AndyK

It wasn't my fault, really!

I brought the car to my mechanic to have my Extreme Contact DWS tires installed, along with a wheel allignment. Great. After the work was done, the mechanic left the car in the lot, but not before poping the trunk (cable release), locking the car with the remote, then, dumping the keys into the trunk.

I only have the valet key (only have one remote key), and the car alarm isn't on, but the trunk release is locked. Can I use the valet key to get the trunk release to un-lock?

I hope the answer is simple, like turn the ignition on and off 3 times, and not "take the wheel off and fish around for the trunk release cable"!

PS-- The mechanic charged me $50 to replace a rear brake bulb, adding insult to injury!

logray

Oops! Shame on them for charging you that much...

Here's how to get your trunk open...

http://www.renntech.org/forums/topic...mergency+trunk

AndyK

So without the remote, there is no sequence to follow with the valet key to get the hood release lever to un-lock?

Yeah, $5 for the bulb is fine. $45 to install it means I wont be going back to them. Half hour of "labor"to do a 2 minute bulb replacement, after I spent over $400. They must be hurting for funds!

logray

Sorry, not that I've read about.

If you can't release the trunk with the regular trunk lever and the doors/trunk/gas are all locked, and you can't turn on the ignition and press the unlock switch on your dash on an off several times to unlock the lock...

I've read about someone who jimmied the hood latch with a very thin but firm piece of plastic, like a dash trim install tool... but I wouldn't futz around with that method unless you know what you're doing.

If you have a PST2 or PIWIS (dealer or shop) you might be able to connect to the alarm module and unlock the locks, provided your valet key turns the ACC voltage on.

You should contest that charge, especially after they locked your only working keys in the trunk!

Marc Gelefsky

Sawzall

logray

Does your valet key in the ACC position allow you to press the lock/unlock switch on the dash? It might not without a transponder in it. If the lock switch works, try doing that several times lock/unlock, lock/unlock, lock/unlock.

Then try to pull the trunk release lever.

logray

Jaws of life.

AndyK

I'll try this. The car is unlocked, and starts and runs with the valet key. So the alarm isn't activated. It's just the damned hood release lever locked.

I'll also try locking and un-locking the door with the key. There must be some way to tell the car "hey, it's me, let me into the trunk"!?

I'm going to complain about the extra bulb labor charge. Total BS. They figure I'm a rich guy with a Porsche, so why not charge another $45? Maybe these guys are mechanics AND lawyers?

tbanasiak

I removed headlights yesterday just to see how they come out and saw the emergency cable release behind the passenger headlight.

AndyK

I wonder if I could snag the emergency cable release by taking out the passenger side marker?

logray

Alright now. We all came in here armed with spatulas and you bring in a hand grenade?

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(did you try the lock/unlock switch?)

C4CRNA

If I lock my car with the remote and then use the valet key to open the car by the door
I can still accuate the switch on the doorsill to open the trunk.
Why is the cable locked on yours?

AndyK

Good question!

redridge

what year is your car?

AndyK

It's a 2000, with manual cable hood release.