Automotive Lock Pick

Automotive lockout services are the most common service a locksmith technician would do during his/her years in the field. The procedure for unlocking the vehicle really depends on the type of security a vehicle would have. Even models from the same manufacturer will have different ways a locksmith technician would need to use in order to unlock a particular model. Most locksmith technicians follow a certain guide for the best way to unlock a vehicle without damaging the lock or the vehicle. However, not all the time the method mentioned in the guide to unlock a vehicle would work.

I got a call a while back from a customer who locked himself out of his 98 Honda Accord. He said that normally he uses his remote to lock and unlock the vehicle, but recently the remote started to malfunction,so he had to start using his keys to lock the vehicle. I've seen it many times before when people are used to using their vehicle's remotes that when they have to use their keys, they often tend to forget them inside the vehicle while locking it.

Normally, when I approach to a lockout service for a vehicle I did not service before, I always check the guide for the best and easiest way to unlock it. With this particular vehicle, picking seem to be the best way to approach it. However, as I started picking the driver's side door lock, it seem to feel a little different and for some reason I had great difficulty picking and turning it. I then tried doing the same on the passenger side lock only to experience even more difficulty picking.

I called a Reno locksmith co-worker of mine who I knew had more experience picking than I did and asked him for some tips. After explaining him the circumstances, he said that it is a very common problem with models that are equipped with fobs to control the locking mechanism of the vehicle. Since the locks are not being used to often, the pins inside tend to freeze up which cause the lock to malfunction. He said that the easiest way to overcome the issue is by lubricating it as much as possible and use a blank key to work the lock at the same time. After about five minutes of working on the lock with WD-40 and a blank key, I made another attempt of picking the lock which luckily was successful.