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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » Slim jims - don't work on vertical rotating (impreza-style) door locks?

July 16, 2010 12:45 p.m. GameboyRMH SuperDork

Could a slim jim pop this kind of door lock?

I locked the berkeleying keys in the berkeleying car again with my car insurance payment that's due today. Glass is too expensive, hard to find, and important (with all the rain) to break. I have a plastic ruler (which has been used as a slim jim to unlock a Sidekick before), a metal letter opener, and paperclips to work with.

If I can't get back in myself I won't be able to get back in until tonight because of the gridlockalypse that will soon befall the island. And then the insurance company will screw me even harder.
July 16, 2010 1:02 p.m. Morbid Reader

I'm pretty sure that a slim jim, got the door unlocked in my Impreza, but I'm not 100% sure, it's been a while.
July 16, 2010 1:10 p.m. NYG95GA SuperDork

Not likely. Slim Jims were designed to operate vertical mechanisms, so there is no way to get a good grip on a horizontal linkage.

The type to use is a stiff wire tool bent into a 'Z' shape at one end, and a right angle bent on the other end as a handle. Same concept as a slim jim, but works side to side instead of up and down.
July 16, 2010 1:39 p.m. donalson SuperDork

no clue... but I was able to use a good ol hanger on my 1g neon a few times (pull the handle and it pops the lock open) :)

sorry no real help here
July 16, 2010 1:52 p.m. Strizzo SuperDork

those kind of handles/locks are on everything japanese just about, from mazda to lexus. you should be able to get something to work in the door, or a locksmith should.
July 16, 2010 8:41 p.m. Wally SuperDork

I have one of these and between it, a slim jim and a small lasso i have for verticle buttons I have yet to find a car I can't open. A couple tips to keep from damaging paint if you do use one of these. Cut the handle from a plastic gallon milk or water jug, and slid it on the tool.. Start the tool though the door jam untill the handle is half in and half out of the car, then the tool won't damage the paint on the jam. A slim jim can work on a horizontal lock if you can find the rod running front to back. Twist the rod into the notch and slid the tool back and it should pop open.

http://www.awdirect.com/long-reach-door-tool-aw-direct-big-blue-4-1-2l-12-tm61/lon...
July 17, 2010 7:34 a.m. GameboyRMH SuperDork

Well I got the car back last night...I don't think that big blue thing would have worked since the edges of the window are pretty well closed in with metal. I got back into my car with a jack handle that way once but a window was cracked open.
July 17, 2010 7:58 a.m. Woody SuperDork

If you can get in that far, just hit the power lock button.

Wally wrote:
July 17, 2010 8:07 a.m. Bumboclot New Reader

In reply to GameboyRMH:

From the (quite a) few time I've locked my keys in various Ford products, they generally put a wedge in the top of the door to flex it outward.
July 17, 2010 3:30 p.m. SkinnyG Reader

This is a great thread!

My neighbour has this sweet Porsche in his driveway, it's locked and I don't have the key. How can I get in and drive it??

Pictures, please.

G
July 17, 2010 6:28 p.m. novaderrik Reader

i used a slim jim to open the locked door of my brother's '04 Cavalier that has locks like that. i just jammed it down between the window glass and the rubber seal on the outside back by the latch and wiggled it around until it grabbed onto something that just happened to be the lock linkage where it goes into the latch and the lock popped right open.
July 17, 2010 7:26 p.m. Wally SuperDork

Bumboclot wrote:

In reply to GameboyRMH:

From the (quite a) few time I've locked my keys in various Ford products, they generally put a wedge in the top of the door to flex it outward.

Right, the door can be wedged out just enough to slide the tool between the door and the jam.

SkinnyG said:

This is a great thread!

My neighbour has this sweet Porsche in his driveway, it's locked and I don't have the key. How can I get in and drive it??

Seeing as you put a "u" in neighbor i will assume your neighbor is Canadian. In this case a simple "May I have the key too your Porsche ?" may work.

Depending on the year Porsches can be tricky. I've had good luck with the passenger side grabing the interior door handle and pulling, however many with power locks are very aggresive and if you don't pull the handle far enough to release the door latch the lock will re-lock itself before you can use the outside handle. Starting is another story. I just put them on a truck and went, I never needed to start them.
July 17, 2010 7:36 p.m. Toyman01 Dork

Coat hanger works for me. Most modern doors you can pry out and wedge 1/2-1" open. It gives you plenty of room to work. Spare keys work pretty good to. I highly recommend them. I have at least 6 keys for every vehicle strategically placed. I lost my only set in the woods once when the wife was out of town for a week. I was stranded with no house keys and no car keys for four days. It sucked. As soon as she got back I had lots of extras made for everything.
July 18, 2010 2:52 a.m. digdug18 HalfDork

Last time I locked my keys out I used the master key. Also known as a rock covered in duct tape.
July 18, 2010 9:13 a.m. NYG95GA SuperDork

... also known as a "Keyless Entry" system /\
July 18, 2010 9:22 a.m. DirtyBird222 Dork

t-top cars are awesome for instances as so, pop window out, slide arm in, take t-top off.

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