Keys Locked In Car: Emergency Locksmith in Leeds

TOP HANDY HACKS WHEN YOUR KEYS ARE LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR

Every year, hundreds of thousands of drivers end up locking their keys inside their cars; unfortunately, you are among them now! Although new car models with transponder keys are making it increasingly rare for people to be locked out of their vehicles, the situation may arise sometimes.

Thankfully, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and you can take multiple measures to get out of the sticky situation. From DIY hacks to sending SOS signals, there is a plethora of feasible steps you can take to swerve being stuck outside your car. In this article, we will comprehensively gauge what you face in a ‘keys locked in cars’ situation.

PRACTICAL STEPS TO TAKE WHEN KEYS ARE LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE

Call 101
Keys locked in car – What to do

In a high-risk scenario, for example, if a child or animal is locked inside the car, dial 911 immediately and tell them your vehicle’s brand, model, and you are located. Emergency services like the police or fire brigade department will arrive quicker than a locksmith or roadside assistance to get you out of the situation.

Often, the police will shatter or break the window or use a thin metal device to unlock the car without the keys. Although emergency services will not charge you, you must be careful to call them only in the direst situation, when it is a matter of someone’s wellbeing.

Call AAA

Roadside assistance offerers like the American Automobile Association (AAA) can be pretty helpful in a ‘keys locked in cars’ situation. The services of AAA are available 24/7, and all AAA members receive one free lockout per year and other related benefits, depending on the membership level opted for.

So, if you find that you are locked outside your car, call AAA, and explain to them your location, your car’s model, its brand, and your membership. Thereafter, AAA assistance will arrive at the earliest. However, you must remember that it might take half an hour or more for professionals from AAA to arrive, and you will have to pay out of your pocket if you do not have a membership or are locked out more than once.

Now that we know the two immediate steps you can take when your car keys are locked inside, it is time to tour through some DIY methods that might come in handy.

The Nine Best Hacks to Apply When You Are Locked Outside Your Car

Mentioned below are some accessible hacks to get back into your car without a key. Most of these tactics work on mechanical locks; they will not suffice for electronic locks found in the more recent car models.

Unlock the Door Remotely

Many car manufacturers provide a remote door unlocking system, wherein you can try to gain entry inside if the fob key is disabled or if you have left it behind altogether. It is an advanced built-in feature that is part and parcel of upcoming cards. However, if your car does not support the feature, you can consider investing in a universal remote holder that enables car door activation from the outside.

These special holders are shaped like work and are compatible with most cars and trucks with a wireless entry option. The best part is that even if you lose one universal remote holder, most purchases are backed up by two or many spares. As such, precaution is better than cure, and if you are frequently confronted with a ‘keys locked in cars’ debacle, then a universal key holder can be your go-to solution.

The Coat Hanger Method

An ‘oldie, but a goldie,’ the coat hanger method is a classic way to unlock mechanical car keys locked inside a vehicle. In fact, the method is also used in quite a few movies. To try out the coat hanger method, you need a thin wire coat hanger and pliers.

The first step is to use the pliers to unravel the coat hanger so that you are left with one hooked side and the other straight. After that, you must slide the coat hanger between the window and the weather striping; when the hook is below the window, you can begin fishing for the control arm. After you find the control arm, pull up with the hook, and viola, your door will open.

The Screwdriver Strategy

Most manual doors can be easily opened with a screwdriver. All you are required to do is take a flat-headed screwdriver and place the tip about one inch from the bottom corner of the passenger side of your vehicle’s door. After that, slightly fidget for ten seconds until you hear a ‘click’ sound, after which the door should get unlocked. The screwdriver strategy is a relatively foolproof way to wriggle out of a ‘keys locked in cars’ scenario, and is hailed by many people.

The Pump Wedge Process

Another fairly straightforward method that can help you unlock the car when the keys are inside is the pump wedge process. Here, you can easily open your driver’s side door without causing any damage. To begin with, you will need a pump wedge that can be easily purchased online.

Simply place the wedge in the midst of the window and door of your vehicle, inflate it a little by squeezing its side, and after a second or two, you should be able to hear a clicking sound, implying that the car is unlocked. However, the downside of the process is that even the most experienced people might end up scratching the surface or tearing the weather stripping. So, please ensure the repair costs are worth it before using a wedge to get your keys out of a locked car.

Use a Pair of Pliers or Vice Grips

If you do not have any unlocking tools at hand, then even pliers or vice grips will suffice to get your keys out of a locked vehicle. Get one of the pliers closer to where the door’s locking mechanism is located; squeeze them towards each other with the locking mechanism in between and pull away from the door. When done right, you will hear a ‘click’ sound, illustrating that the door has been unlocked.

Try Unlocking Doors at the Back of the Car

A crazy situation calls for a crazy solution. Some car manufacturers place rear doors on their car models, which can be opened when someone turns up the lock cylinder. To open the rear doors, you must push down the area where the lock mechanism is present. Then, you have to pull the handle at the same time. Your car door should immediately open thereafter. However, cars that do not come with rear doors will not be able to rely on the trick to get out of a ‘keys locked in cars’ situation.

The Bobby Pin Method

If you have nothing but bobby pins by your trick, you can give the old-school lock unlocking method a try. Firstly, bend the bobby pin at a 90-degree angle and separate t the second pin, gently bending one of its tips.

Then, place the bent side of the first pin into the lock and thrust the second pin straight into the lock. While holding the first pin, try moving the second around the lock mechanism until you hear the click sound. However, the bobby pin method could damage your car if done incorrectly. So, be mindful of the repercussions prior to giving it a shot.

The Shoelace Strategy

In case your vehicle is quite old with a manual lock, and you are wearing shoes with laces, then congratulations, you might be able to unlock your door without having to call AAA. Firstly, tie a slipknot in the middle of the shoelace and create a loop the size of your index finger. Thereafter, wriggle the shoelace around the right corner of the driver’s side door until the slipknot is inside the door’s seam.

Now, hold the shoelace with both hands and move it back and forth, similar to the flossing motion. The step will shift the knot further down the window toward the lock on the car door. Then, carefully and meticulously manoeuvre the loop over the lock, and pull the ends of the string to tighten the loop. When you feel you have a solid grip around the lock, gently pull on it to unlock the car. Viola! Your vehicle door is unlocked. In place of a shoelace, you can also use a sturdy string.

Forcible Entry

Last but not least, if everything fails, you still might have a chance to unlock your car without the cars. Forcible entry is only possible if you have tools like crowbars or hammers in the trunk of your car. With the assistance of these tools, carefully remove all pieces of metal obstructing the lock on the driver’s door. Then, use pliers or a hammer to force the door open. However, the method does not guarantee success, as different cars have different designs.

So, there we have it, the nine best hacks that can help you get out of a ‘keys locked in cars’ scenario. If nothing else works and you are not stuck in an emergency, call a locksmith. That specializes in car door unlocking.

PROACTIVE STEPS TO AVOID A ‘KEYS LOCKED IN CARS’ SITUATION

The best way to deal with a ‘keys locked in cars’ situation is to be cautious and avoid the debacle in the first place. Some of the proactive steps you can take never to be locked out of your vehicle are –

Examine Every Door – The first thing you must do after getting locked outside the car is to try to open every door. Most likely, every door is locked, but it is worth giving a shot, as you would never want to regret spending time and money to get the door unlocked by a professional only to realize later that the back passenger door was unlocked the whole time. Although the new car models have a one-push lock system for all doors, older models only lock the driver’s door on the first push. With our professional auto locksmith we can arrive on seen in Yorkshire within 30 minutes of your call.
Hide a Spare Key– You can try investing in products made specifically for hiding keys on vehicles. Likewise, having a second spare key on yourself is always a good idea. You can keep the key around your neck. Other optimal places include a purse or wallet. Thirdly, always remember to keep the third spare at home, inside your desk or locker.

Lock Doors from the Outside – To avoid a ‘keys locked in car’ situation, simply get habituated to locking your car from the outside using your fob key or the key itself. The habit will ensure that your keys are removed from the vehicle before it even gets locked. In case your car does not have a remote, try inculcating the habit of exiting your car with the keys in one particular hand.

Be Mindful – Last but not least, you should be as mindful as possible while locking and unlocking your vehicle. It is noteworthy to remember that most instances when someone locks their keys inside the car are because they are distracted. Maybe you are upset, angry, in a hurry, or just had an argument with someone; whatever the situation may be, being mindful is imperative. Pay attention to what you are doing, and be aware of your surroundings and actions. Take a deep breath before getting out of the car, and always double-check that you have the keys in your hand.

WRAPPING IT UP

So, there we have it, a comprehensive guide on what steps to take when your keys are locked inside the car, the various DIY methods that you can try to deal with the situation, and easy-peasy ways to prevent a ‘keys locked in a car’ instance in the first place. Remember that a locksmith or AAA is always a safe option if you are not in a hurry. DIY techniques are also great, but they work best when done patiently, sans any hurry.