key wont work in door or hatch
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: livonia, MI. detroit area
key wont work in door or hatch so today, i get in my 98 bird and drive to work. i get out, and immediately realize that i've locked my keys in the car. **** happens to the best of us. whatever. i call my mom (yes i live with my parents. im 17.) and she brings the spare key i got with the car. i go to unlock it when i find that the key only fits halfway into the keyhole, and it does this on every keyhole on the car. perfect. my dad is on his way home from work and tries the old coathanger trick only to find that these cars are theft protected when you hit the unlock button. he then goes home to find his slim jim. he cant find it. i end up calling AAA (thank god for these people and their handy dandy break in tools.) AAA guy gets out of his car and takes about 10 seconds to open the door with his tools and makes me feel like an idiot. i then try the spare key in the ignition and it works fine. i then try my daily key in the keyhole and find that it too, does not work. MY QUESTION- do f-body cars come with a dummy/valet key that i've never heard of? could my locks have been changed? any input at all would be perfect. thank you in advance. -ryan
If you are not the original owner of the car and do not have a door key, you may be able to give your title (with VIN number) to a dealer, have them look up the key code, and punch you a new one.
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,399
Likes: 3
From: Jacksonville, FL
Have the dealership make you a couple extra keys from the VIN like stated. The second key should fit the glovebox, t-tops, doors and hatch. Have to look it up but thought if the key was in the ignition it won't lock you out - might not be your case though. Think I'll try it tomorrow.
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: livonia, MI. detroit area
thanks guys. i didnt know if these cars came with a dummy key or not. i've never heard of it being one way or the other. i'll have to go to the dealer to get one made. these cars are smart as hell too. no coat hanger tricks here.
how do u get in using the t-tops?? even tho i keep mine locked its interesting to know, i havent tried to hard but its a bit difficult to pull my windows back like how u guys say
It isn't using the t tops. It is because the car has t tops there is no top window frame. This means you can pull out on the top of the window. It will have a lot of tension but you can easily pull out the window 4 inches. Enough to slide your hand or a specially made tool into the car and unlock the doors.
I have done this several times.
Also, I have noted that the window isn't held into the front track very well and I have gotten the window to come off the front track before. I am talking about the area around the front plastic triangle where the side mirror is attached. The fact that our cars have no upper window frame and that our windows are designed to rotate inward/outward as they go up and down just makes them easy targets!
It is hard to break the parts but do so at your own risk!
The people out there who would steal these cars already know this info so don't feel privileged! It is just like the common knowledge fact that older cars with the front triangle vent windows were easy to get into.
I have done this several times.
Also, I have noted that the window isn't held into the front track very well and I have gotten the window to come off the front track before. I am talking about the area around the front plastic triangle where the side mirror is attached. The fact that our cars have no upper window frame and that our windows are designed to rotate inward/outward as they go up and down just makes them easy targets!
It is hard to break the parts but do so at your own risk!
The people out there who would steal these cars already know this info so don't feel privileged! It is just like the common knowledge fact that older cars with the front triangle vent windows were easy to get into.
