Locked trunk
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Gunsmith
Locked trunk
I managed somehow to lock the only key I had to my trunk, in my trunk. I called several locksmiths and all of them said that they could not open that lock. Do other Fiat trunk keys open other Fiats? Does anyone have a suggestion before I drill it out and then try to find another lock?
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So Cal Mark
remove the license plate and drill a very small hole below the latch, then use a small blade screwdriver to move the lever. Then seal the hole with rtv or a rubber plug( in case you plan on doing it again). Once I get to work, I'll measure the spot to drill and repost. Those locks are getting hard to find, I wouldn't ruin one by drilling it
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mbouse
first, i would try a full time, quality, professional locksmith.
anyone that cannot pick a lock should not call himself a locksmith.
Mark has listed a valid, and tried alternative.....but i would search for a better locksmith before i cut a hole in my vehicle.
i do have a latch and lock with keys from the '74 parts car if you need them.
anyone that cannot pick a lock should not call himself a locksmith.
Mark has listed a valid, and tried alternative.....but i would search for a better locksmith before i cut a hole in my vehicle.
i do have a latch and lock with keys from the '74 parts car if you need them.
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mbouse
o.k.
I just spoke to a licensed locksmith. His reply is:
if you have a door lock or a glove box lock that was/is keyed the same as the trunk lock, ANY qualified locksmith should be able to cut a key to work for your situation. you will have to give the smith your glove box or door lock tumbler.
if your trunk tumblers are stiff and resistant to release the latch, there may be an issue with picking that specific lock; but, the smith should be able to pick this lock if it is functioning properly.
if only one of the three tumblers mentioned above took the same key as the trunk, there should not be any reason to drill a hole in that sheet metal.........
He also stated that just about anyone can cut a key, if they have a copy. experienced, skilled locksmiths are not as easy to find.
and the moral of the story is, get a spare set made!! i have three sets for each of my spiders, one set hidden on the vehicle.
I just spoke to a licensed locksmith. His reply is:
if you have a door lock or a glove box lock that was/is keyed the same as the trunk lock, ANY qualified locksmith should be able to cut a key to work for your situation. you will have to give the smith your glove box or door lock tumbler.
if your trunk tumblers are stiff and resistant to release the latch, there may be an issue with picking that specific lock; but, the smith should be able to pick this lock if it is functioning properly.
if only one of the three tumblers mentioned above took the same key as the trunk, there should not be any reason to drill a hole in that sheet metal.........
He also stated that just about anyone can cut a key, if they have a copy. experienced, skilled locksmiths are not as easy to find.
and the moral of the story is, get a spare set made!! i have three sets for each of my spiders, one set hidden on the vehicle.
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manoa matt
- Posts: 3442
- Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:28 pm
- Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800
- Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Even if they can pick the lock with those little picks and bobby pins the problem is turning the lock so that the connecting bar acctuates the trunk latch. It takes considerable force, you need a key or drill the hole.
I got locked out with a battery cutoff switch de-activated, a real problem. Take off the license plate. And measure between the mounting holes on the sides. As far as side to side, the hole should be in the middle.
I'll have to repost the up and down measurement. This is the critical one, too far up or down and you will miss the mechanism and have to drill another hole. Or worse, you will drill into the mechanism.
You may call out a locksmith and he can't open it and still charge you $60
If you drill the hole, you know you will never be locked out again.
Matt
I got locked out with a battery cutoff switch de-activated, a real problem. Take off the license plate. And measure between the mounting holes on the sides. As far as side to side, the hole should be in the middle.
I'll have to repost the up and down measurement. This is the critical one, too far up or down and you will miss the mechanism and have to drill another hole. Or worse, you will drill into the mechanism.
You may call out a locksmith and he can't open it and still charge you $60
If you drill the hole, you know you will never be locked out again.
Matt
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mbouse
if you can get a perfectly acceptable key made from the door lock tumbler, you'll not need to drill a hole in your sheet metal....or ruin a trunk lock tumbler.
yes, indeed, it takes quite a bit of force to turn the lock and thus the latch for the trunk....my locksmith agrees.
DON'T call the locksmith to the car.......take the door handle with lock in place to the locksmith.....if he cannot duplicate a key for that lock, in his office, he isn't worth $5 much less $60.
yes, indeed, it takes quite a bit of force to turn the lock and thus the latch for the trunk....my locksmith agrees.
DON'T call the locksmith to the car.......take the door handle with lock in place to the locksmith.....if he cannot duplicate a key for that lock, in his office, he isn't worth $5 much less $60.
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So Cal Mark
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Gunsmith
Thanks guys you are a lot of help, I may be drilling the hole unfortunately. I have an ignition key so I can drive the car but I do not know if the trunk key is the same as the door or glove box since I never locked them and I have only had the car a few months. Why lock the door so they can cut the top? I called a few lock smiths and none of them apparently were real locksmiths so I am still checking. It may be quicker to drill the trunk. I normally keep several sets of keys for my vehicles but I have been having trouble finding a trunk key blank. I was hoping that maybe there were only a few different trunk keys out there and some one else’s might work. I will search for a few more days for a real locksmith before reaching for the power tools. Thanks again guys for all of your help.
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124cso
Re: Locked trunk
I had to replace both my door locks as PO had lost (?) the door key. I could have had new keys cut to old locks but was not (really) that dear to import new lock barrels & keys, for peace of mind as to where that old key might be.
Lock barrels from Pinninfarina supplier came as Alfa parts and Alfa spider blanks are same profile as Fiat spider.
My existing trunk lock was same profile and managed to re- wafer the trunk lock from the 2 old lock's wafers (The wafers are the profiled brass gates that move up & down with the key movement ), to the new key.( don't lose those TINY springs under them)
There is no point in taking dash glove box lock to a locksmith as it has only 1 wafer, not 5 as per trunk & door locks.
Lock barrels from Pinninfarina supplier came as Alfa parts and Alfa spider blanks are same profile as Fiat spider.
My existing trunk lock was same profile and managed to re- wafer the trunk lock from the 2 old lock's wafers (The wafers are the profiled brass gates that move up & down with the key movement ), to the new key.( don't lose those TINY springs under them)
There is no point in taking dash glove box lock to a locksmith as it has only 1 wafer, not 5 as per trunk & door locks.