How to Unlock a Car Door With a Coat Hanger
If you're distracted as you step out of your car, you might leave your keys inside and lock yourself out by accident. It can happen to anyone from time to time, but it's always frustrating. If you don't want to call a locksmith and pay a fee to unlock your car, try out an old trick for unlocking your door by using a coat hanger.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Wire coat hanger
- 2 solid plastic wedges or wedge-shaped items (optional)
- 1 rubber tip, such as a rubber band or rubber eraser head
Instructions
-
-
1
Straighten out your coat hanger as much as you can. If necessary, pound it flat, using any heavy materials you have on hand. After you straighten out your coat hanger, bend in a 90 degree angle a few inches from the end.
-
2
Slide one plastic wedge into the gap where the car door meets the body of the car. Pry it open as much as you can to create a gap and provide you as much leverage as possible. Add a second plastic wedge if you need to, so you can widen the gap further.
-
-
3
Wrap the rubber band or or eraser head around the end of the coat hanger closest to the 90-degree angle. The rubber will help you get a grip on the lock button inside the car.
-
4
Slide the coat hanger gently into the gap you've created with the wedges. Fishing carefully, try to hit the unlock button on the inside of the door with the tip of the wire. This may take time, but don't give up. Within ten minutes, you should be able to unlock your car door.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit holding car key image by Photosani from Fotolia.com
More Like This
Comments
-
Okay....first....it's easier if you wedge something in the door to keep it slightly open. I used a strong screwdriver to pry the door open a little, and stuck the handle of a butter knife in to keep it propped. ( Hey when you're a single mom, you use what you have). Second, I couldn't get enough downward pressure to unlock the door using one coat hanger to utilize the auto door locks. So instead, I twisted two coat hangers together at the tip to give me added strength. Worked like a charm...unlocked the door first try. I hope my comment saves someone some time, and aggravation.
