986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners - View Single Post - Need Help! Key is locked in the car cant find spare.

clamem · 03-19-2007, 10:19 PM

So... I pick up my "new to me" 03 boxster and enjoy driving it all over DFW for week while on vacation. When we were ready to head home to TN, I followed my wife over to the u-haul place to rent an auto transport.

I got the car on the trailer and strapped down, when the u-haul guy asked me where he was supposed to put the safety chains. There was not place exposed under the car, so I got out the manual. It showed the info on the tow hook, so I went to find it in the front hood. After seeing how it worked, I knew the chain would mess up my paint and noticed that the recommended method was to run tie downs (ratchet tow straps) through the rims. In a hurry to get down to the auto parts store and on the highway, I threw everything in the front trunk, including my keys. I knew as soon as I shut it.

I first called Porsche roadside assistance to leverage my one remaining week of coverage. They told me the only thing I could do was have the car towed to a local dealer and send off for a new key.

I called several locksmiths, most were unwilling to even try. I finally got one who was able to get in the car, but apparently the car recognized the break in and disabled the front and rear trunk openers.

I was now faced with my car being stuck on a rental trailer, no way to get it off and a possible 10 day wait for a $300 key. Ugly!!!

It was looking like this car was already going to cost me a bunch of money and none of it was for problems or mods.

Anyway, after finding a link in a related post, I went to a posting on the renttech site and found a solution on how to use the emergency release. The solution required that I remove the front tire.

So... I went to wally-world, bought 2 jackstands, a hydaulic jack, 2 wheel chocks and a lug wrench. I used the jack stands under the front and one side of the trailer to ensure it wouldn't tip. I used the hydrualic jack on the same side of the car I was going to jack up, as I knew the weight shift would cause the trailer to move. I used on wheel chock on the trailer and one on the car.

Sure enough, as I jacked up the car a little, the trailer tilted back a little. So... I jacked up the trailer with the hydraulic jack to compensate. I continued to do this until the car was high enough to remove the wheel. This allowed me to remove the necessary parts to get to the emergency release and finally get my key.

All I can say is thank you for these forums!! Long story, but still does not beat busting out of the mini van in your boxers.

03-19-2007, 10:19 PM	#24
clamem Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Memphis Posts: 2	Think You have Me Beat, But... So... I pick up my "new to me" 03 boxster and enjoy driving it all over DFW for week while on vacation. When we were ready to head home to TN, I followed my wife over to the u-haul place to rent an auto transport. I got the car on the trailer and strapped down, when the u-haul guy asked me where he was supposed to put the safety chains. There was not place exposed under the car, so I got out the manual. It showed the info on the tow hook, so I went to find it in the front hood. After seeing how it worked, I knew the chain would mess up my paint and noticed that the recommended method was to run tie downs (ratchet tow straps) through the rims. In a hurry to get down to the auto parts store and on the highway, I threw everything in the front trunk, including my keys. I knew as soon as I shut it. I first called Porsche roadside assistance to leverage my one remaining week of coverage. They told me the only thing I could do was have the car towed to a local dealer and send off for a new key. I called several locksmiths, most were unwilling to even try. I finally got one who was able to get in the car, but apparently the car recognized the break in and disabled the front and rear trunk openers. I was now faced with my car being stuck on a rental trailer, no way to get it off and a possible 10 day wait for a $300 key. Ugly!!! It was looking like this car was already going to cost me a bunch of money and none of it was for problems or mods. Anyway, after finding a link in a related post, I went to a posting on the renttech site and found a solution on how to use the emergency release. The solution required that I remove the front tire. So... I went to wally-world, bought 2 jackstands, a hydaulic jack, 2 wheel chocks and a lug wrench. I used the jack stands under the front and one side of the trailer to ensure it wouldn't tip. I used the hydrualic jack on the same side of the car I was going to jack up, as I knew the weight shift would cause the trailer to move. I used on wheel chock on the trailer and one on the car. Sure enough, as I jacked up the car a little, the trailer tilted back a little. So... I jacked up the trailer with the hydraulic jack to compensate. I continued to do this until the car was high enough to remove the wheel. This allowed me to remove the necessary parts to get to the emergency release and finally get my key. All I can say is thank you for these forums!! Long story, but still does not beat busting out of the mini van in your boxers.