Why did I do that???

I was in the shed and noticed an old slim jim on the wall. I bought it a long time ago at a dollar store and its made to open any car. So I said hmmm, wonder if I can break into my car???

Well I sure broke something. I got the lock cylinder to turn but it never unlocked the door. Now my key doesn't even unlock the door.

Sure glad I didn't try the other side. Anyone ever ran into this after havin the cops or lock smith break into your car for ya???

I assume i fubared the lock linkage in some way and wonder if anyone has a diagram for it???

Matt

 

Remove the door panel and check what you did. If you're lucky only some part came loose.

 

How'd you even do it? I had to use a slim jim and coat hanger together to get the thing open

 

i only used a strong piece of wire. about the diameter of a coat hanger but a little less bendable. and that was when i locked the keys in the car and didnt have the battery in the car either. now that was a pain in the ***.

 

The lock rod slides into a plastic "hook", you probably just dislodged it.

The hook's hard to describe; basically, it .. uh... no idea how to describe it ... well, the rod shoves thru a hole in the hook, and then you swing the plastic up so the other end "clicks" onto the rod. I seem to be unable to type but you'll figure out what the heck I'm yapping about when you pull the door panel.

Locked my keys in the car (with it running, dammit), cop came, as he put his slim jim into the window he said "I don't know if I'll be able to " --click-- " oh, I guess I can." Took him 2 seconds. I haven't been able to duplicate it yet. Maybe he was just showing off

Ah ha- lets try this. The plastic hook is shaped like an "L". So is the end of the lock rod. The smaller leg of the "L" of the hook is shoved into the lock or door handle. The hook can swivel back and forth.

You put the smaller leg of the "L" of the lock rod into the smaller leg of the plastic hook. then you swivel the hook against the lock rod so the longer leg of the hook "clicks" over the lock rod.

Ah screw it I'm not making much sense

 

lol Tom
To maybe help. There is a plastic retainer (blue arrow in the below pic) that hold the lock rod in place to the backside of the lock cylinder. The retainer is snapped into the 'tab' on the backside of the cyl, the lock rod (white arrow if it were an actual lock) goes through the retainer and the retainer snaps to the rod to hold it in place. When using a slim-jim, it's easy to pop the retainer off the rod (it doesn't take much alot of the time) or just break the retain peroid. Once the rod is free, the next tug will yank the rod up but also, out of the lock cyl tab. Or, if it doesn't, using the key will dislodge it. The lock is at a somewhat odd angle so the rod, if not held in place, falls out easier than the handle rod.

 

just take off the pannel and stick your hand in there trust me u will figure it out.

 

I locked my keys in my car one time and did the exact same thing...after finding Doward's instuctions on how to slim jim our cars. Good thing that I decided to do it on the passenger side of the car because sure enough, I knocked that little clippy thing out and couldn't use the key to unlock it. Once I took the door apart, it took me like 10 minutes to find out what happened and fix it.

 

OK I finally took the door apart. I hate them darn torx screws.

OK so I guess I lost some sort of bushing or snap ring that hold the rod into the lock cylinder???

Anyone got a clue what I need to keep the rod in place?

Is this one of the dealer only $95 dollars for the whole kit parts???

I don't have the window handle tool to get at the stuff better , or I might just wrap a piece of wire around it so it can't fall out.

Matt

 

you can use the lock outta the back lockable storage lid its the exact same as the ones in the doors thats what i used but you have to switch ends on its really easy

 

Well I guess it was easier than I thought. Just 2.99 for a metal clip. They had the plastic kind but the place where it hook into the lock cyl arm takes the clip. Could of gotten a whole box of assorted plastic ones for the same price.

 

For future reference, Gumby, slim-jimming our cars is a "push down on the mechanism" deal, not a "pull up on it"... all the times I've locked my keys in I've used a carpenter's square to open the door (sophisticated, huh).. practice sometime.. after less than 5 minutes figuring it out you should be able to walk up to your car blindfolded and do it in one graceful motion... really makes me want to weld a block-plate over the mechanism.. or shave my door handles.

 

The slimjim for our cars and most 82+ GM's is a 5/16 rod L shaped at the end. It's not the flat feeler guage type with the boot and U cut into the side that one is for older cars/trucks but it works on most fNords up to 88.

 

The one I got is universal, It has notches and bumps, hooks and other strange shapes stamped into it. Suppose to open up any car but I have long since lost the directions.

Matt

 

I locked my keys in my 88 IROC and I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to get it open. Finally I stuck a well shaped rod through the weatherstripping at thetop of the door. I got it to hit the unlock button (electric locks) and it unlocked it. I've had to use it more than once because I only have one set of keys right now

 

yup. if you can catch it the top of the window "should" pull out anywhere from 1 to 2 inches BUT the slides can be adjusted so it only moves like a 1/2. I used to lock my keys in my camaro. when I did I'd pull the window out and pop the t-top. lol gotta love t-tops right?