How to Open a Car Door With Coat Hanger
If you have ever been unfortunate enough to lock yourself out of your car, you know what a hassle it is to try and get back in, especially if you are not lucky enough to have roadside assistance. Fortunately, all you need is a wire hanger and you'll be back in your car in no time.
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Instructions
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Straighten out a wire coat hanger. In order to reach all the way down to the locking mechanism on the car, you will need to straighten out the twisted end of the coat hanger. Keep one end slightly bent, as this will be used to grab the lock once the hanger is inside the car.
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2
Insert the coat hanger into the weatherstripping at the back end of the window. Do this gently, as you do not want to poke holes in the weatherstripping or scratch your window. If needed, add lotion or other lubricant to the hanger so it slides in easier. You want to insert the end that is bent, as it will be needed to grab the lock. When inserting the hanger, you may need to insert at an angle to reach all the way over to the handle area of the door.
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3
Slide the hanger in until you can latch on to the handle or locking mechanism on the interior of the door. Use the bent end of the hanger to grab onto the handle. You will most likely need to slide the hanger or jiggle it around a bit in order to hook the handle correctly. Go slowly and be careful. Once you have a hold of the handle, slowly pull on the hanger until it unlocks the lock on the door. If the car does not have automatic locks, you can try shortening the amount of hanger in the car and try to pop the lock button up from underneath. Once you have opened the car door, slowly remove the coat hanger.
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Tips & Warnings
Plastic coat hangers are not thin enough to unlock your car door.
Make sure the coat hanger is as long as your arm when straightened.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
