Repair 7

How to Unlock Old Car Trunks Without Keys

Older cars often used a separate key for the trunk than the one used for the ignition. Because of this, you could find yourself in a position where you need to open an old car trunk without the key. Besides prying the lid open or drilling out the lock, which are both destructive methods, it is possible to get into the truck and pop the lock from the inside. This method causes less damage to the vehicle.

Instructions

1

Lift the release lever for the rear seat. Many older vehicles used "hatched" seats to allow you to lower the back of the rear seat onto the lower half of the rear seat to add storage space. If the seat does not lower on a hatch, remove the seat back from the vehicle by pulling on it. Seats attach to the trunk frame with clips. By pulling on the seat, you remove the clips that hold the seat to the frame. Behind the seat back is an access panel to the trunk.

2

Crawl into the trunk from inside the car. Use a flashlight so you can see the trunk lock.

3

Pull the trunk lock release lever. Most vehicles have a lever that hangs from the lock that a person can pull if for some reason they get locked inside of the trunk. If the trunk does not have a release lever hanging from it, look for the side of the lock that looks like a half-moon. Pull the half -moon away from the lock housing to release the lock.