Locked my keys in my trunk, broke my trunk lock. Now what?

1990 Miata.

Fortunately I was able to get a ride home to get my spare key. Now I have a trunk lock with a mangled cylinder due to overzealous use of a hammer and screwdriver (I was pretty far from home and yes I'm ashamed).

Just so happens my wallet is in my trunk also. Will I have any luck manipulating the currently mangled lock cylinder, or do I need to drill that hole behind the license plate to get it open?

I have AAA, so if a locksmith can help, I'll give 'em a call tomorrow. I can get another lock off Ebay eventually, but hopefully I can use the trunk until then?

Can I not just drill the tumblers out?

At this point a locksmith will be using his rotary pick (dewalt makes a nice one).

Just so you don't feel bad.....I hid the only remaining key to our 1990 Miata before our recent vacation. After locking the guns in the trunk. I have no idea where I hid the key. Calling the locksmith Monday.

Shotgun should do it

I dunno about drilling out the tumblers, never tried. The hole behind the license plate is probably your best option.

I have broken into the trunk of a Miata by going through the tunnels beside the gas tank. The keys were in a jacket in the trunk, and I could snag the jacket from there. That may be possible for you. You'll need a fork and a 10mm wrench, that should just about do it.

Can you get into the trunk through the rear of the passenger compartment? Slim jim the door locks if they're locked too.

I dunno, ain't no Miata guy.

my 0.02

There's a circular hole (two of them maybe) in the middle of the trunk floor that's several inches in diameter. It's closed up with a piece of sheet metal and some chassis caulk. You can pop that open (probably need a screwdriver and mallet) and reach up into the trunk through that hole and pop open the latch that way. You'll be feeling around for the metal rod that connects the lock cylinder to the latch mechanism. Once you get your hand on that you just need to push or pull (don't remember which) on it and it will pop the latch.

I've done it on my '90 miata before, but I did have most of the trim removed, so that made it a little easier. Looking at some pictures beforehand might help so you know what to feel for.

Also, might need to remove the heat shield over the muffler to get in there. I don't remember if that's necessary, but I don't have one on my car.

I've recovered keys the way that Keith talked about: pull the carpet, pull the tray cover and go fishing..

Sawzall

Locksmith is on his way. Updates to come shortly.

edit: One drill bit later, lock is now screwdriver accessible.

Thanks for the update, always good to hear the final solution.

OSULemon wrote: edit: One drill bit later, lock is now screwdriver accessible.

... And this is the difference between a professional and a rookie with a hammer and screwdriver :)

Better than a "professional" with a screwdriver. That generally results in a destroyed panel as well as lock, because they turn the lock by destroying the part of the door/trunk that holds it.

A crowbar always seems to work in the movies.

Exhaustion and frustration were major contributers to that series of bad decisions, to be sure. I would not have tried that if I wasn't in the middle of nowhere.

drill always works for me. take out the center of the cylinder, screwdriver, replace lock.

now take some very good tape and attach a spare key to the back of your wheel center cap. or, like my buddy always did, stuff a key into the fins of the radiator down at the bottom. this actually saved his butt a lot.

-J0N

It's amazing how may cars have keys in them - you find them when you're running a salvage operation. I think the record was three hide-a-keys in one car.

In reply to m_walker26:

If you bring your registration and the vin number to a Mazda dealer, they should be able to cut you a new key. I've got keys this way for cars that I bought without keys. A lot cheaper then a locksmith.

When I had a carbon fiber trunk on mine with a sketchy remote release I used to stick a coat hanger through the crack between the trunk and body and pull the bar that the lock turns. I also had no interior in there at the time either.

The best part was i had a bit of rope tied to that bar and sticking out the hole where the lock goes so all you had to do was pull the rope and get into the trunk. It probably was safer than a key because no body knew what it was. I always got.. "Whys there a string hanging out of your car?"

I dunno what im missing here. Call me crazy but i would have have tried to get the door open and use the release in the center console. Frameless windows + soft top = easier than trunklid. Does that release not exist on a 1990 or something?

A 1990 will not have an interior trunk release.

The interior release was added in '92 or late '91. I know my early '91 doesn't have one.

Both my 90 and 91 (long nose crank) didn't have them. 92 B&T did.

ouchx100 wrote: I always got.. "Whys there a string hanging out of your car?"

and you replied "Dude. Miata. It's her time of the month."