A universal unlock tool or a “slim jim” also work in this case if you’re prone to locking your keys in your car and want to keep one around for future occurrences.
The hook should be roughly two or three inches long. [2] X Research source
You will need to feed the hanger down several inches, and you will feel when the end of the hook slips down past the window.
The lever will likely be slightly behind the actual lock placement, so use the hanger within a few inches of the manual lock tab instead of directly next to it. [5] X Research source You will see the manual lock lever shake and jiggle when you make contact with the lever arm, so keep fishing around until you see it start to move. [6] X Research source
Since the lever arm is stronger than the hanger, it may bend your hook out of place. Pull the hanger out, reshape the hook, and reinsert to at the same spot. It may take several tries, but as long as you see the manual lock jiggling, then you know you’re in the right spot.
If you use a shoelace, then it will likely have to come off a pair of boots because it will need to be at least approximately three feet in length depending on your car doors.
If you do not know how to tie a slipknot, visit How to Make a Slip Knot to learn how. You want to leave roughly two-to-three inches in the slipknot in order to make it easier for the loop to fit over the lock before you tighten it.
You may need to use something with a little bit of a wedge to it such as a door stop to hold the corner while you push the cord between the door and the frame. Make sure you only actually pull on one end of the cord at a time. If you pull on both, you’ll just tighten the knot prematurely.
You can also buy a specific tool kit for this method online, which consists of an inflatable bag, a wedge, and a rigid tool. [15] X Research source If you are prone to locking your keys in your car, it could prove to be a good investment.
Cut as close to the base of the twisted section as possible in order to retain as much length in the wire as you can.
Make sure that the hook is large enough to grasp the handle, and that the circle can just barely fit over the button so that it snags when you pull it up.
If you do not have access to an inflatable bag, you can use any sort of tapered rubber material. Two or three door stops will also work well if you insert them a bit at a time to get a good wedge. Use rubber to prevent scratching your car’s paint. Make sure to pry under the weather stripping and only pry enough to insert the wire through. Leave the object you inserted in the door jamb as you complete the next step.
If this proves too difficult on the driver’s side door, you can always try the passenger side as well since most modern vehicles with power door locks will have a control on the passenger side as well. Be careful not to scratch the paint on your car as you complete this step.
It is important that the loop is just barely wide enough to slide over the top of the vertical lock so that you can pull it back up.
