Alright guys here's a brain teaser for you. I'm out of ideas on this one. My girlfriend has an '85 Sport coupe Camaro with absolutely NO OPTIONS. It even lacks heater ducts. But this also means it does not have an electric hatch pull down or a hatch release switch, or cargo lamp :-( And a while back, she lost the key for behind the license plate. Any ideas how to get this thing open so I can switch out the tumbler? I tried pulling back the p-lastic trim piec over it, but i can only get to the left two bolts of the unit and can't reach in to try and jimmy it with a screw driver or crow bar. The interior is red, and like I said, no cargo lamp so I don't want to destroy this trim piece and all the locksmith's around here are freaking expensive... Any ideas are appreciated!

 

here is what you do, get some tooth paste, a toothpick, and call Macgyver lol.

 

since it is a camaro and not a bird this may not work. take a slender but strong scredriver and HAMMER it into your busted lock cylinder. once it's inards are ruined you should be able to twist it and pop the hatch. on a firebird you just have to break that little center bit and you can reach back there and manualy unlock it with a screwdriver. much less distruction.

unless that McGuiver thing pans out this would be your next cheapest alternative. locksmith being the most expensive and best.

 

I would just go to a locksmith and try to have a key made for around $25.00. I did this for my car. You could always try a dealer !

 

oh hey, yeah.. the dealer. if you bring the car and tittle they should be able to look up the keycode by the VIN and order you a key. GM still has the records for most of the Cheverolets. Pontiac division is missing MASSIVE ammounts of records for cars sold prior to 90.

 

There's another option, but I don't know if it will work if you have a power pull down unit....theoretically it should but I don't know what else will be involved to do that.

The plastic cover that sits on the inside by the tail pannel...if you can crawl into the car, fold the rear seat down, take the pannel out,...grab a long narrow screwdriver (slotted prefered..). There should be 3 "fingers" the center one should be the locking mechanisim..getting the screwdriver past the first one is the tricky part. Once you and see if you can pry the screwdriver to the left (pushes the mechanisim to the right) which should release the hatch.

*EDIT* DOH! it helps to read your complete post...couldn't get to it huh? Hmm, I dunno.....try harder!

 

i dunno chris... with my firebirds there are two screws on the top of that pannal that need to be removed to get the pannal off, and the hatch has to be open to do that. perhaps that is only on 86+ cars w/powerpulldown (which the poster does NOT have BTW)

 

Well guys thanks for all the advice, it is much appreciated. I called MacGuiver and he told me to blow the car up. So upon hearing his advice, I folded down the backseat and crawled back into the truck area. Then I grabbed the bottom of the trim plastic and pulled. To my chagrin it was locked in place by the hatch latch. So I huffed and I puffed and ripped that b*itch out, well, half way at least. I was able to get behind it and pull the metal clip holding the tumbler, then pulled it out from behind the license plate, and stuck a screwdiver in place of where the linkage fits. Turn to the passanger side and BOOM hatch opens. Some would say I now have a problem b/c the new key to my hatch is a flat head screw driver. But considering it is an '85 SC with NO OPTIONS and the ignition key is stuck in the column anyhow, I think i'll just take my chances... I mean what's anybody going to steal? That world class T5 (i don't even think it's a WC) or that trusty 2.8L beast of an engine? Well, they may take the camaro emblem off the dash... but if they ask I'll willingly give it to them. LOL

Thanks for all the help! Much appreciated! Now I can install some checkerboard tail lights and an Iroc spoiler... YEEEEEEE HAAAAAWWWWWWW

 

All now that you responded to my hatch problem, maybe someone could help me out with an even bigger problem :-( I am stuck on my porcaline throne w/ out any $hit tickets...

I need to get back to the camaro ASAP, if anybody personally knows superman have him bring me over some cottonelle, pronto!

 

Best way to be honest, buy a new cylinder set, get a screwdriver like someone mentioned earlier, and just punch the teeth through. That's how quite a few people steal cars. They just punch the ignition and theyre gone.

 

The other thing is the steering column in this car is junk, but like I had mentioned, I have a '92 RS with a good column and matching lock cylinders. Anyone know if the VATS/ Passkey column will work in that car? I have the passkey module and correct key so I would not have to bypass that anti theft feature... I think? Anybody done this?

 

Go for the whole McGuiver thing i think it shall work

 

You don't have to do anything with the VATS system. Everything at the bottom of the column hooks up the same as the older columns. The only thing you need is the right key to turn the lock cylinder, which you already have. Use the VATS module for target pratice. I did the opposite with my 89. I put an older steering column in it with a standard ignition tumbler, and took the VATS key cylinder out of my original column, stuck the key back in it, plugged it back into the wiring harness, and just stuck it under the dash above the driver's side kick panel. If I ever get a custom chip made for my car, the first thing I'm gonna have them do is delete that friggin VATS garbage. The only difference with the VATS columns is the two little wires that run out of the bottom of the column from the key tumbler, and you can just leave that disconnected. It won't affect anything.

 

The dealer in your area should be able to cut a new key using only the vin # off the car...