| Getting
Back into a Car When You’ve Locked yourself Out
3 If you're
in a parking facility or near a service station,
the attendanti often have a gadget called a "jimmy"
that can be slid between the windi and the door and used to
operate the locking mechanism. It certainly i doesn't hurt
to ask. If they have one, ask them to do the job for you and
be generous with your thanks. They've just saved you a lot
of time and money.
4 If you call
a locksmith, you'll have to prove that you own
the vehicle before any work can be done, and you'll probably
also have to pay immediately. (Let's hope that you didn't
lock your wallet in there alonj with your keys) If your key
is lost outside your car and your steering wheel locks, the
locksmith may have to dismount the steering wheel a; remove
the lock - this can cost you lots of money, plus time and
aggr+ vation, before you can drive off again.
There's good news, however.
Each car key is coded by the auto manuf; turer, and if you
have the key code number, a locksmith can make you new key
as long as you have identification and can describe the vehicl,
in terms of its vital statistics. General Motors car keys
have little codei tags that you knock out of the key and keep;
other U.S. cars come with little metal tags with the number
on them; and most foreign carmakers engrave the number right
on the keys.
As a valuable favor to
yourself, write down the code number where someone at home
can read it to you in an emergency. Also record it - without
identifying what it is - in your pocket address book or in
you wallet before you lose your keys. If you don't know the
code number for
your keys and you bought the car, new or used, from a dealer,
the dealer may still have the number on file. Failing that,
a good locksmith may be able to analyze a key in fairly new
condition and come up with the proper code for it.
5 If you happen to lock yourself out of the car
while you have the trunk open, you may be able
to move the rear seat out of the way and gain access to the
rear of the car (or you can hide an extra ignition key in
the trunk).
6 If you get totally freaked out and decide to
break a window, break the little vent window,
if you have one. It's cheaper to replace, and some¬times
the latch breaks before the glass does.
If you have to break the
glass, wrap something around your hand and use a stone or
other heavy object. Keep your head away from flying glass,
although most auto glass should be shatterproof. And don't
break a window that will interfere with visibility while you're
driving home to face the jeers of your family and friends.
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