firefighter3666
03-06-2007, 04:40 PM
So despite reading numerous warnings about how easy it is to lock your keys in the trunk, I managed to do exactly that. Luckily, my girlfriend was with me, and she had the spare key in her purse (although I don't know that I will ever hear the end of it).
With this experience behind me, I developed a plan to prevent this embarrassment from happening again.
Step 1: I trekked over to the dealership in search of a solution. After repeatedly explaining my problem to the guys at the parts counter, they finally understood what I wanted. They cut me a T5 key (think spare valet) and did not program the microchip. This gave me a key which would operate the mechanical locks on the truck, but shouldn't operate the ingnition.
Step 2: To verify that the microchip wasn't programmed, I attempted to use the new key to start the truck. Starter turned over, truck coughed like it wanted to start, and then nothing. Sounds like a minor thing, but for some reason I thought that the truck might run for a short period of time and then stop. Instead, it just wouldn't start.
Step 3: I wanted to make the key thinner, thus allowing me to keep it in my wallet. I placed it on a hard surface, and hit the plastic head of the key several times on each side with a hammer. This caused several cracks in the molded plastic where the metal key protrudes from the plastic. I then took a small flat head screw driver, inserted it between the plastic and metal on the key, and with a few taps on the screwdriver with the hammer, I worked the plastic away from the key. Repeated the last part again on the other side, and I was able to completely remove the plastic from the key.
The finished product can be seen in the photo below. I plan on keeping this key in my wallet as a backup. But I could see the potential to zip-tie it to something under the truck for the same purpose.
Total cost: $20 plus tax.
With this experience behind me, I developed a plan to prevent this embarrassment from happening again.
Step 1: I trekked over to the dealership in search of a solution. After repeatedly explaining my problem to the guys at the parts counter, they finally understood what I wanted. They cut me a T5 key (think spare valet) and did not program the microchip. This gave me a key which would operate the mechanical locks on the truck, but shouldn't operate the ingnition.
Step 2: To verify that the microchip wasn't programmed, I attempted to use the new key to start the truck. Starter turned over, truck coughed like it wanted to start, and then nothing. Sounds like a minor thing, but for some reason I thought that the truck might run for a short period of time and then stop. Instead, it just wouldn't start.
Step 3: I wanted to make the key thinner, thus allowing me to keep it in my wallet. I placed it on a hard surface, and hit the plastic head of the key several times on each side with a hammer. This caused several cracks in the molded plastic where the metal key protrudes from the plastic. I then took a small flat head screw driver, inserted it between the plastic and metal on the key, and with a few taps on the screwdriver with the hammer, I worked the plastic away from the key. Repeated the last part again on the other side, and I was able to completely remove the plastic from the key.
The finished product can be seen in the photo below. I plan on keeping this key in my wallet as a backup. But I could see the potential to zip-tie it to something under the truck for the same purpose.
Total cost: $20 plus tax.