Keys locked in 97
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Grant Alabama
keys locked in 97
I own a 99 FRC and locked my key in while traveling. A fellow traveler had a coat hanger, but I didn't like how tight it fit through the gap between the window and the seal, and it was not stiff enough. I was afraid of damage. Luckily a trucker at the rest stop had a long piece of brassing rod. It was smaller diameter and stiffer. We slipped it in at the top of the window and was able to push down on the lock button and open the door fairly easy without any damage. I was concerned about damaging the window seal, but everything was OK. Check the windows to see which if one has the tightest seal, Go in through the other for less chance of damage. I hope this helps. The only over choice would be to call a locksmith (expensive), or take your vin# to a dealer and see if they can cut a key. I don,t know if they can with the chip in the key. Good Luck!
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Grant Alabama
I tried that and I could not make it work. I even had another person help me shake the car. If the key is in the ignition it will probably work, but my keys were on the seat and therefore the fob was held stationary. Tri shaking first, it might work for you.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 3
From: South al
,i have a vert & a little easier to get in ,but on my Z71 there is a radio antenna that fit inbetween the window seal & the window,its long enough & sturdy enough to hit the unlock button on the door.or if u can get your hands on some 1/8 or 5/32 tig wire,i believe the 1/8th wire is sturdy enough also .all u need is One piece of wire .dont know if u have acsess to this or not,u may find someone that will let them unscrew the antenna off there vehicle easier than getting the tig wire ,it sucks been there done that ,hope he gets unlocked soon ,or has another ride 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
Do what? lol
and why does he not have a spare key in the first place?
Should this be retitled to how to break into a vette for noobs?
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Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax, VA 22032
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 5
From: Chico CA
It would be interesting to know if the tennis ball will work with the Vette. The lock mechanism is different - rather than a four inch rod from the key to the pin, these have a much longer rod, running horizontally. More opportunity for slop, and the cars with the pin above the outside handles are pretty dated - they were just too easy to break into.
The discussion of the use of antennas, brassing rods, etc., makes it sound like these aren't as hard to break into as The General would like you to think. The old Mustang-bodied Shelby is easy to open, but things have changed in the intervening 39 years.
I'm trying to visualize, based on the lock cylinders I've looked at, how that tennis ball thiing would work at all. You'd need a better sealed lock cylinder than is on my older cars.
The emergency key is the ticket. You can get plastic ones that are attached to a card shaped like a credit card, to just keep in your wallet. But shaking the car should work even with the keys on the seat, floor, whatever. Doesn't take much movement to wake up the fob if it's in passive mode. Of course, on the earlier C5s it could be switched off, so it wouldn't work.
Good luck. I'll be following the tale of the tennis ball (skeptically).
The discussion of the use of antennas, brassing rods, etc., makes it sound like these aren't as hard to break into as The General would like you to think. The old Mustang-bodied Shelby is easy to open, but things have changed in the intervening 39 years.
I'm trying to visualize, based on the lock cylinders I've looked at, how that tennis ball thiing would work at all. You'd need a better sealed lock cylinder than is on my older cars.
The emergency key is the ticket. You can get plastic ones that are attached to a card shaped like a credit card, to just keep in your wallet. But shaking the car should work even with the keys on the seat, floor, whatever. Doesn't take much movement to wake up the fob if it's in passive mode. Of course, on the earlier C5s it could be switched off, so it wouldn't work.
Good luck. I'll be following the tale of the tennis ball (skeptically).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax, VA 22032
Personally, I would doubt that it works, but DONR is looking for ideas on an easy way to get in. If it works, great. If not, all you have lost is one of your wife's tennis *****.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
lol that is one the myth busters dispelled
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax, VA 22032
lol you reference a T.V. show as Gospel even though during that episode the so called experts claimed that by making a smaller hole in the tennis ball it would increase air pressure. Yes, it would increase air pressure in the tennis ball, but it would restrict air flow, thus reducing air pressure in the locking mechanism. Fluid dynamics 101. Besides, they should have used the came type of car or at least a car with the same type of locking mechanism. It is very possible that some not-so-well-designed locking mechanisms have the lock acting as a piston, and this could work. And with the column lock problems, gas gauge problems, etc, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the General manufactured a shoddy door lock system.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
My 2nd FOB statement is for the original poster of the thread... get out your second fob and use it unless you locked both of them inside the car. Of course, maybe you only have one therefore you might want to consider buying a second one.