Locking the car keys inside the car is a frustrating accident; luckily, you can use a metal hanger to open the door. If the lock is mechanical, try slipping the hanger between the pillar and the door to disengage the pin. If the window is slightly open and the car has central locking, try sliding the tool through the opening to press the door unlock button. Each of these methods can potentially damage the car and may not be effective on modern models and vans. The best thing to do is to call a locksmith or tow truck to retrieve the keys, although the remedies described in this article can solve a bad situation.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Unlock the Lock
Step 1. Straighten the coat hanger
Stretch the wire so that it is long enough to reach the piston or the opening button; Unroll the hook part and straighten the wire completely leaving only the curved end in its original shape. To open the twisted portion on itself, it is worth using a pair of pliers; in the end, you should get an almost perfectly straight tool with a hook at the end.
- Perhaps it is best to wear gloves for this operation to avoid pricking your hands.
- Using the pliers the work is easier.
Step 2. Fold the hook into a "V" shape
You have to fold it down so that it can grip the opening piston; generally, the "V" or check mark shape is the most suitable because it allows the tool to slide easily into the narrow slot in the door and to engage the opening mechanism. Always use a pair of pliers to bend this end until the vertex of the "V" is tight enough to grip the piston.
- Many lock mechanisms have a small incision or ridge that makes it easier to grip.
- You will likely have to fold the hanger several times until you get a "V" of the correct size.
Step 3. Pry the window open to open it a little in case it is closed
If it is ajar, you can ignore this step; however, if it fits snugly against the frame, you must insert a wedge between the window and the pillar to move it away from the vehicle structure. Proceed with extreme caution as too much pressure could break the glass.
- A tool with a larger contact surface, such as a scraper, is much better than a small tool (such as a screwdriver).
- Once you have created a gap, insert some folded element, such as a piece of fabric or an elastic to keep it open.
Step 4. Slide the coat hanger into the opening
Hold the opposite end to the "V" shaped one with the pliers and slide the accessory into the gap you just created between the window and the pillar. If the lock piston is too close to the rear portion of the door, you will need to try to reach it from the front.
- It is important to reach the piston in a direction that allows you to apply pressure as you lift it.
- Be careful not to press too hard on the window while it is open and under tension as you could break it.
Step 5. Grab the mechanism, pull it up and towards the rear of the car
Tinker with the hanger until it snaps around the piston and pulls towards the trunk of the car. If the mechanism is too close to the rear end of the window, continue to apply pressure as you try to lift it; proceed in this way until you have opened the lock.
- If the mechanism lifts, the lock is unlocked and you can open the door.
- If the hanger loses its grip on the piston, it may take several attempts.
Step 6. Press the open button if you can reach it
Slip the straightened coat hanger through the ajar window and try to reach the button with the tip of the makeshift tool. Be patient, you may need to try several times, depending on the width of the gap available to you and the interior configuration of the cabin.
- If you have trouble activating the opening with the tip of the hanger, try adding a piece of rubber to the end.
- Wrap it with an elastic to have greater adherence to the surface or stick an eraser on the tip; by doing so, you can better act on the key.
Method 2 of 3: Pull or Push the Opening Lever
Step 1. Straighten the coat hanger and shape it as needed
In order to reach the opening lever to push or pull, you must first make a straight iron wire from the hanger with the tip bent so that it can grip. Depending on the car model, you may have to shape the end several times or make only a few folds.
- It may take some trial and error to find the correct shape to give the tool.
- But try not to overdo it, as the creases reduce the ability to press or pull the lever in a straight line.
Step 2. Turn the hook into a small hook or ledge to help you push or pull the mechanism
If you have to pull the lever to open the door, you have to shape the end of the wire into the shape of a hook so that it can snap onto it; if you have to apply pressure instead, it is better to choose a shape that allows you to unload the force necessary to defuse the mechanism.
- Use a pair of pliers to create a sturdy little hook or some sort of push "platform".
- If you are going to put the hanger in the door slot instead of the window, remember that the wire must be very thin.
Step 3. Slide the improvised tool between the door and the pillar
If you are unable to move the window away from the structure a little, you have to act on the small gap between the door and the car itself. These two elements are separated by a thin layer of gasket that you could damage in the process. Press the hanger so that it passes through the rubber and enters the passenger compartment.
- On some cars it is impossible to proceed in this way due to the angle that forms between the edge of the door and the pillar; if so, you need to find a way to pry and create a crack.
- If you tear the gasket, you have to replace it or there will be water infiltrations.
Step 4. Ask a friend to guide you by looking out of the passenger window
Once the tip of the wire is inside the car, you are no longer able to see the lever from your position; for this reason ask a person to watch your movements from the other side of the machine and give you the appropriate indications.
- You can also find the mechanism yourself, but the presence of a helper makes things easier.
- Be patient and keep trying until you can press or engage the lever.
Step 5. Press or pull the mechanism to open the car
Once the end of the hanger has reached the lever, act according to the circumstance to open the door. Again, you may not make it the first time, it may take multiple tries, and you may need to tweak the crease at the end to reach the lever at the correct angle.
- Keep calm and do this until you reach your goal.
- Be careful not to further damage the door seal as you move the tool.
Method 3 of 3: Turn the Hanger into a Door Bar
Step 1. Straighten the entire hanger leaving a small hook at the end
Just like the other methods, you need a long piece of wire with the tip bent. Use a pair of pliers to shape a hook that is slightly larger than 1cm and let the rest of the hanger stand straight.
- It may take a couple of tries before getting the tip into the right shape.
- Make sure the rest of the tool is almost straight.
Step 2. Slip the hanger between the window and its seal
You should notice a long strip of black rubber running along the bottom edge of the window; move it away from the crystal using your fingers and gently insert the hooked end of the improvised tool into the slot; you should be able to penetrate a few inches without encountering resistance.
- When finished, the gasket may need to be replaced if it becomes damaged.
- Sometimes, insertion is easier when the opening of the hook is facing forward, while in other circumstances when it is facing back.
Step 3. Rotate the tool so that the hook is in the direction of the interior of the car
Once it slides into place, turn it around until you assume the opening is away from you, so you can grab the inside bar of the lock. It is not easy to understand this detail, you can draw a mark on one side of the hanger to define its orientation.
- The hook must face inwards to be able to fit into the lock bar.
- It may take several tries before you learn how to do this technique correctly.
Step 4. Move the coat hanger from right to left and vice versa until you feel the lock move
As you tinker, the tool makes contact with the piston or rod that controls the door opening and lock. Try to lift this element to activate the mechanism; usually, it is located about 5 cm below the edge of the window, near the inside door handle.
- The various models have different configurations, so this method may not be effective on all cars.
- Don't use too much force when pulling the plunger or rod; since you cannot see what you are doing, the hook may have got stuck in the wrong element.
- In some cases you have to pull the piston towards the rear of the car and not upwards.
Step 5. Lift or pull back the part that moves the lock
If you notice that the mechanism moves slightly when the hook grabs the bar or the piston, try to approach or return to that element you touched to open the lock; if you get a good grip, you don't need a lot of strength.
Pulling up and back will provide you with good leverage to move the mechanism and increase the chances of making the correct movement for the type of vehicle you are working on
Step 6. Keep trying and reshape the hanger as needed
This method is very complex because you don't see what you are doing and each car has different mechanisms. You don't have to give up until you can properly engage the rod or piston and pull hard enough to open the door.
- Be careful not to damage the gasket.
- If you pull too hard or hook the wrong part of the mechanism, you may need to change the shape of the hook.
