ARG!!!

[Physics]

My wife just locked the keys in our car.    It's new (to us), and she hasn't made copies yet.  Anyone have any suggestions for opening a 2001 Hyundai Elantra with a coat hanger?   I don't have the money for a locksmith, being a lowly grad student, and am clueless on breaking into cars.

[Jim147]

My wife just locked the keys in our car.    It's new (to us), and she hasn't made copies yet.  Anyone have any suggestions for opening a 2001 Hyundai Elantra with a coat hanger?   I don't have the money for a locksmith, being a lowly grad student, and am clueless on breaking into cars.

Only if that coat hanger is made of heavy cast iron.

Don't know if you can call your local cops in your area. They used to do it around here some. But I heard they stopped a couple of years ago.

jim

[crt360]

The last time someone broke into my car, they did it by throwing a spark plug through the passenger side window.  It seemed to work pretty well.

[Physics]

The last time someone broke into my car, they did it by throwing a spark plug through the passenger side window.  It seemed to work pretty well.

I've been wondering which would be more expensive, breaking a window or calling a locksmith.  Probably the window. 

If I called the police, would I call non-emergency or the nearest precinct?

[AmbulanceDriver]

Physics, I work at the Portland 911 building.   Sadly, cops stopped carrying slim-jims and other lock pick tools years ago. 

If you have comprehensive insurance, you should have roadside assistance as part of that (or even without comprehensive).  That will cover a locksmith coming out. 

[mgdavis]

Plastic wedge to open the door just a little bit, then use the wire to either grab and pop the handle or push the unlock button. Works better with a heavier, but pliable, rod but a hanger should work too.

[Brad Johnson]

Of all the above options, Pop-A-Lock or someone similar will probably end up still being the cheapest.  Heckuva lot cheaper than busting a window or damaging paint/trim/weatherstripping.

Brad

[mgdavis]

Back when I was a security guard we used a commercial wedge-and-rod to open cars. Heck of a lot easier than using a slim jim. Wedge goes in at the top corner of the door, between the door and B-pillar. It's easy enough that it's at least worth a try before calling the locksmith. A plastic doorstop should do the trick, just make sure to knock off all the grit first to avoid scratching paint or trim. Go slow, use common sense.

Good luck.

[Mike]

Do you have AAA?   Oh, I see you a poor student. Sometimes a little money spent now can save lots down the road! Pop a lock is your best bet. It takes special tools to get around the built in junk they put in the doors now.

[Regolith]

I've been wondering which would be more expensive, breaking a window or calling a locksmith.  Probably the window. 

If I called the police, would I call non-emergency or the nearest precinct?

Reminds me of something that happened to a friend of mine.

He and a few of his buddies were hunting birds up in the mountains in the late fall.  The day was somewhat warm, so they left their jackets in the pickup and went off to shoot some birds.  Anyway, they got back and found out they had left the keys in the pickup, and it was, of course locked.

So now the day was getting late and the temperature was dropping fast, and they had no way to get into the pickup.  My friend wanted to throw a rock through the window, but the guy who owned the truck didn't want to pay for a new window, so he took out his $80 knife and attempted to pry the window open...and promptly broke his knife.  

Eventually, after it had started to get really cold, they end up throwing a rock through the window anyway.  So the guy is out a $80 knife, and it turns out it only cost $40 to fix his window.  

[Perd Hapley]

use common sense.

Like ALWAYS having a spare key in a magnetic box or in your pocket/wallet/purse.  Lesson learned. 

[Physics]

Back when I was a security guard we used a commercial wedge-and-rod to open cars. Heck of a lot easier than using a slim jim. Wedge goes in at the top corner of the door, between the door and B-pillar. It's easy enough that it's at least worth a try before calling the locksmith. A plastic doorstop should do the trick, just make sure to knock off all the grit first to avoid scratching paint or trim. Go slow, use common sense.

Good luck.

I'm on the hunt for a wedge right now.  My dad is going to call the previous owner and see if there are any other keys in existence.  I imagine I could get it open if I had a schematic of the inside of the car door, but google did not avail me this time.  It appears that locksmiths aren't too horribly bad, being only $30 for a lockout, but that is still throwing $30 into the wind.  

I don't have AAA because, well, I don't do this type of stuff, EVER.  I've locked my keys in my car twice, in my life.  It has been years since it's happened.  I guess I need to keep a better eye on the wife.  I guess I should look on the bright side in that we do have another car, it's just not as safe for the baby (96 Geo Metro).

[Physics]

Like ALWAYS having a spare key in a magnetic box or in your pocket/wallet/purse.  Lesson learned. 

I always have a spare key in my wallet.  The wife just hadn't gotten around to making my copies of the key yet.  We've only had the car for a week.  Next time we get a car, I'm making her do this the minute it's in our possession. 

[mgdavis]

Even with illustrated directions using a slim jim can be a real pita. Some cars are very easy, but one night my manager and I managed to get a tool stuck inside the door of an S-10. She was pissed, but that's why we had them sign liability waivers.  

[sanglant]

if it is a new car, the vin should get you a new key from the dealership(or a online discount parts place)

[RevDisk]

Even with illustrated directions using a slim jim can be a real pita. Some cars are very easy, but one night my manager and I managed to get a tool stuck inside the door of an S-10. She was pissed, but that's why we had them sign liability waivers.  

Don't use slim jims on new vehicles.  You'll definitely break something, and most likely not open the door. 


If you have a remote key fob, get a copy made and keep that in the magnetic box somewhere under the vehicle.  Won't allow someone to drive off with your car, but it can open the doors.  Won't help you too much if you lose your keys, of course.

For newer cars, locksmith is usually cheaper.  Each car has its own "open more or less safely" method.  It's in a thick book put out by HPC.  Unless you're a weirdo like me, you're not going to buy the book and proper tools. 

[Physics]

Don't use slim jims on new vehicles.  You'll definitely break something, and most likely not open the door. 


If you have a remote key fob, get a copy made and keep that in the magnetic box somewhere under the vehicle.  Won't allow someone to drive off with your car, but it can open the doors.  Won't help you too much if you lose your keys, of course.

For newer cars, locksmith is usually cheaper.  Each car has its own "open more or less safely" method.  It's in a thick book put out by HPC.  Unless you're a weirdo like me, you're not going to buy the book and proper tools. 

I've seen the book and the kit, just don't have one.  :(  I think I'm going to end up calling the locksmith.  Going to wait until tomorrow and find out if that previous owner had any spares, but I'm willing to bet I have to pony up the $30. 

BTW, thanks for the suggestions. 

[mgdavis]

Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. 

[Balog]

You can have copies made of remote key fobs? Interesting...

[brimic]

Like ALWAYS having a spare key in a magnetic box or in your pocket/wallet/purse.  Lesson learned.

 A piece of duct tape holding a key inside the bumper/fenderwell, etc works wonders too

[Mike]

Also and I don't know if your car is one of them some cars take a special key and a new copy costs about $35.00. Makes the locksmith look a little better. My daughter has one of those types of cars.

[RevDisk]

You can have copies made of remote key fobs? Interesting...

Of course.  It's not like it's encrypted or anything.  The more upscale locksmiths can usually do it for you.

course...  Nothing says you need to copy your own remote fob.   

[Jamisjockey]

When I had an elantra, someone broke into it via the rear corner window.  Replacing it was more expensive than the $30 locksmith would be in your case.
Check with your insurance, you might have a service you're not aware of.

[AZRedhawk44]

3 tools:

- A good, stiff coat hanger.
- A blood pressure cuff.
- A plastic or wooden wedge.

Insert the wedge in the top corner of the door, get enough leverage to insert the pressure cuff.  Inflate the pressure cuff.  Drive the wedge deeper.  Inflate the cuff.

Do this with the wedge/cuff  about a foot apart, and they create a big enough gap to insert the stiff coat hanger.  Push the electric lock button to open the lock.  Remove tools.

[Nick1911]

 It appears that locksmiths aren't too horribly bad, being only $30 for a lockout, but that is still throwing $30 into the wind.  

I disagree.  If it gets the door open without damaging anything else, it's worth $30 IMO.

Yes, I have called a locksmith twice before - once for my wife, once for myself.  You pay for the service, but if they screw anything else up, they are on the hook for fixing it.