Things Customers Should Know
Getting locked out of your vehicle is never fun. In a New York winter, it’s the last place you want to be, especially if you need to be somewhere else right away. Here at Kadima Locksmith Services, we fully comprehend the challenges and issues of vehicle owners face who have accidentally locked themselves out of their vehicles. Here are a few things you should know about getting back into your vehicle and the services and solutions.
Different Kinds of Auto Locks
In the1970-ish, it was possible to unlock a car door and get customers back into their vehicles quite quickly. However, technology has created a new host of unlocking locked car doors. It is no longer accessible or straightforward and not something you should do yourself. Let’s take a closer look at the different kinds of auto door locks and what makes them trickier than ever to open.
Manual Door Locks
These are the old-school locks that have a push-down/pop-up function. You have to wedge open the top or side of the vehicle door and attempt to access the button with something that resembles a modified coat hanger. Because this process can damage the door and/or the vehicle’s frame if done incorrectly, even an automotive locksmith has to be very careful when using professional tools to open this type of car door lock.
The tools we use include an air bladder that manually inflates to avoid damage to your vehicle and the right reach and grab tool based on the type of manual lock button. A basic grab and pull instrument is used for door locks that have a nob on the top of the door panel. For the slide lock button near the door’s grab handle, a different tool is used because it has to push down or lift the thick slide tab of the lock button. There are also sideways sliding lock buttons, requiring another tool to open the door.
Automatic Door Locks
A lot of vehicles made in the last twenty years or so are now automatic door locks. These are your “keyless” entry locks. They may or may not include an additional manual opening the door with an actual key. If you do not carry a spare keyless entry key fob in your purse or coat pocket, you may need our lockout services.
The good news is that once we gain access to the vehicle’s interior, most doors operate like a manual lock. We can push, pull, or slide the interior manual lock to open the door, and then you can enter your vehicle. We can also use a “master” key or auto-lock “skeleton” key that opens specific makes and models of vehicles via the manual lock on the outside of your vehicle, if applicable. If there is no manual override lock outside the vehicle, we can either open the door the usual locksmith way or attempt to create and program a new car key or remote key fob to gain entry.
Remote Car Starters
While incredibly convenient, these key locks pose their potential problems. For example, you can start your car while it is still locked by using a key fob that fits into your hand. When you are ready to enter your warm, cozy car (or fully air-conditioned car), you just press another button on the key fob to unlock the door. However, if you lose this remote car key and the car is locked, there’s no way to start the car or enter it.
If you have lost the remote car key, Kadima auto locksmith services will need to make you a new replacement key and/or key fob. We can do this for Chevrolet and Chrysler vehicles. Essentially we secure a duplicate fob from these companies, and then, through the magic of car key programming, we create a duplicate fob to open your vehicle. It may or may not remotely start your engine, but if you can get into the vehicle, that’s an excellent first step.
Programmable Keypad Locks
This is another form of keyless entry, but it is often associated with luxury vehicles. Owners are initially given a key code to press using four or five pushbuttons underneath the door handles on the vehicle’s exterior. Owners can change the code to something they can more easily remember, but the problem is that they may forget that code anyway. When that happens, they are locked out.
If this happens to you, there is a way to reset the code. If you can’t remember how to do it, Kadima car unlocking services will come and reprogram your keypad for you. Then our locksmith will show you how you can easily reprogram the keypad to a new code you can remember. Additionally, these cars have a way to get into the vehicle when you pop the trunk or the hatchback, offering you an additional way to get into the vehicle if you find yourself locked out.
A Word on Child Safety Locks
These locks are designed to lock immediately after the vehicle begins to move. They remain locked until you unlock them. If you lock your keys in the car, Kadima auto locksmith services recommend going through one of your vehicle’s back doors to save the front doors’ frames. There are a couple of ways to use the child safety lock doors as a point of access when you are locked out of your vehicle, but you should always and only allow an expert auto locksmith from Kadima Locksmith Services to do so this for you.
Why You Should Never Perform Any of These Tasks Yourself?
So many things could go wrong if you try to enter your locked vehicle without the help of one of our professional locksmiths. Shattered glass is standard and can cause severe injuries to yourself and others. Damaged paint and car door frames create unsightly issues and make it impossible to close the car door properly. Electronic locking mechanisms may have to replace the entire door because you damaged the keypad or cables inside the door. You might even void the warranty on your vehicle if you create enough damage.
All of these things lead to costly repairs, medical bills, etc. What Kadima Locksmith Services charges to help you get back into your vehicle or run again is far less expensive and rarely damages the vehicle. We provide a quote and tell you exactly what we’re going to do to help you before we do it.
Other Services Related to Keys and Your Vehicle
Kadima Locksmith Services offers a variety of car lockout services and key services. These include, but are not limited to:
- Emergency lockout is when you either lock yourself out with the car running or the lights on or forget to take your infant or toddler out of the vehicle and then accidentally lock him/her inside.
- Car key duplication provides you with a spare key you can stash outside the vehicle, on your person, in your house, or at work.
- Ignition repair for those times when the ignition simply won’t turn, won’t turn over, and/or the key breaks off inside the ignition. (This is common with older keys that have worn down through the years.)
- Broken key repair or key cutting from a broken key. It is possible to repair a broken key for temporary use, although it is better to create a new key using the two broken pieces of the key. This can be done so long as both parts are relatively intact and a new key can be duplicated from the broken one.
- Trunk opening when you have lost the trunk key or your key fob can’t open the trunk. Kadima Locksmith Services may also open a trunk to gain access to your vehicle’s interior to unlock it.
Whatever your auto locksmith needs, Kadima Locksmith Services has the ideal solution. We are the safest, most reliable, and professional choice, from emergency locksmith services to key cutting and vehicle access. Choose us, and we will ensure your satisfaction and safe entry into your vehicle every time.