Car Key Problems: How to Fix, Find, and Remedy the Situation

A fairly common situation, many people have at least once forgotten their car key on the dashboard while the windows are locked. It is easy to panic in such a circumstance, especially when faced with car key problems that seem insurmountable.

The key is not to freak out. That’s funny because you’re actually freaked out because of the key. Anyway, let’s look at some common scenarios that you can lock yourself out of your car and what you can do instead of freaking out.

There are several solutions to remedy such car key problems effectively.

Scenario 1: Breaking Your Key in the Lock

Your ex-husband is simply the worst! Why does his new girlfriend always have to hug you? You’re so upset. You storm to your car, trying to get it open. The button isn’t working. You’re on the verge of an explosion. You use your key and somehow all your anger is transferred to the lock and then click! Or not! That was the sound of your key breaking in the lock. Can your day get any worse?

Scenario 2: Losing your Key at Home

You have to be at work in 30 minutes. You grab your bag and your keys and gulp down the coffee. Oh, you’re going to be late. You just cannot be late. You have a presentation to make. You sprint to your car and pull out your keys. Wait, there are no keys. But you grabbed them—or did you? Oh no! Could this be one of those frustrating car key problems? You run back to the house. You search frantically for it. You cannot find it. You’re 5 minutes late. Oh burger! You’re going to be so late to work. Can your day get any worse?

Scenario 3: Losing Your Key at the Office

It’s the close of work. You want to go home and just drop on your bed. You walk out of your office and into the parking lot. You see your car, the portal to convey you to your fortress. You get to it, pull out your keys. No, you didn’t, because they aren’t in your pockets or in your briefcase. This is when car key problems hit hard. You rush back to the office; they aren’t there either. This is happening. Where could you have dropped them? You have no idea.

Scenario 4: Locking Your Keys in the Car

The situation is one of the most frustrating car key problems you can face. The key is right there, staring at you in the face, but you just can’t reach it. Wait! You’ve got a spare key. You smile. Wait a minute, it’s in your glove compartment! Oh no! You can’t do anything about it. You locked your doors using manual lockdown. What can you do?

All the scenarios discussed are very common. The normal response to these is massive freak out. I’m here to ask you to calm down. Let’s discuss practical ways you can prevent this from happening to you.

Have a Spare Key Handy

A lot of drivers have a spare key, but they make the mistake of keeping it in the glove compartment. This can lead to serious car key problems, especially in situations where you’re locked out or unable to access your vehicle. Now, accessibility is as important as availability. Instead of keeping your spare keys in the glove compartment, you could:

• Keep it with a trusted friend
• Have it on you at all times, preferably attached to a piece of jewelry
• Keep a copy in your office.

DIY Approach to Unlock Your Car

Although a locksmith is the ideal solution to unlock a door and recover your key stuck inside the vehicle, nothing prevents you from sticking to the task yourself. You can choose from two methods:

• Use a metal hanger: This is the method popular with a large majority of people whose car key is stuck inside it. As long as you know how to go about it. A hanger can indeed effectively replace a material studied and specially designed for unlocking the door. Before using your hanger, you have to unfold it completely. Then fold one end into a crochet hook. Then insert it between the glass and the bottom seal to reach the locking latch. When this is done, position the hook correctly and gently pull on the latch so that it rises gradually.
• Use a somewhat rigid rope to unlock a door and retrieve the key stuck in its lock: This method is suitable when the locked key is in a car with the lock latches installed on top of the door linings. The rope or lace must be long enough for this to work. Once you have made a slip knot on the rope, it will then suffice to insert it from the upper corner of the door and slide the knot to the pull tab. The gravity helping it will be less difficult to lower the cord than to direct it. When you have successfully passed it over the latter, gently pull on the two ends between your hands until the door unlocks.

Contact a Locksmith

Unlocking a car door and recovering your locked key isn’t the most complicated thing, but it often arises from car key problems that can catch anyone off guard. As long as you have a little dexterity and all the necessary equipment—which is not always the case—you might handle it yourself. However, the best solution in such a circumstance is to hire an auto locksmith. With their skills and proven experience in the field, their intervention will not only pay off but benefit you in more ways than one. You will not only save time but also avoid any collateral damage.

Forgetting your key in a stuck car is a common car key problems that can quickly become stressful—especially when you’re leaving for the office. However, you must be cautious not to leave the task to just anyone. Only a locksmith with the necessary expertise can quickly and effectively unlock your door, regardless of the vehicle type. For older vehicle models, however, it may be possible to remedy the issue yourself if you know how to handle it.

If you’re facing car key problems, it’s best to go with a reputable firm with trusted employees. It’s important to note that if your keys are locked in your car, you may want to stay near your vehicle while waiting for the locksmith to deter potential burglars.

Alcatraz Locksmith is here to help. We understand how frustrating these situations can be, which is why we always have a professional ready to assist you as soon as possible. Contact us today!