails, there’s nothing wrong with getting a little help. AAA is probably the most well-known car assistance provider in the nation. If you have the service already, you can call and have someone come and help you within half an hour. Even if you don’t have the service, you can call in, become a member, and have someone at your car that same day.
Use An Inflatable Pump To Unlock
Buying an inflatable wedge kit can be a good option if you frequently lock yourself out of your car. You can prevent damaging the paint of the vehicle, which can occasionally happen when using metal tools, by utilizing these auto entry tools. The wedge separates the door from the jamb so that you can insert access tools or rods to release the lock.
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How To Open A Locked Car Door
First, you need to know that the lock mechanism on cars varies widely. There are some vehicles whose locking knob is on the inside top of the doors just below the window, and there are some others that have power locks designed with a remote, which is very common in modern vehicles. So an approach for one might not work for the other.
Anyways dont worry your head about all that. We will vividly explain various ways you can open your locked car door. But before you begin using any of these methods, make sure you are familiar with your vehicles unlock mechanism it helps in knowing which of the methods is best for your car.
Note: For vehicles with security systems, the car alarm will go off if you plan to unlock your car door without the key. So having your ID in your pocket is smart in case the cops come at you.
Unlock The Door Manually
Barring that, try holding your dead fob up against the drivers door handle and pulling. Sometimes theres just enough juice in the battery to unlock it at a close distance.
If that fails, look closely at the fob. If it has a leather jacket on it, remove it. Almost all automakers hide a small mechanical key inside the fob. There is usually a small catch that allows the spare key to pop out. If you can expose the little mechanical key, you can then insert it into the lock opening in the drivers door, and youre in.
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