Breaking into your own car... that YOU own.

[DJH]

Having shaved door handles on my minitruck, I've had to break into it on a regular basis due to dead batteries (remotes or the truck itself).

It's funny because I own a professional lockout kit, and I added coathanger because it's the only thing that worked.

[JesterODX]

When I was in high school I locked my keys in my truck a lot since we all sat in our trucks and BS on cb's. I'd get out and forget them... I got over it and no longer have an issues with locking my keys in my vehicles. I stopped locking my doors. I figured if there is anythign in there, I would rather a thief not bust my window out to get what they were after.

[ais4122]

I have OnStar which will take care of accidental lockouts. But I do make it a habit of leaving my windows open enough to get back in, when I make those quick short stops away from home. Those are the times lockouts are most inconvienent

[tookieblueeyes]

Funny... I think I have only locked myself out of my car on 3 different occasions and because of the cost of replacing a window and tearing up the door with a wire coat hanger etc. etc. etc. I learned not to lock my keys in my car. HOWEVER, I do seem to lose money ALL THE TIME. If it is my money, I generally manage to hang onto it, but if it is someone elses, say they give me a $10 or something to pick them something up at the store or what not... never fails... I lose it. Somehow, I always lose it! So no problems with keys, just problems with everyone elses money being in my pocket. So no one should EVER give me money and expect I will return with what you sent me for or with change
But the best thing to do... is learn NOT TO LOCK YOUR KEYS IN YOUR CAR.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

But the best thing to do... is learn NOT TO LOCK YOUR KEYS IN YOUR CAR.

So just learn not to lose money and you'll be good! Now do you see the error with that statement? There's also losing keys, someone else locking them in your car, etc.

OT: i try to make sure I have at least one friend I can trust with a copy of my valet key. The hide-a-key-ish solutions don't do much for me.

[tookieblueeyes]

good point!
I started clipping my keys to my belt loops with carabiner that is how i learned not to lose my keys. It just became habit to hook my keys to my belt loop every time i got out of the car so it became impossible to forget my keys and close the door. I guess putting someones money in my wallet as an automatic thing rather than just jamming it in my front pocket would become habit and therefore eliminate the problem of losing their money
good point!
Point taken

[Jamie]

Extra Key
AAA

[Acquisitor]

I drilled and tapped a hole under my car and attached a door key with a flat-head screw. As long as I have a coin, I can get into my car. I put an ignition key, house key, and a twenty for emergency gas in a magnetic hide-a-key inside the car.

[Caffiend]

I once used my multi tool with a bit of gaff tape wrapped around the file (to protect the window) to wedge my window open wide enough to slide a guitar string in. It took a bit of trial and error but I eventually was able to hook the loop I'd made at the end of the string around the door handle and open the door. It wasn't pretty, but it sure beat having to break a window!

+1 on clipping keys to the belt loop as well.

[Tater Raider]

Buy a different vehicle.

[Power Fail]

I understand that not everybody has a key fob dealie, and some cars lock automatically and such, but my solution is to just never lock it with anything but the key fob. I get out (leaving the door unlocked), shut the door, and then push the lock button on my fob. If the key + clicker is in my hand, and I don't lock it with anything else (unless I just got into it, of course), I'd have a pretty hard time locking myself out.

I will say that I always make sure to unlock at least one door before I start digging around in the trunk, though. I've dropped my keys in there while doing so, without realizing it until I'd shut the trunk. My trunk release doesn't require a key in the ignition either, so this has saved my bacon more than once.

[williaty]

Brick


Sent from my iPhone

Dang. I wish I could send a brick from my droid...

Squinty, you're my hero.


Anyway, my solution is to go get a little stainless steel picture hanging wire from the craft store. They should have it quite thick, 045 to 067 is usually common. They're also nice enough to have made it dead soft for you. Get under your car, find a hole in the unibody well away from any moving parts. Loop some of the stainless wire through it and then twist the ends together like some kind of badassed tactical twist-tie. Then put a spare key on a key ring and wind the key ring onto the loop of wire you attached to the car. Cheap and HIGHLY durable, as well as easy to remove in a pinch. I've had one strapped to my car this way for the last 10 years and 200,000mi. And those were some HARD fought miles, so that thing saw lots of abuse. Still no rust on the key and it starts the car just fine. Key ring is rusty as fuck and has been replaced several times. The chrome plating gets sand blasted off pretty quick and then the road salt gets to it.

[GentryMillMan]

Anyway, my solution is to go get a little stainless steel picture hanging wire from the craft store. They should have it quite thick, 045 to 067 is usually common. They're also nice enough to have made it dead soft for you. Get under your car, find a hole in the unibody well away from any moving parts. Loop some of the stainless wire through it and then twist the ends together like some kind of badassed tactical twist-tie. Then put a spare key on a key ring and wind the key ring onto the loop of wire you attached to the car. Cheap and HIGHLY durable, as well as easy to remove in a pinch. I've had one strapped to my car this way for the last 10 years and 200,000mi. And those were some HARD fought miles, so that thing saw lots of abuse. Still no rust on the key and it starts the car just fine. Key ring is rusty as fuck and has been replaced several times. The chrome plating gets sand blasted off pretty quick and then the road salt gets to it.

I use a zip tie under the vehicle and wrap the key with electrical tape. The tape keeps the key clean and keeps the road debris abuse minimal.

[funkychicken]

I have my spare ignition/door key along with my gas cap key on my work keys. I have a clip which is supposed to slide over your belt on my first pants loop and my keys are always there or in the ignition. I however also own a towing company and my company is contracted with AAA for roadside assistance. I have unlocked countless cars for AAA members and have made it a habit to always have my keys on that clip before I even lock my truck. My lockout kit is always under the seat of my personal truck and with the exception of mercedes and bmw I can unlock any car. Some are 10 second vehicles(fords) and some are a bit tricky(Lexus/Toyota). Someone mentioned the plastic wedge and the firberglass rod to press the unlock button earlier in the thread. That tool is the "Cheater tool" Some people strictly just use that. I however actually know how to use all the tools in my kit. I take pride in not using the cheater tool for the most part. Some vehicles require that tool solely. But door jams are not supposed to be wedged open. I consider it as an invasive way of unlocking the door. Anyways. The magnetic key cases work great if you tape them in place, or like someone mentioned putting them on top of something magnetic. There are a lot of good ideas here with the tire rubber, electrical tape and wiper, wallet, zip tie, etc. Basically it boils down to prepping your car for that one zombie. It doesn't matter how you hide the key as long as you can find it when you need it and it solves your zombie. Some people said," I just learned to not lock my keys in my car" So in that sense we should all learn how to swim in case there is a tsunami? Or, "I don't plan on running over any nails so I took out my spare tire." You don't plan for it to happen but be prepared for it. That's what this forum is all about right?

[Bunni]

On pull locks, I use this method. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eUecyl0L9g

I use my paracord bracelet and a screw driver to push the knot in the door frame.

[agrippakc]

This thread got a lot more action than I initially thought. I love the stories, we have been there and it did suck as much as everyone has described.

[MaconCJ7]

My ex F-150 had push buttons on the handle. I would always leave the keys in the truck. Punch the code to gain access. Works great, lasts long time.

[dukman]

My ex F-150 had push buttons on the handle. I would always leave the keys in the truck. Punch the code to gain access. Works great, lasts long time.

I would only think of doing this if I kept the ignition key separate. It is too easy for an opportunistic thief the see a key ring dangling from the ignition, and if you have house keys hanging too, they have your address in the glovebox.

[MaconCJ7]

My ex F-150 had push buttons on the handle. I would always leave the keys in the truck. Punch the code to gain access. Works great, lasts long time.

I would only think of doing this if I kept the ignition key separate. It is too easy for an opportunistic thief the see a key ring dangling from the ignition, and if you have house keys hanging too, they have your address in the glovebox.

Well, they would only have the ignition key. I don't leave it in the ignition, I'm not retarded. And the address on the registration isn't even in the same State. I was pretty well covered on all aspects there. My next truck won't be the same, but I still keep my ignition key separate from the rest. I don't like a bunch of keys dangling from the ignition.

Another way of getting into your own car (though it's not recommended except in extreme emergency). If you have automatic door locks, and can pop the hood, disconnect the negative battery terminal and tap the cable on the terminal. This *can* unlock your doors. It's also possible to fry your computer the same way. But, if you somehow lock your keys in the car and you have an infant inside, it's preferable to pay for a busted window or a fried computer rather than the alternative.

[Meleri]

if you can't get into the car how are you popping the hood?

Now I have no idea how to break into my own car there are times I could have used this information. One of the worst things that happens to me is I have gotten into the habit of using the keys to lock to door to use the inside lock switch is asking for disaster. So I get out of the car find my keys which I have already thrown to the bottom of my purse and I lock the doors and drop keys back to bottom of purse. I once was with a friend. I was driving and he felt he should be helpful. We had just arrived at the destination. I brushed my hair I was going to then put the hair push down grab keys from the steering column and head inside. I jumped out of the car and shut the door and went to hit the lock button. Opps still have hair brush in hand not keys. Friend was so nice and hit the all lock on his door and so we are locked out of the car. Please don't help the driver lock the car with out asking do you have the keys or just don't do it.

I have learned I have ADHD didn't know this and ADHD has your brain running so fast some information is not processed by long term memory. This is why people with ADHD lose everything it's location did not get put into the storage bank and we can not retrieve it. I say this because you will most often leave your keys in a common place so look there first. Ladies with large purses one of the hints I was given was to put a jingle bell on your key chain you can shake your purse and the jingle bell will ring letting you know they are in the purse.

[Tater Raider]

I threw a brik trough my rear passenger side window. Access granted.

[elektrik]

if you can't get into the car how are you popping the hood?

Now I have no idea how to break into my own car there are times I could have used this information. One of the worst things that happens to me is I have gotten into the habit of using the keys to lock to door to use the inside lock switch is asking for disaster. So I get out of the car find my keys which I have already thrown to the bottom of my purse and I lock the doors and drop keys back to bottom of purse. I once was with a friend. I was driving and he felt he should be helpful. We had just arrived at the destination. I brushed my hair I was going to then put the hair push down grab keys from the steering column and head inside. I jumped out of the car and shut the door and went to hit the lock button. Opps still have hair brush in hand not keys. Friend was so nice and hit the all lock on his door and so we are locked out of the car. Please don't help the driver lock the car with out asking do you have the keys or just don't do it.

I have learned I have ADHD didn't know this and ADHD has your brain running so fast some information is not processed by long term memory. This is why people with ADHD lose everything it's location did not get put into the storage bank and we can not retrieve it. I say this because you will most often leave your keys in a common place so look there first. Ladies with large purses one of the hints I was given was to put a jingle bell on your key chain you can shake your purse and the jingle bell will ring letting you know they are in the purse.

make a spare key, adhere to it a lace of 35 cm, a pin connect a lace to a bag bottom
запасной ключь на шнурке

[Max_Rodriguez]

Brick

this

[Faux]

Last Summer, I locked my keys in my truck outside the post office. All my gear was inside my truck and I had but five bucks in my pocket. I walked a couple blocks to Bishop's Attic, a local thrift store. I bought three things:

A tire-iron with a large flathead on one end
An aluminum yardstick
A shelf bracket in this particular shape:


It cost me about $2.50 in all. I walked back to my truck and used the tire-iron to open a gap in my door so that I could slide the shim-shaped shelf bracket into my door. I used the tire-iron to pry the door further and work the shelf bracket far enough up the door to slip the yardstick in. Presto, amazo! I was proud of my SCUMM adventure game experience, that day.