Wheels64

My wife and I live in a very safe, secure area. It might not be the smartest thing to do but I always leave my keys/FOB in all of the vehicles we own. The garage is attached to our home and our home is typically locked.

I uncovered the 06 last week and found the door was locked. I can see the FOB with Key attached sitting in the cup holder. I immediately went to the Key Closet looking for the additional FOB. It is not there. Not sure what happened to it, that is another mystery.

The hood is open with the tender on it. Tender is green indicating the battery is fully charged. Removed the Tender and checked the voltage, it is good.

Sent the wife to the local dealer with the Title to get a new key made. Got the key, it slid in the trunk slot, but it does not open the hatch.

Do I call a lock smith to break in? Please help with advice.

Thanks

Dave S

In some instances, especially if the lock cylinder has not been used, it can bind up & be difficult to turn. Try squirting some dry lubricant (or even WD40) into the key slot. Let it sit for a minute or so & then try again.....use some more force than normal, but carefully.

540 vette

If the FOB is in the car why would it lock. And theFOB should allow you to open the door.

FAUEE

A fob battery that's dying looks just like the fob walking away to the car.

vetteish

agree with this!

VetteVinnie

It can also happen if it's in the trunk. One time I suited up for the gym and threw my gym bag with my change of clothes under the hatch of my Z06, slammed it shut, and then the door wouldn't open because it didn't detect the fob. I forgot it was in the pocket of my jeans. Fortunately, I was at the house with the car in the garage, so no major inconvenience, but I couldn't find the second fob.

I was shocked at how easily the Lock Poppers guy got into it. All he did was take a small wedge to put between the glass and the weather strip, use a long pole with a hook on the end to hook the emergency release handle on the floor next to the driver's seat, and pull up on the lever to pop open the door. If someone wants into your car, it clearly won't take much if they know about that release handle.

JABCAT

On the C5 all you had to do was shake the car if the fob was locked in & it would recognize/wake the fob so you could open the door. Did they fix this on the C6?

This is also one of the reasons I don't have auto lock activated on any of my vehicles.

VetteVinnie

How is that even possible considering the C5 doesn't have an RFID fob? You have to physically press the unlock button on the remote or use the key.

In fact, our C5 doesn't even have a passive lock feature since there's nothing to detect when you walk away from it. It was the same way when I had my 2003 Z06.

FAUEE

Probably meant C4. That was some of the tech cut from the C5 after the C4 to lower the cost.

JABCAT

My ex-wife got a job in a call center for GM Roadside Assistance in 2000-2002. That's literally what they told C5 owners to do if the key was locked in the car. I remember not believing her & she bringing the script home that said to rock/shake the car.

I never owned a C5 but I always assumed it worked if that's what they were telling people.

StayinStock

I'd try shaking the car. I know some instances the fobs can go to sleep... never leave it in the trunk area... made that mistake the first week I had the car. Worst case you may have to call a locksmith or tow company to open the door for you. You can baloon the glass out a little bit and get a rod in to pull the door release on the floor, its tricky but doable. (again ask me how i know lol)

Ron Dittmer

I bought 2 extra FOB knock-offs for $15 each on eBay (yes they work)....in-part to address this situation at home. They are kept in my extra key storage area.

About breaking into a car without damage. I have been serving in THIS AUTOMOBILE CHARITY since 1997. On occasion, we have to break into a donated vehicle because the only key was accidentally left inside a locked car with windows up. We use THIS AIR WEDGE and a long reaching bent rod to push door-lock buttons or grab release handles.

I keep one such air wedge at home in my garage tool chest, just in case, whether it be for our vehicles, or to help a neighbor.

StayinStock

Yeah the air wedge works but you have to be extremely careful, since the window indexes and tucks into the weather stripping it doesn't give it much play. then the next problem is that dosent leave you much room to get the rod in. The guy who got into mine had to damage paint in the process just because there wasn't room, I okayed it and couldn't really be mad at anyone but myself but... yeah they arent easy to break into lol

tommyc6z06

silly question, and doesn't help the OP...but, doesn't it drain the battery if the FOB is left in or close proximity to the car...as its trying to communicate to the RCDLR?
Sorry...I live in the stone age and don't have these communication snafus with any of my other cars (those can have keys/FOBS left inside when garaged ...unlocked of course)...just trying to understand more.

Ron Dittmer

Oh, that is an interesting question.

blownbayou

Last resort (if it's not a vert) is too remove the outside driver side tail light..... Drill you a small hole in the wall behind the light and fish you a coat hanger/wire in there and try to nab the emergency door pull. I have a safety pull made attached to that release behind the light. If the battery dies or FOB dies, I can get into the car. Tumbler under the plate is fubar btw.

StayinStock

Yeah thats always an option too. I've considered doing that on mine for that very reason.

FatsWaller

These fobs don’t communicate with the car unless a fob button is pushed or a car button is pushed. Also, if the fob battery died while sitting in the cup holder then it's as if no fob is in the car. Not sure about auto lock feature because I’ve got that enabled. If the door doesn’t lock automatically does the car still look for a fob when the door pad is pressed?

blownbayou

FatsWaller

Did you ever open the hatch using the key? When you put the key in, does it turn? If it does but the hatch doesn’t pop it’s vey possible that the cable attached to the tumbler has become disconnected or was never hooked up at the factory. If so, no amount of turning will open the hatch.