Author Topic: Keys...Never Had This happen Before (Read 1433 times)

TM7 · « **on:** July 07, 2009, 12:31:51 PM »

Well, I've heard of this happening and now I know it can happen. Today my son brought a new-to-him GMC Jimmy to the house. He just picked it up and had the spare key on the passenger seat, he took the original key out of the igniton when he got a phone call and threw that key on the seat, too. When it started to rain he closed the driver's door. The car locked with both keys on the front seat and he can't get in. Dealer won't cut a key from SN code because he doesn't have a Title yet. Weather stripping around the windows is very tight with the windows inset into the weather stripping,,,looks most difficult to slip something in there. Looks like a locksmith deal on this one....any good ideas...??

..TM7

mirage1988 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2009, 01:05:25 PM »

I can get into my chev by sticking a wide putty knife (to avoid damaging the paint) between the door and body and bending the door out enough to get a stiff piece of wire to hit the power lock button.

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2009, 01:11:59 PM »

That's kind of what a locksmith will do. They have small inflatable bladders that they slip in between the door and body at the upper corner of the door frame. They inflate these bags until there is a large enough gap to stick a long bendable rod into the vehicle and push the unlock button.

If you go this route expect to pay a few bucks for it.

Good luck.

JoeG52 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2009, 02:24:44 PM »

Some police departments carry 'slim-jims' in their cars to help with things like that.

Heather · « **Reply #4 on:** July 07, 2009, 02:43:03 PM »

Quote from: JoeG52 on July 07, 2009, 02:24:44 PM

Some police departments carry 'slim-jims' in their cars to help with things like that.

When Evan was about 2 I ran in my mothers to grab my purse with the keys still in the ingition. It was a new van and I didn't realize that the doors locked automatically if you shut the doors while it was running. He was strapped in his carseat and could not get out to unlock the door. I was locked out and can you believe that the police would NOT open my doors for me because I couldn't prove it was mine because the papers were locked in it. Poor Evan was in there for thirty minutes while my dad tore off the weather strip and somehow managed to open it with a coat hanger. The bad part was the cop had a slim jim in his car.

Heather

Brett · « **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2009, 02:48:45 PM »

Quote from: Heather on July 07, 2009, 02:43:03 PM

Quote from: JoeG52 on July 07, 2009, 02:24:44 PM
Some police departments carry 'slim-jims' in their cars to help with things like that.

When Evan was about 2 I ran in my mothers to grab my purse with the keys still in the ingition. It was a new van and I didn't realize that the doors locked automatically if you shut the doors while it was running. He was strapped in his carseat and could not get out to unlock the door. I was locked out and can you believe that the police would NOT open my doors for me because I couldn't prove it was mine because the papers were locked in it. Poor Evan was in there for thirty minutes while my dad tore off the weather strip and somehow managed to open it with a coat hanger. The bad part was the cop had a slim jim in his car.

Heather

I suppose you're lucky that the cop didn't charge you with child endangerment after you got into the van.

rockbilly · « **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2009, 04:57:19 PM »

I used 'slimjims' for years while in the car business, they work great with manuel locks, but sometines can be very dangerous in untrained hands on a vehicle with electric locks. The danger is in the side mounted air bags that some vehicles have, set it off with the slimjim in the door and in most cases it will be blown back in your face. I have read of people being killed as a result of the slimjim blown out with such force that it embeds itself in the pepson's brain.

Best let a locksmith deal with it.

no guns here · « **Reply #7 on:** July 07, 2009, 06:59:10 PM »

If my kid was locked in... I would have had him out in about 30 seconds. gently bust a window and you're in. Cheaper than a funeral or child endangerment charges...

NGH

Sourdough · « **Reply #8 on:** July 07, 2009, 08:23:41 PM »

You said Jimmy, does that imply a SUV or the little truck? If so with either the rear window should be flat glass. Flat glass is the least expensive to replace. It should also be tempered glass not safety plate. Before I risk damaging the door of window frame, I would pop the rear window. I have done this many times on pick-ups where we could get a slider replacement for around $50.00 back then. Tempered glass is the ones that break into thousands of little pieces. Check with a glass shop and see what replacement will be. Might be less than the locksmith call.

bilmac · « **Reply #9 on:** July 08, 2009, 01:04:54 AM »

I'm with Sourdough. several times I have paid to have a perfectly good rear window removed and replaced with a slider. They are a nice way to ventelate the cab, and if he ever wants to put a camper on it he will want a sliding rear window. They aren't all that expensive, and the next time he locks his keys inside, it will provide an easier place to break in.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #10 on:** July 08, 2009, 01:06:21 AM »

Quote from: mirage1988 on July 07, 2009, 01:05:25 PM

I can get into my chev by sticking a wide putty knife (to avoid damaging the paint) between the door and body and bending the door out enough to get a stiff piece of wire to hit the power lock button.

I have seen this work and the car in question also had the engine running

it worked though with no damage done.

Another thing that I have sucessfully done (after hearing about it) was to place my hands at the upper left & right hand corners of the driver door window & massage that window down. It took a few tries but eventually the weather stripping was cleared and I had a 1/4" gap which was enough to get a piece of #9 wire in and fish the keys out of the ignition. No power locks on this car prevented us from trying the method in the quote.

Tommyt · « **Reply #11 on:** July 08, 2009, 03:39:44 AM »

My God your going to Break the window versus call a Locksmith

If your really thinking of that why don't you just pull the windshield
Remove the trim and with a hook knife cut the window free
Now you don't loose any money

Also if anyone has AAA they will locksmith it for free
If you know anyone who knows the AAA locksmith pay him cash (very cheap)
Heres why I say that
I have a 77 vette they are the hardest to unlock they have the turn lock knobs on the door
This kid came out and worked at least an hour calling on everyone he could for adivse
so he and I where talking, I asked him if they paid him more cause I had a Impossible vehicle
and the time involved
He told me he got 7 dollars per open and a small gas allowance weekly
He did have the inflate bag on my car it works but he couldn't turn the knob
We finally lifted the "T" top and hooked the keys and pulled them out that way
Tommyt

magooch · « **Reply #12 on:** July 08, 2009, 04:04:08 AM »

I agree that whoever invented the self-locking setup should have their nuts jerked off with a pair of pliers, but it is also possible to lock yourself out with most car doors. The only exception I know of was on my 67 GMC where you had to lock the door with the key. It didn't work to push the knob down and close the door with the outside button pushed in. It was fool proof. In lieu of that you have to learn to keep an extra key available somewhere besides in the vehicle.

Sourdough · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2009, 06:35:53 AM »

The windshield is not that easy to remove, I know I had the windshield replaced yesterday on my S-10. It is a totally glue in job. As I said before a flat piece of glass is best if you are going to break one. But check with a local glass company to see about the cost of replacement. It might be cheaper than calling a locksmith. Here they charge a lot more, it's around $50.00 per call plus mileage. So it can be less expensive to simple break the rear window.

Trying to pry the top of the door out enough to get something through to retrieve the keys can damage the window frame. Making for a lot of wind noise when driving.

For the future, I went to the locksmith and had a key made for my S-10 that is flat. Unlike the Chevy key there is not a large plastic glob at the top of the key. The flat key goes in my wallet, my wallet is always in my pocket. When I do accidentally lock myself out I use that key to reopen the door. Has served me many times.

The dealer part with making a new key is actually the best. If you have the paperwork where he bought the vehicle, that should be sufficient for them to know it is your vehicle.

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2009, 06:53:40 AM »

If he had prior insurance and the new one is insured, some companies pay for lock-out/locksmith on their policy.

no guns here · « **Reply #15 on:** July 08, 2009, 07:54:00 AM »

Yep... if a kid's locked in the car I'd bust a window in a heartbeat. The two or three times I've called a locksmith it's taken a couple of hours to get one there. Cops can't touch it for liability issues. Even if I was stupid enough to break my windshield, that's only $500, which while not insignificant pales in comparison to the life of a child.

NGH

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #16 on:** July 08, 2009, 09:48:08 AM »

OK now go trade it in on a Ford before the ink dries really good.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #17 on:** July 08, 2009, 05:59:17 PM »

Sorry boys but I beleave it was ford who had the auto locking doors first.

Didn't know GM ever had them.
What year Jimmy is it?

I have never owned a GMC Jimmy but have been GM all my life (Impalia, Caprice, Caddy, Buick, Trail Blazer, GM trucks) and have never had one with auto locking doors on it.

The first thing I do when I get a different vehicle is put the spare key on my keyring.

LONGTOM

Sourdough · « **Reply #18 on:** July 08, 2009, 06:14:30 PM »

I have the extra key in my wallet, and I have one of the original keys on my key ring that I carry in my pocket. During the summer that is the key I use all the time. During the winter I use the key that is on the auto start fab. All our vehicles have auto start, and when we come home during the winter we hang the fab with key on the key board just inside the front door. When we leave we take the fab to the vehicle we are going to drive that day. We have six vehicles and only three drivers. I am always alternating, depending on my mood.

mirage1988 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 08, 2009, 06:34:28 PM »

The guy that invented the auto lock doors probably drove thru the worst parts of detroit on the way to work! I have driven thru those spots in minneapolis.

Graybeard · « **Reply #20 on:** July 09, 2009, 12:42:25 AM »

My new Toyota Sequoia has auto locking doors BUT you must be moving 15 mph for them to lock. Below that they will not lock. Nice feature really tho I have made it a habit to lock the doors before moving for years.

Speaking of keys and cost of them. I bought a used Ford F150 last year when I traded off my Toyota Tundra on the Sequoia. It came with only one key. I have asked around about a spare and no one seems willing to make one for under about $150 or so. It has a plastic encased head as most newer vehicle keys do these days and embedded in that plastic is some sort of micro chip or some such that has to be programmed for it to work in the ignition. Everyone who can do it wants an arm and a leg to do so.

blind ear · « **Reply #21 on:** July 09, 2009, 03:24:53 AM »

GB, on my Toyota a key cut with the teeth (standard hardware store cut key) without the chip will open the door. It just won't start the car. The chip allows the car to start. The flat key is in my wallet. Some cars might sound the burgular alarm if the chip isn't in the key when the door is unlocked. I don't know. eddie

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #22 on:** July 09, 2009, 03:34:58 AM »

Yea to get the chip you can expect to pay $60 to 140 dollars . go ahead and start the truck with the "flat " key in some cases you have to have it towed in to the dealer to be "reset " to start it . Don't ask how i know this as it make my blood presure rise .

Tommyt · « **Reply #23 on:** July 09, 2009, 03:47:49 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on July 09, 2009, 12:42:25 AM

My new Toyota Sequoia has auto locking doors BUT you must be moving 15 mph for them to lock. Below that they will not lock. Nice feature really tho I have made it a habit to lock the doors before moving for years.

Speaking of keys and cost of them. I bought a used Ford F150 last year when I traded off my Toyota Tundra on the Sequoia. It came with only one key. I have asked around about a spare and no one seems willing to make one for under about $150 or so. It has a plastic encased head as most newer vehicle keys do these days and embedded in that plastic is some sort of micro chip or some such that has to be programmed for it to work in the ignition. Everyone who can do it wants an arm and a leg to do so.

Home Depot does those type around here for I believe 40

But my Question is this can you remove the ignition and replace it with a somewhat normal one

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #24 on:** July 09, 2009, 05:13:11 AM »

NOPE !

Sourdough · « **Reply #25 on:** July 09, 2009, 06:04:09 AM »

Guys, the wave of the future, NO KEY. My wife bought a Mazda RX-8, no key is needed, just a credit card sized hunk of plastic with a chip and battery inside. Slip this little card in your hip pocket as you leave the house. Walk up to the car, the car will scan and read the chip. Push a little button in the door handle and the door unlocks. Unless the card is present to be read the door will not unlock.

Get into the car and just turn a switch, the car starts, no key needed, just a reading from the card in your pocket. Get out and leave the car running, walk away the car will continue to sit there and run. As soon as someone tries to put the car into gear the engine shuts off, and will not restart till the security card is present. Someone wants to car jack the vehicle, get out let them have it, run. As soon as they go 15 feet from the security card the engine will shut down, and not restart till the security card is present.

When the wife and I go shopping and park the car when I walk 15ft from the car it automatically locks. When I return, the car recognizes the security card in my pocket and unlocks when I push the button on the door handle. During cold weather if I leave the car running, again it locks when I get 15 ft from it. In the event some one should break a window and get inside. As soon as they push the clutch the engine shuts off.

In the event of a dead battery, and the security system is down, there is a key embedded in the card that can be removed and the cover over the ignition switch can be removed to start the car with the key while jumping. That little key cost $76.00 at a Mazda Dealer, the only place to get one. Then it cost $100.00 to have it programed to match the security system in the car. The reason I know, when on my road trip with my old high school buddy I lost one of the keys somewhere in North Carolina.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #26 on:** July 09, 2009, 06:38:41 AM »

so anyone with a card reader will know where that card goes good or bad .

Empty Quiver · « **Reply #27 on:** July 10, 2009, 10:13:00 AM »

Now my last several Fords have had a key pad entry system. If you have power locks Ford can even put them in vehicles that were not ordered that way. Much easier than carrying around extra keys or wire for that matter.

Glanceblamm · « **Reply #28 on:** July 10, 2009, 04:52:16 PM »

Just on a hunch, I decided to lock the keys in my Wifes 2004 Pontiac Bonneville this evening. Pulled the car into the garage and the locks activated when putting the car into drive. Put the car in park and the locks deactivated. Shut the engine off and pushed the manual lock button. No Go...The Locks would not activate as long as the key was in the ignition and would get the beeping security warning while trying this.

I reckon that many models are like this but don't know which ones cept for this 2004 GM product.

Doug B. · « **Reply #29 on:** July 11, 2009, 12:54:35 AM »

Quote from: Sourdough on July 08, 2009, 06:35:53 AM

As I said before a flat piece of glass is best if you are going to break one. But check with a local glass company to see about the cost of replacement. It might be cheaper than calling a locksmith.

Having managed a glass shop for a number of years, my advise is to be very careful which piece of glass you break out!!! Side glass (tempered) will be at or about the same cost as a new windshield, sometimes more. That depends on how hard it is to install and the type of vehicle. My suggestion: Do NOT break any quarter (sometimes referred to as a "vent", movable or not) glass. Generally, these pieces of glass can run you at least twice as much as a new windshield. I've seen some customers forking out over $400.00 or more for one that I know is not even a square foot in size. Don't let glass size fool you! Just a little something to think about.

By the way....I have a spare key wired underneath every vehicle my family owns.