Manually unlocking door or someway to pop hood from outside
 

I have an 04 explorer XLT. The alternator went on the car so I took it off and got a new one. The problem is the one they gave me was the wrong one. They had to order this one and it would be a few days. I didnt hook the battery or anything back up while waiting for the new one. Now I can not get into my car because the key does not work in the door for some reason. I guess it is an electrical lock and not manual? I owned the car since new so I know the lock is the original in the door. Is there anyway to get in my car or to pop the hood from outside of th car? It looks like the hood release is going by the front left wheel well. If i take that off will I be able to pop the hood by yanking on it? Any help would be greatly appreciated. This is driving me nuts trying to get into it.

Welome to the site! Too bad you had to have this happen for the visit..

Don't pull the wheel well out you won't have any luck in there. You may be able to get at the latch from the front..I'm gonna check mine to see.


Dick

Hopefully i can get at the latch from the front. I couldnt really loock at it to much because it was dark out. I tried to slim jim the door but was unsuccesful. Is there a special spot to use a slim jim on this year car? Or is it even possible to use a slim jim?

Ok the key isn't electric. Its manual. Put the key in and pull out a little and wiggle and try to get it to work...We never used ours and it took 10 secs or so...


Dick

Jeez I don't think I've ever opened mine by just turning the key in the lock. That's suppose to work of course... I'm gonna have to go try it to make sure...

Edit: Well mine works like a champ both locking and unlocking with key in the lock. Sorry to say but maybe something came unlinked in your door. I'll bet a good locksmith will know how to jimmy it open but I don't. Good luck!

Something is definetly unhooked on my truck. I jjst tried it this morning on my other explorer and it unlocked fine. The one that is stuck moves the same as the other truck but there is just no resistence when turning it.

Bummer ,if it turns and nothing happens then how about you see if you can reach under the truck to get at the pos battery wire. You could rig up a battery charger or some wires to attach to it and neg to ground then you could get in.

It might be a little far but that might be a good option if somehow I can reach the batter cable. When all this happened it was getting dark out so it was tough to see. Hopefulyl when I get home from work I can find someway to get the hood opened. Or atleast pop the door lock. Has anyone ever been succesful at slim jimming the door on this year?

Stupid question but.......have you tried the key in all the doors?

Take a look underneath the truck and you should be able to find a way to release the hood from below. It will probably be a pain in the butt though

The thing that sucks is that there is only one key lock on the entire car.

The rear hatch should have a key lock

Nah there wasnt one on the rear hatch I thought the same thing. I looked all over it. The good news is it is open now. The bad news is it cost $75. I didnt feel like messing with it and getting all angry so I just payed a lock smith to open it. Now I can throw the alternator in and be done with it when I get home.

Did you ever think to call the local PD and see if they could give it a shot opening the door. I know we don't even carry slim jims in our cruisers any more. We now have a tool called the BIG EASY. It kinda looks like brake line, but you pry the top of the door open with a plastic wedge and slide the pole into the car and you can press the unlock buttor, or in your case you can hook onto the door latch handle and pull to open. This tool take a 1/4 the time as a slim jim. Reguardless, Glad to hear you got the door open.

i need help please!!!
i have a 99mustang, that has a different alarm system. last night i left the lights on so my battery died, this morning i tried unlocking the car didnt work the key wont unlock it either i dont know why i think its because a different aarm system was put in. i need to mnow how to open the hood from the outside so that i can somehow charge the battery with jumper cables or something. i dont know anyhting about cars please help