lightningvette

2014 Z51
My manual trunk lid release is broken. The key inside my fob turns inside the keyhole by the license plate frame and I can feel the tension, but it doesn't release the lid. So I have no manual way to get into the car without breaking something. (And I'm in this situation because the battery is dead.)

So my current thinking is I can bust the passenger window. (Found a replace glass for $300 shipped. Will have to get it installed and then retinted.)

Or if I can get access to where the trunk release is through a taillight unit, I could destroy a taillight to get there. (Similar price to replacement glass. But likely an easier re-intall and then don't need to retint)

?? Anybody know some other option of breaking something to get access to the car so I can replace the battery. Have done the before which is a pain in the *** for my 6'2" self to crawl into the back to get access to the battery so I can release the trunk with the electronic button.

I'm an idiot because this happened before but luckily the door was open so the glass hadn't tucked itself up under the frame and I had access to put in a lock pop stick and pull the manual release by the footwell. I should have fixed the manual trunk release and I didn't. So I'm paying for my mistake, but trying to pay the lease possible. Thanks!

CONCLUSION/ SOLUTION:
Thanks @eboggs_jkvl for the idea: lifted the car and provided power to the starter, so the doors / trunk can be unlocked via the FOB.

• C7 Coupes can not be locksmith’d when the windows are tucked up under the roof frame. There is not enough give, to create room for a bar to reach down and pull the release on the floor in the cab.
• My manual trunk release is in fact broken and will need to be fixed.
  (You should periodically check your manual trunk release so you don’t end up like me!)
• Ordered a battery maintainer to plug in any time the car is going to sit for more than a week.
• Chevrolet is out of stock on Driver & Passenger windows in all of North America.
  (DO NOT BREAK YOUR WINDOWS.)

eboggs_jkvl

Don't bust the glass.

Lift the car a little with a jack and hook up a battery charger or jumper cables to the starter terminal. You'll have power to use your FOB and then you can fix your issues.

Elmer

buckeye4

A visit to the dealer? Oh, sorry just noticed you are locked out. I think I remember someone else had the same problem posted a year or so ago.

L8ter

Call a locksmith.

lightningvette

Which wheel / side and I lifting? Is the location of the starter terminal in a manual somewhere? And Thanks!

Jgreg0912

I think there’s a way to connect booster cables to the positive lead at the starter and find a good ground. Should give enough power to unlock the doors.

eboggs_jkvl

Passenger side.

lightningvette

This is the second time I've been locked out. And called a locksmith last time... BECAUSE I CLOSED THE DOOR WITH THE BATTERY DEAD AFTER BUCKLING MY 2yo INTO HER CARSEAT! Mom was not impressed and I was in a hurry to get back in. Luckily because the battery died with the door open, when I closed the door, it didn't have the juice to automatically pop the window back up under the door frame as it normally does. Which meant the window had some given and space to reach into the cab. With the windows tucked up under the frame, there is no give, no room to reach in. And as far as I know, there isn't anything manual inside of the actual door itself a locksmith can mess with like on an older car.

jimmbbo

If you cannot gain access to use an external power source, call a professional...

Bubbletop409

That's what I call thinking outside the box, and will definitely file that in my memory bank incase I ever find myself in a similar situation, thank you.

duckvett

How do you know the manual release is broken? If you feel resistance when turning the key, it probably isn't broken, just gummed up. Spray some WD40 into the key slot, twist the key back & forth to work the WD40 into the mechanism. You may have to do this 2-3 times.

And buy a battery tender!!

lightningvette

I feel springy resistance, and I have full range of turning... it just doesn't feel like it's catching whatever it's supposed to in order to release the lock. Have turned that thing inside of the lock probably 100x now.

Aramis76

A locksmith can't do anything for him.

He mentiones his key works, but something is not doing what it should after the key is turned.

Since there's only one lock on the car, the locksmith won't have anything to work on.

As others have mentionned, a slim-jim won't work either as there's nothing mechanical in the doors.

The least damaging way is lifting and feeding power to the starter circuit as others have mentioned.

The only long-shot you might have, if the lock is rotating. "maybe" you could remove one of the license plate light and find a way to grab the lock cylinder to prevent it from spinning when using the key.
Not even sure this would work, but just in case.

lightningvette

Thanks for understanding my limited options. I'l looking into where to try and feed power to the starter circuit. I also called a locksmith anyway to see if they can pick that rear manual lock... or even drill it out and manually open the lock, since that thing is broken and not working anyway...

eboggs_jkvl

Get power to the starter wire! You will be able to FOB your way into the car!!!!!

ImpliedConsent

If you can't get power to it via suggestions above, get it towed to a dealer. A locksmith might not be able to get in without breaking something else. I'll put money on the dealer has dealt with this in the past. Tow=@80-100. Dealer fix=? probably .5 shop hour, whatever that turns out to be.

eboggs_jkvl

Just for grins and giggles, give the damn key a really hard twist!? Unless the key is spinning it might work. If it is free wheeling, then forget the key and get power to the starter lead (don't forget to hook up a ground too.

lightningvette

I really have the perfect/worst situation. My car is backed into my very small garage. So I can't tow it out with the electronic emergency break disabled. So would have to jack the car, but rollers on the back wheels and push it out of the garage and down into the street where I have enough room to rotate the car so it can be pulled backwards onto the tow truck as front on would probably crack my front splitter... so that is an option...

lightningvette

Gave it a bunch of hard twists, but I was not grinning when I did it.

eboggs_jkvl

Ok, then do the power to the starter.