Automotive Locksmith Vehicle Lockout & Entry Solutions Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Automotive Locksmith Vehicle Lockout & Entry Solutions flashcards as text
A customer claims their keyless entry remote opens the vehicle but the physical key blade won't turn the door lock cylinder. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: The door lock cylinder is corroded, worn, or has been changed to a different key
If the fob works but the blade doesn't, the door cylinder is likely corroded or was replaced with a cylinder not matched to the original key, making the blade unable to turn it.
Which of the following best describes the 'under-the-door' technique for vehicle entry?
Answer: Using a flexible reach tool inserted through the bottom weather seal gap to operate interior controls
The under-door technique uses a flexible rod inserted through the rubber weather seal gap at the door base to reach up and operate the interior lock button or handle.
A 2019 Honda Civic lockout customer says the car has a hidden key slot near the door handle. What does this typically indicate?
Answer: A mechanical key slot concealed by a cover, used when the smart key battery is dead
Many modern smart-key vehicles conceal a mechanical key slot behind a removable cover near the handle, intended for use when the proximity key battery is depleted.
What is the primary reason locksmiths should avoid using excessive air pressure in a pneumatic wedge during a lockout?
Answer: It can permanently deform the door frame or break the window, creating a liability
Over-inflating a wedge can permanently bend the door frame or stress the glass to the point of cracking, resulting in expensive damage claims against the locksmith.
Which lockout scenario would most likely require a locksmith to fabricate or cut a new key rather than simply opening the door?
Answer: Key broken off in the ignition with no spare key available
A key broken off in the ignition requires extraction of the broken piece and fabrication of a new working key before the vehicle can be driven away.
On which vehicle component does a 'lock-out lasso' or loop tool most commonly operate during a lockout?
Answer: The horizontal interior door lock button or vertical lock knob
A lasso tool is looped around a horizontal lock button or dropped over a vertical lock knob to pull it to the unlock position from outside the vehicle.
After successfully opening a locked vehicle, what should the locksmith do before handing the keys back to the customer?
Answer: Test all four door locks and windows to ensure nothing was damaged during the procedure
A post-service inspection of all locks and windows confirms no accidental damage occurred during the lockout procedure and protects the locksmith from later damage claims.