It’s not the happiest moment when you lock your keys in your car. It’s even worse if you have kids or pets in the vehicle.
You could try to break into your own vehicle, but that can lead to further damage. Instead, call a trusted Emergency Car Locksmith in Norfolk VA for help.
Locked Out
There’s nothing worse than stepping out of your car to grab your coffee or groceries, only to realize you left the keys inside. It happens to millions of people every year. If you don’t have a spare key, or the spare is all the way across town, an emergency locksmith can help.
You may be tempted to try to break into your own vehicle with tools like slim jims or coat hangers, but these methods can damage the door or lock. They also don’t always work, especially on modern vehicles.
Instead, check your wallet for a credit card or insurance policy that offers roadside assistance. Many major credit cards and some car insurance policies offer this service, which can include a free vehicle lockout service. If you’re unsure where to find this service, simply look on Google for local businesses with positive reviews. Usually, these companies are the best option for quick and affordable vehicle lockout services.
Broken Key
A broken key can be one of the most frustrating things to deal with. Especially when you hear that stomach curdling snap. If only a portion of the key is protruding from the lock you might be lucky enough to get it out by pinching it between your fingers. If not, you’ll need to grab some tools. A kit with a specialty broken key extractor is ideal but you can make do with a pair of thin pliers or even a metal wire.
Start by lining up the cylinder with the handle portion of your key. This is essential to making the extraction easier. Next, insert the extractor tool or pliers with its hooks facing upward to catch the broken key fragment. Finally, pull back on the tools to remove it from the lock. This may take a few tries but is more than worth the effort! If you don’t manage to get the broken key out, it is best to call a locksmith.
Locked In The Trunk
Being locked in the trunk of your car is never a good feeling. Even worse, it’s sometimes a result of a mechanical issue like a trunk latch that isn’t working properly.
The latch on the trunk is controlled by a small motor that moves a linkage to open or close the trunk when it receives an electronic signal. If this mechanism fails, you won’t be able to open your trunk with the key fob or the traditional key located in the glove box or on the driver’s side of the steering wheel.
Luckily, most modern vehicles are equipped with a trunk release cable that’s easy to find under the back seat or in the spare tire well. You can also try using a wire hanger or a Slim Jim (a tool designed specifically for opening locks). But if these methods don’t work, it’s time to call an emergency locksmith for help. You’ll need a locksmith that can get you out of the trunk without damaging the vehicle.
Rekeying
When you’re tired after a long day at work and you are just ready to go home, but you are not able to open your car because of a mechanical issue. This can be a very stressful situation to find yourself in and can lead you to call an Emergency Car Locksmith in Norfolk VA for help.
Rekeying is an alternative to replacing the entire lock cylinder that can be much more cost effective. This process works by rearranging the existing components inside of the lock so that it can no longer operate with old keys. This can also solve issues with wear and tear that may cause your locks to stick or be unresponsive without the need for replacement parts.
Most of the time, rekeying can be conducted by yourself using a rekey kit for your specific brand of lock. This will include tools to remove the knob from the cylinder and a set of pins of different lengths.