Opening Trunk Without Fob
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 17,541
Likes: 2
From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 4
From: Columbia Maryland
Since I've read the entire Owner Manual, cover-to-cover, twice; and missed this info...
Today we parked our 2009 Coupe with the windows open and verified that it auto-locked the doors (lights flashed, door would not open without fob nearby). With no fob nearby, the doors would not open nor would the exterior trunk button work. But leaning in through the open window and pushing the trunk button on the dash, did open the trunk and did not set off the alarm.
We tried the same thing with a 2006, except that the doors were locked by pressing the "Lock" button on the fob and verified. Again, leaning in through the open window and pressing the dash button for the trunk, did open the trunk.
Those people who park a convertible with the top down or a coupe with the top removed, but run the windows up; are in fact getting a bit of additional security.
But you already knew that, right...
Today we parked our 2009 Coupe with the windows open and verified that it auto-locked the doors (lights flashed, door would not open without fob nearby). With no fob nearby, the doors would not open nor would the exterior trunk button work. But leaning in through the open window and pushing the trunk button on the dash, did open the trunk and did not set off the alarm.
We tried the same thing with a 2006, except that the doors were locked by pressing the "Lock" button on the fob and verified. Again, leaning in through the open window and pressing the dash button for the trunk, did open the trunk.
Those people who park a convertible with the top down or a coupe with the top removed, but run the windows up; are in fact getting a bit of additional security.
But you already knew that, right...
Car in the garage, top down, windows down, doors autolocked, FOB in the kitchen.
Doors do not open, trunk button in the rear does not open the trunk, and pressing the trunk release by reaching in does NOT open the trunk. Alarm didn't go off either.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I verified that this is NOT the case on my 2007 Vert.
Car in the garage, top down, windows down, doors autolocked, FOB in the kitchen.
Doors do not open, trunk button in the rear does not open the trunk, and pressing the trunk release by reaching in does NOT open the trunk. Alarm didn't go off either.
Car in the garage, top down, windows down, doors autolocked, FOB in the kitchen.
Doors do not open, trunk button in the rear does not open the trunk, and pressing the trunk release by reaching in does NOT open the trunk. Alarm didn't go off either.
If it's still locked as before, then verts lock different than coupes and the sensor indicating the top is down interupts the circuit. That could be verified by repeating both processes with the top up.
The shop manual wiring diagram shows a different route for coupes than for verts/Z06.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,029
Likes: 2,719
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Sometimes I used to leave the windows down when parking with the top removed, but today I put the windows up before going into the store.
So many buttons...
So many buttons...
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 4
From: Columbia Maryland
Now go pull the manual door release on the floor by the seat and open a door, then close the door and recheck everything.
If it's still locked as before, then verts lock different than coupes and the sensor indicating the top is down interupts the circuit. That could be verified by repeating both processes with the top up.
The shop manual wiring diagram shows a different route for coupes than for verts/Z06.
If it's still locked as before, then verts lock different than coupes and the sensor indicating the top is down interupts the circuit. That could be verified by repeating both processes with the top up.
The shop manual wiring diagram shows a different route for coupes than for verts/Z06.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
If top down, then try again with top up. (wear the earplugs
) I'm suspecting the verts have a failsafe for more protection than the coupes.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 831
You had me nervous about this so I tried it...the horn started honking but the trunk still would not open and after the horn finally stopped, everything reset and the trunk still would not open. I did not use the fob to stop the honking but let it stop on its own. So at least on my car, the trunk is still secure.
I had to use my earplugs while waiting for the horn to stop in my garage!
I had to use my earplugs while waiting for the horn to stop in my garage!
Please let me know if I can be of any assistance by PM. It seems this is being thoroughly investigated by the forum, but let me know if I can help.
Brent
GM Customer Service
Moderator emeritus
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 18,599
Likes: 3,955
From: Jacksonville Florida BWO Dayton, Cincinnati, Bloomsbury NJ, Cincinnati
2015 C7 of the Year Finalist
Arrive: turn off engine. Open door, while still in car, press door lock button 2 times. Get out, close door and leave. Trunk button disabled.
Arrive: turn off engine. Open door, while still in car, press door lock button 1 time. Get out, close door and leave. Trunk button NOT disabled.
Arrive: turn off engine. Get out, close door and press “Lock” on key FOB & leave. Trunk button disabled.
Arrive: turn off engine. Get out, close door and leave and let car “Autolock”. Trunk button is NOT disabled.
Top is down for all 4 scenarios.
Arrive: turn off engine. Open door, while still in car, press door lock button 1 time. Get out, close door and leave. Trunk button NOT disabled.
Arrive: turn off engine. Get out, close door and press “Lock” on key FOB & leave. Trunk button disabled.
Arrive: turn off engine. Get out, close door and leave and let car “Autolock”. Trunk button is NOT disabled.
Top is down for all 4 scenarios.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 465
From: Southern Utah
This turned out to be a very interesting thread. I still think that the key in this is whether or not the security light on the dash is made to blink by whatever method we use to lock the car. No light blinking, no trunk button disable.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
I think there's a way to get an electric circuit to the car from outside the car without having to open the hood, but others here may tell you how to do that and what else you need to do to get inside the car.
And whatever you do, be sure to acquire another fob & key in the future.
And whatever you do, be sure to acquire another fob & key in the future.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 4,938
Likes: 2,345
From: Etobicoke (Toronto) Ontario
Some folks have had success by hooking up a charger to the starter +ve terminal, and to ground. IIRC, there is a cable to the starter which is always 'hot', so this should work. Of course, you need to jack up the car enough to make that connection. If you try this,don't drop the car onto you. You just need enough voltage to operate the RCDLR and lock mechanism. However, I'm not sure that the car will see the fob if it's inside after losing power. Mostly, folks have two fobs, and seldom lock both in the car. Mostly. If you get a second fob, don't stop there. Get a 'regular' key cut for the trunk, and keep it in your wallet. Do this in any case.
