When you find yourself locked out of your car, you may be tempted to try and open the door yourself. However, this can be a risky endeavor, as it can cause damage to your vehicle and even lead to theft. The best option is to call an experienced locksmith who can open the door without causing any damage. But how do they do it?Locksmiths use a variety of tools and techniques to open car doors.
One of the most common methods is the use of a broken key extractor. This tool is used to remove broken keys or key parts from the vehicle lock, allowing the locksmith to duplicate the key and unlock the car. Another tool used by locksmiths is a door handle clip removal tool, which helps pull out the retaining clip that locks the vehicle door handle to the door. Once the locksmith has access to the door panel, they can manually activate the locking mechanism, releasing the lock.
Depending on the vehicle, this may involve pressing or pulling an unlock button, or grabbing and pulling the door handle. In some cases, a slim Jim may be used to open the car lock. This tool is essentially a thin, long strip of metal that locksmiths use to get into a car through a window. For cars with keyless entry systems, an auto locksmith can often use a transponder programming tool to open your car without needing to open the physical lock.
In other cases, a wedge method may be used. This involves placing a wedge between the glass and weatherstrip and pumping it to enlarge the gap and access the car's locking system. Finally, locksmiths may use a long piece of metal to open the car door in a way that it was not meant to open. It's important to remember that unlocking your car door is not as simple as it may seem. It requires years of training and specialized tools in order to do it correctly and without damaging your vehicle.
If you don't have an AAA membership and don't want to pay for a locksmith, there are alternatives - but these come with risks. Trying to open your car with a thin hook or wire hook could damage airbags or wiring inside the door, while using a thin jim or wire hanger could cause even more damage. The best option is always to contact an experienced locksmith in your area who has been trained in proper placement and use of tools like slim Jims. The unlock fee you pay is for their years of training so that they can quickly get you into your car - not for how long it takes them to get in.
