Opening Trunk Without Fob
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,025
Likes: 2,716
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Opening Trunk Without Fob
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...
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 11
From: Valdosta Georgia
didn't have my fob handy the other day, so I used my spare key that I keep in my wallet to open the trunk. Car is an '08 vert- top was up and windows tightly sealed.
As soon as I pulled the door release cable the driver door popped open and the alarm went off. I was a little disappointed at how short a period of time the alarm sounded before it stopped.
Not too much security if it is that easy, but better than nothing.
As soon as I pulled the door release cable the driver door popped open and the alarm went off. I was a little disappointed at how short a period of time the alarm sounded before it stopped.
Not too much security if it is that easy, but better than nothing.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 462
From: Southern Utah
I regularly lock my Vert with the top down and I never use the autolock feature. As I get out of the car, I hit the lock button on the door. Done this way, the inside trunk button is deactivated until a fob is near. This way I can lock things in the trunk and still leave the top down. I believe that the coupe works the same way, but I have never checked.
The trunk button near the license plate always requires the fob nearby, even if the car is unlocked.
The trunk button near the license plate always requires the fob nearby, even if the car is unlocked.
Last edited by cclive; May 30, 2011 at 09:04 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,025
Likes: 2,716
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
I regularly lock my Vert with the top down and I never use the autolock feature. As I get out of the car, I hit the lock button on the door. Done this way, the inside trunk button is deactivated until a fob is near. This way I can lock things in the trunk and still leave the top down. I believe that the coupe works the same way, but I have never checked.
...
...
However, at least on my car, you must use the "correct" sequence:
Press Unlock button on driver door.
Push Open button on door and swing door open.
Press Lock button on driver door while the fob is still inside the car.
Exit the car and take fob with you.
Close door.
Then, the trunk button on the dash is disarmed like you said.
If I use the same technique except don't press the Lock button on the driver door until I (and the fob) have exited the car, then it reverts to the condition described in post #1- the trunk button remains live even with the doors locked and no fob nearby.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 462
From: Southern Utah
Interesting! I have never tried it any other way because I hit the lock button just after I hit the button to open the door. I always glance at the dash to make sure that the security light is blinking to confirm the door lock. I don't use autolock because my car is only locked about 10% of the time, some it's just easier to lock it when needed. I'm going to do some experimenting now that you have mentioned this. I know that if I push the lock button when I am in the car, the dash light does not come on....I think the dash light blinking is the key to having the trunk button disabled.
In your last paragraph, did you close the door before pushing the lock button, or after?
In your last paragraph, did you close the door before pushing the lock button, or after?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,025
Likes: 2,716
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Interesting! I have never tried it any other way because I hit the lock button just after I hit the button to open the door. I always glance at the dash to make sure that the security light is blinking to confirm the door lock. I don't use autolock because my car is only locked about 10% of the time, some it's just easier to lock it when needed. I'm going to do some experimenting now that you have mentioned this. I know that if I push the lock button when I am in the car, the dash light does not come on....I think the dash light blinking is the key to having the trunk button disabled.
In your last paragraph, did you close the door before pushing the lock button, or after?
In your last paragraph, did you close the door before pushing the lock button, or after?
It's nice that the car will allow you and I to use different procedures for locking the car, but this is starting to look a little too complicated.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
All these sequences to be able to open the trunk...well...on my '07 Coupe, I can walk up to the car at any time, push the button up next to the license plate and open the trunk. If I'm inside the car and wish to open the trunk (only when stopped), I can push the inside trunk button and it will work. No fancy this way or that way to do things. I don't use the fob at all other than having it with me.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 462
From: Southern Utah
All these sequences to be able to open the trunk...well...on my '07 Coupe, I can walk up to the car at any time, push the button up next to the license plate and open the trunk. If I'm inside the car and wish to open the trunk (only when stopped), I can push the inside trunk button and it will work. No fancy this way or that way to do things. I don't use the fob at all other than having it with me.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
If someone remains in the car after the fob leaves the area, manually pulling the floor mounted lever is the only way to open the door.
BUT, if you pull the manual lever to open the door, it resets the locks, including the interior door open switch AND the dash trunk switch.
So just because you locked the car in the sequence described and left the windows/top down, simply pulling the lever and pushing the trunk switch will still open the trunk. Of course, it would take someone with either the knowledge or pure dumb luck to do that.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 462
From: Southern Utah
It also disables the horn honking lock notice, the interior door unlock and open switches, yet doesn't disable the fuel door switch.
If someone remains in the car after the fob leaves the area, manually pulling the floor mounted lever is the only way to open the door.
BUT, if you pull the manual lever to open the door, it resets the locks, including the interior door open switch AND the dash trunk switch.
So just because you locked the car in the sequence described and left the windows/top down, simply pulling the lever and pushing the trunk switch will still open the trunk. Of course, it would take someone with either the knowledge or pure dumb luck to do that.
If someone remains in the car after the fob leaves the area, manually pulling the floor mounted lever is the only way to open the door.
BUT, if you pull the manual lever to open the door, it resets the locks, including the interior door open switch AND the dash trunk switch.
So just because you locked the car in the sequence described and left the windows/top down, simply pulling the lever and pushing the trunk switch will still open the trunk. Of course, it would take someone with either the knowledge or pure dumb luck to do that.
I had to use my earplugs while waiting for the horn to stop in my garage!
Last edited by cclive; May 31, 2011 at 03:22 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 142
From: wolfeboro nh
All these sequences to be able to open the trunk...well...on my '07 Coupe, I can walk up to the car at any time, push the button up next to the license plate and open the trunk. If I'm inside the car and wish to open the trunk (only when stopped), I can push the inside trunk button and it will work. No fancy this way or that way to do things. I don't use the fob at all other than having it with me.
But since I do have the coupe (2011) am I missing something here? At times I do leave the car with the top off and the windows up. By using the fob to lock the car am I increasing the security some how? 
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
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!
I never leave my windows down or top off unless I can see the car, so the autolock works for me.
Now we've both learned something.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 4
From: Columbia Maryland
I regularly leave the top down when my 07 vert is in the garaged, and more often than not, my golf clubs are in the trunk. If I need to move the clubs from the vert to the other car, I need to go into the house to get the FOB or the trunk will not open. I'm kinda dense, and I've tried many times to open the trunk to avoid having to go back in the house to get the FOB. Never worked once, yet I still keep trying!! I never use the FOB or the door lock the doors, I'm set to autolock.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
A trunk is the part that was eliminated when writings or numbers are truncated.
Manuals are never "at" anywhere, just as questions don't end with prepositions.
Manuel lives in Arizona and we like him. I suspect the "manual" you reference, lives in a kAnSaS library.