Locked Out!
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 610
Likes: 0
From: Sequim. WA
Locked Out!
I was down in Valdez (360 miles from home) when I some how locked myself out of my 99 F350 (with it running no less)!
Mt spare keys were at home of course.
Still, the old coat hanger wire did not let me down.
I inserted it at the top right hand corner of the door and used it to push the unlock button for the door locks.
Worked like a charm.
Lesson learned. Having electric door locks makes it easier to break into your truck. Also, keep a spare set of keys in your pocket.
Mt spare keys were at home of course.
Still, the old coat hanger wire did not let me down.
I inserted it at the top right hand corner of the door and used it to push the unlock button for the door locks.
Worked like a charm.
Lesson learned. Having electric door locks makes it easier to break into your truck. Also, keep a spare set of keys in your pocket.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,362
Likes: 2
From: Juneau, ALASKA
It is really surprising how easy it is to get into a lot of vehicles with a coat hanger even in today's world. doors flex and by simply pulling out on the top of the door and putting a wedge in there it gives you all kinds of room to work. If you are with out a coat hanger and really in a pinch simply take the radio antenna off and use it. I really like having the number pad on the door has saved me a bunch of times.
One thing I use to do was keep a spare key with the truck. Before the security thing in the black plastic of the head I would simply cut off the head of the key wrap the key in plastic then wrap it in electric tape and then zip tie or use black electrical tape to tape it some where up under the truck the harder to get at and out of the way the better. Some places I have found
Inside a wire loom the wrap with tape.
Along the E brake cable
top of the coil spring
frame
Don't do it anymore becasue only have two keys to current truck and with the security thing in the head I'm not paying $100 a key to get an extra one.
One thing I use to do was keep a spare key with the truck. Before the security thing in the black plastic of the head I would simply cut off the head of the key wrap the key in plastic then wrap it in electric tape and then zip tie or use black electrical tape to tape it some where up under the truck the harder to get at and out of the way the better. Some places I have found
Inside a wire loom the wrap with tape.
Along the E brake cable
top of the coil spring
frame
Don't do it anymore becasue only have two keys to current truck and with the security thing in the head I'm not paying $100 a key to get an extra one.
Last edited by Wagion; Aug 19, 2010 at 12:36 PM. Reason: Keep one in your wallet
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 1
From: Clearwater Fl.
It is really surprising how easy it is to get into a lot of vehicles with a coat hanger even in today's world. doors flex and by simply pulling out on the top of the door and putting a wedge in there it gives you all kinds of room to work. If you are with out a coat hanger and really in a pinch simply take the radio antenna off and use it. I really like having the number pad on the door has saved me a bunch of times.
One thing I use to do was keep a spare key with the truck. Before the security thing in the black plastic of the head I would simply cut off the head of the key wrap the key in plastic then wrap it in electric tape and then zip tie or use black electrical tape to tape it some where up under the truck the harder to get at and out of the way the better. Some places I have found
Inside a wire loom the wrap with tape.
Along the E brake cable
top of the coil spring
frame
Don't do it anymore becasue only have two keys to current truck and with the security thing in the head I'm not paying $100 a key to get an extra one.
One thing I use to do was keep a spare key with the truck. Before the security thing in the black plastic of the head I would simply cut off the head of the key wrap the key in plastic then wrap it in electric tape and then zip tie or use black electrical tape to tape it some where up under the truck the harder to get at and out of the way the better. Some places I have found
Inside a wire loom the wrap with tape.
Along the E brake cable
top of the coil spring
frame
Don't do it anymore becasue only have two keys to current truck and with the security thing in the head I'm not paying $100 a key to get an extra one.
Bleed Ford Blue
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 13,578
Likes: 157
From: Anchorage Alaska
my uncles had a hide-a-key under his tundra since 2000 and he travles back and forth from seward and dumps his boat in the water and it has failed to fall off yet.
i had kinda the same thing happen the other day. i just bought a '98 expedition and only have one key for it. ofcourse it got locked inside in the driveway. i got a coat hanger out but it did not have enough leverage to push the button...found some small copper tubing and it worked great. just a pain in the butt. i then went and had a extra key made(without the computer chip) just for unlocking the truck just incase.
i had kinda the same thing happen the other day. i just bought a '98 expedition and only have one key for it. ofcourse it got locked inside in the driveway. i got a coat hanger out but it did not have enough leverage to push the button...found some small copper tubing and it worked great. just a pain in the butt. i then went and had a extra key made(without the computer chip) just for unlocking the truck just incase.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 240
Likes: 1
My girl did this to me 2 times in one week.. I dnt have power lock and its a pain!! I did buy one of those key holders u can put under ur car. What a great invention
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 1
From: Clearwater Fl.
I would call a Ford dealer and ask that question. I would think that because it's an electronic memory chip, that a strong enough magnet would have an effect on it. Here is an idea if you like the idea of having a hidden key box. Now a days they make some two sided tape that won't go anywhere. You could remove the magnets, and use the two sided tape. The only problem I could see with two sided tape is if you have to remove the key box to get inside it. With some of the two sided tapes they make now, you would ruin the box prying it loose from wherever you stuck it.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
Exactly, and your truck will program the spare key as long as you have the two originals. At least it will on '08-'10. I think things are upgraded in the '11 and it is more complicated. There is no chip on the '07 and earlier.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
our dogs ran over and stepped on the lock as we switched drivers on the hiway, 50 miles outside town in June.. Oh So much fun..
keys, phones, and the keypad code were in the truck.. I tested the keypad when I bought the truck, just didn't memorize the number or put it someplace I would remember.
flagged someone down that had a yellow pages, and they called a pop-a-lock service (5 seconds to open the door)... best $85 training program yet. never forget the keypad number now..
sam
keys, phones, and the keypad code were in the truck.. I tested the keypad when I bought the truck, just didn't memorize the number or put it someplace I would remember.
flagged someone down that had a yellow pages, and they called a pop-a-lock service (5 seconds to open the door)... best $85 training program yet. never forget the keypad number now..
sam
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
That's why you program your own personal code. Something you won't forget, like your zip code. (be a little more creative than that)
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
There's absolutely no harm in it, everyone who wants to break into a vehicle already knows how. It's been discussed on here before, and if anything it opens peoples eyes and makes them MORE INFORMED about how to protect themselves and their property.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: On the road.
Since I haul a fifth-wheel trailer, and don't use the receiver hitch, I have a Hitch-Safe installed there. It gives me a mini combination safe to store my spare key, etc. in. You set your own combination, and can change it whenever you want.