WelderGuy

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...rvette-n373316

A really sad story. I know it's not a C7, but the same thing could happen if the owner isn't aware of the safety release.

Bottom line...Read the owner's manual and know your car.

SMFCPACFP

This has happened to me on several occasions in my C6. You have to be a contortionist to release the door cable release in the back.

Everyone should check this part of the manual out.

Mdm23

He was at a restaurant and couldn't get anyone's attention by yelling or beating on the glass or something? I can't wrap my head around this. I feel the worst for the dog suffering like that because it was completely helpless. The owner should've have known there was a release lever.

DAFFYDRUNK

I guess I never paid attention to the door release in a C6. Are they a lot different than the C7?

Mdm23

They're pretty much identical. The first question someone should be asking in a car with electronic door opening is, how to get out if something fails electronically.

Flame Red

Please check that all the manual releases work periodically. When I had my '09 C6, I tested it one time and found they did not work. The cable had become unhooked inside the latch somehow. I removed the latch and reattached and never had the same problem again. But if you don't test them periodically, this can happen to you! But I would kick out the windshield or window. Perhaps he did not have the strength to do that. Very tragic and sad. Horrible way to go.

Prayers go out to the family.

No doubt GM will be sued. The lawyers are already lining up. Oh that's right, it is the old GM and new Gooberment Motors is not liable for old GM.

DAFFYDRUNK

If the pic is the actual car, the window is partially down so he'd be able to be heard. He was also in a resturant parking lot so there should've been some traffic around him. Even if the driver's latch failed, what are the odds of both failing? I'm thinking he had some sort of medical issue initially, because it seems there would be opportunity to get help even if he couldn't figure out the manual releases.

HoustonMidtown

There has got to be more to this story than we know right now - probably a medical emergency.....how did he get in to the car if the battery was dead, or did the battery die just after he opened and closed the door ?

C7Joy

That's a heck of a story, what a shame. I agree that there must have been more to the story. I guess we should all test our emergency escape handles.

warren s

What about just releasing the roof panel from inside?
Even if he couldn't climb out, still would get some fresh air....

green2000

I also suspect there is more to the story. Why would he climb in and shut the door just to check on his dog? That takes a lot of effort. We'll never know what really happened. Media should not sensationalize events without full facts.

pjitty

Am I missing something. So he could not call for help on his Cell Phone. Nobody at the restaurant noticed him and his dog locked inside his car. He couldn't pop the roof off from the inside. I hope I never get that old that I can't get out of a locked car...

DAFFYDRUNK

I guess he left the cell phone in the restaurant? Lots of ways to get out of his situation without one though. Simply had to be a medical emergency, or the guy was way past his prime as a Darwin award candidate.

JC 2004

This manual release, on the floor/door side of seat, was one of the first things I showed my customers. Corvettes, or any toy that sits for a long period can get a low battery if not driven or hooked to a tender. Sometimes it has just enough power to let you in or the engine sucks it up as it tries to crank and fails. But the fact it looks like he drove to the restaurant makes losing power even more peculiar. Though if the charging system wasn't working the drive could have drained the battery.

Also no one seeing them or just popping the top seems odd.

Very sad.

CriticalmassGT

Everyone should have a glass breaker/seatbelt cutter tool in their car. After seeing so many news items about people driving into canals and drowning in Louisiana 25 years ago, I bought one. That said, the guy could have been in a panic and not thinking straight. It can be difficult to keep your composure in those situations. Though why he would leave his dog outside in the car while he went into the restaurant in the first place boggles my mind.

Cobraboy

Though I've never tried it (and hope I never have to) couldn't you kick out a side window fairly easily? I would think lying on the seats and going at it full force would certainly do something.

ant21b

Just keep a small 12 volt battery with a cigarette lighter adapter and send the power in from the small battery through there. A motorcycle type 12 volt battery 6-10 ampere hours that will provide sufficient unlock power. Or just call onstar.

BWFitz

The tempered glass in the windows of all modern cars is very brittle. It can not withstand a sharp blow concentrated by a pointed object. Guess he never thought of using the edge of his wristwatch with the protruding winding stem to break the window.

Bucknut2006

It's under your thigh, shouldn't have to reach for the one in the back.


I'm still shocked that this could happen. Between the manual releases and roof, there are plenty of options. I know the thought of not being able to operate electric doors was the first thing I asked about when getting my C6.

Ernest_T

The article I read said something about a cable being loose. Maybe the opener was inoperative. Still, you have to wonder if he didn't have a heart attack or something.