[Z06] Question - Emergency Key In Module
#1
Burning Brakes
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Question - Emergency Key In Module
Is the emergency key that you pull out of the module only open the hatch WHEN YOU HAVE A DEAD BATTERY? I was trying out the key on the new Z I just got and it will NOT open the hatch even when i have unlocked the doors.
I am concerned that I will not be able to get into the car should the battery die?
Thanks!
I am concerned that I will not be able to get into the car should the battery die?
Thanks!
#2
Melting Slicks
It should work any time, battery dead or not. Better lube the cylinder and try again or have the dealer make another key before you really do need to use it.
#4
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St. Jude Donor '12
Do not wait till you have a dead battery and find you cannot open the hatch. That would be a hell of a lot worse and severally compound your problem. Get it taken care of now.
#5
#7
Burning Brakes
Push the little button at the base of your kep fob and out will pop the key to open your hatch in case of a dead battery. A guess your dealership didn't do a very thorough delivery.
#8
Safety Car
samdimaio, there is an emergency key nestled inside your key "fob". If you look closely you will see that one end of the fob has a little release and can be pulled out, revealing a key. Sometimes you have to tug on it pretty darn hard to get it to come out. This can then be inserted into a lock cylinder above the rear license plate to open the rear hatch. Once open, there are some "pull tabs" over each wheel arch that allow releasing the doors mechanically. They may be buried in the carpet a bit.
It has been not uncommon for the emergency lock mechanism to be improperly connected. All owners should exercise this capability at home, before there is an emergency. Any issues can be taken up with the dealer. It's just like changing a tire - practice at home first, under ideal conditions. Murphy sez conditions will not be ideal if you need it for real.
Also, if you have a regular passenger (like a wife/gf), it's a good idea to have them practice exercising the emergency door release from inside the car. They work fine, but they're not obvious, and it's good for any passenger to know how they work. Kindof like how the airlines tell you about the emergency exits before you fly.
Another tip is to have a duplicate of the emergency key made on a normal blank and keep it in your wallet. This way you can always get in in case you lock the fob in the car.
It has been not uncommon for the emergency lock mechanism to be improperly connected. All owners should exercise this capability at home, before there is an emergency. Any issues can be taken up with the dealer. It's just like changing a tire - practice at home first, under ideal conditions. Murphy sez conditions will not be ideal if you need it for real.
Also, if you have a regular passenger (like a wife/gf), it's a good idea to have them practice exercising the emergency door release from inside the car. They work fine, but they're not obvious, and it's good for any passenger to know how they work. Kindof like how the airlines tell you about the emergency exits before you fly.
Another tip is to have a duplicate of the emergency key made on a normal blank and keep it in your wallet. This way you can always get in in case you lock the fob in the car.
Last edited by Gannet; 08-25-2011 at 12:46 PM.
#9
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St. Jude Donor '08
Don't use WD-40 to lubricate the cylinder. Use something more like a graphite spray or a "dry lube". WD-40 will attract dust and cause the cylinder to become more dirty and harder to use in the future.
#10
Drifting
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I check out my emergency key every once in a while - lots of dirt in that area even from driving on nice days.
Also, make sure that you have the key fully inserted and it sometimes helps to push down on a little on the hatch to take some of the pressure off of the lock mechanism while turning the key.
It is good to take a look and try out the two driver's side hatch release cables (door and fuel door) while you are at it. There have been several people on the forum that didn't know where they were and crawled through the hatch to use the emergency levers by the seat rail.
Jim
#11
Burning Brakes
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I was concerned about breaking the key off in the lock when I first tried this, that is why I asked for help.
Thanks for asking!
#12
Safety Car
OK, retried the procedure using considerably more force and got the hatch to open. I do not recall need this much effort to do this on an earlier non-power canopy pull-down I had. Perhaps it just takes a bit more effort with the power pull-down.
I was concerned about breaking the key off in the lock when I first tried this, that is why I asked for help.
Thanks for asking!
I was concerned about breaking the key off in the lock when I first tried this, that is why I asked for help.
Thanks for asking!
#13
Melting Slicks