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Locked out, Engine running, Hood open.

2

24V-SVT

CEG'er
Joined
Sep 22, 2009
Messages
33
In a rush to start my car to warm it up a little this morning, I didnt notice the door plunger that lets the car know the door is open, was frozen solid.

The doors autolocked just as the door was leaving my hand to close, lol.

I got my hood up, and attempted to pull the battery terminals to shut it down, it worked in the past, and once the engine shuts down the locks automatically release. Too bad it didnt work this time, the car kept running (on alternator power I assume). I had to pull a relay to shut it off.

My question, with the hood up, is there anything I can do that gives me an advantage instead of going in through the weather stripping? I dont have AAA, or CAA.

Thanks
 
There is no autolock feature on any year or trim Contour/Mystique from the factory. In your case, it's completely aftermarket. I can't think of anything at all that would allow you to get into the car from access under the hood. Without a spare key to get in, you either smash the window and replace or call a locksmith.
 
You are best off coathangering the door lock button, sorry. I hope you learned your lesson. I keep a spare key in my wallet. I have locked my keys in my car at least two dozen times.
 
Youre right, the autolock must be part of the aftermarket alarm.

Thanks Zorrex, I've got the door wedged in the top corner, just getting the door lock button pushed is turning into a pain.
 
Is the engine still running??? If so, you can choke the engine out to get her to stop running or even pull the fuel pump relay (im sure these cars have one, as most cars do) or pull the coil pack plug to prevent spark. if you car will automatically unlock when the engine is off, this will work. Pulling the battery wont because your car will need battery power to unlock the doors....
 
The car was still running, I pulled the fuel pump relay to shut the car down, but strangely the locks didnt open like theyre supposed to.

But, I got it open with something thinker than a coat hanger by hitting the unlock button.
 
24V-SVT said:
The car was still running, I pulled the fuel pump relay to shut the car down, but strangely the locks didnt open like theyre supposed to.

But, I got it open with something thinker than a coat hanger by hitting the unlock button.
Click to expand...

Great. Luckily these buttons aren't too hard to press. I've seen it done a few times. :)
 
Try pulling instead of pushing

Try pulling instead of pushing

Next time try hooking the door handle and pull on it. Lots easier than pushing on the unlock button.

I now keep a spare zip tied to the bottom of the car.
 
andreslobo said:
Next time try hooking the door handle and pull on it. Lots easier than pushing on the unlock button.
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Yeah, definitely not. These door handles are rather firm. You can push the unlock button with a wire coat hanger. Can't pull these door handles with a wire coat hanger.
 
zorrex said:
Yeah, definitely not. These door handles are rather firm. You can push the unlock button with a wire coat hanger. Can't pull these door handles with a wire coat hanger.
Click to expand...

And yet I did just that, very easily. I must be superman huh?
 
andreslobo said:
Next time try hooking the door handle and pull on it. Lots easier than pushing on the unlock button.

I now keep a spare zip tied to the bottom of the car.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I like keeping the spare door keys in my wallet.... too nervous someone would look under the car and find it if they were gonna steal a car. I know if I ever wanted to steal a car, I would be checking behind the visor, in the glove box and under the car for spare keys. I have seen hundreds of cars with spare keys there in my day.
 
FIND said:
FWIW, I like keeping the spare door keys in my wallet.... too nervous someone would look under the car and find it if they were gonna steal a car. I know if I ever wanted to steal a car, I would be checking behind the visor, in the glove box and under the car for spare keys. I have seen hundreds of cars with spare keys there in my day.
Click to expand...

I would have a spare key cut and hide it on the inside of the center cap for wheels equipped with them, E0 wheels for example. Or, taped inside the windshield wiper cowl because you only need a phillips heads.

You don't have to worry about a thief stealing the car with a spare key anyway because to start the car you need a chipped PATS key to communicate the computer. IIRC, E0s have PATS separate from the PCM so technically someone couldn't even just switch the PCM if they wanted to steal it.
 
Thats what I did on my contour. I had one of those magnetic key box things under my car. The top of it had a screen print of a white key and lettering. I just painted it black like the rest of the box and hid it well. Never needed to use it but it was good to have it there just in case.
 
zorrex said:
You're not superman, you just did it the hard way.
Click to expand...

I locked myself out of the car yesterday. My uncle was able to bring me a coat hanger, then he left. I wasnt able to push the button, i tried it for about 15 minutes. I got the coat hanger hook around the door handle and was able to open it almost right away. IDK what the buttons are like on the post98's, but on mine, they're hard as hell to push.
 
Actually, I did this method too. It hooked the inner part of the handle near the lock, i gave one swift pull and the mechanism unlocked. It took me all of 2 minutes to make the coat hanger, wedge the door and unlock it. There are many methods that work so don't be such a know-it-all. It's not Hondatech over here.
 
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