Vault Lockout Tip

I got a call recently from one of the local churches in the area. The customer who called claimed that they could not access the vault they had there. Once i got there, I asked the office manager if he had any clue regarding signs that may have preceded to the current vault situation. He mentioned that they were having problems with the lock for a while now. He then led me to the vault location and once I finally got to see it I noticed it was a Diebold vault that was equipped with one of their older locks that considered as manipulation resistant. This was not a very good sign for me especially since as a beginner locksmith, I didn't have much experience working with vaults before. However, the best thing I could do is evaluate the situation and try figuring out myself before calling for help or dismissing the job.

I started by getting a ladder from my van, so i can get to the ceiling in order to remove the tile that was close to the vault. I figured it may lead me to an access to the vault's interior. However, it seem as the top of the vault was fairly solid. The second option I had was finding an access through the wall in which the vault was backed into. The manager's office seem to be right at that location where the wall was dividing between the vault and the office. The walls there seem to have pretty expensive wood panels, so I was reluctant from damaging them to access the vault.

After I went back to the vault to try and figure out a different option, I noticed there was another door next to the vault which I've been told led to the janitor's room. After doing some measurements, I found there was a small section different between the room and the vault. Once I was able to figure out some good spots in the wall, I drilled a hole through the concrete wall and I was actually able to see the emergency handle, but I couldn't get to it yet. After drilling few other holes close in the section, I narrowed an area on the wall to knock down, so I would be able to access the handle. After knocking the block down, I was able to pull on the emergency handle and the vault opened. Luckily, the church staff were OK with the minor damage caused to the wall inside the janitor's room, and I was able to collect the money and get a good review from them.

Visit the following links for information on NorthWest Locksmith Boise services. | Boise locksmith solutions.

Key-Less Entry Lock System

See full list on Listly

Nissan Code Tip

There may be few jobs in one's locksmith career that will we frustrating to find solution for. I find that most of these jobs were in the automotive category. Normally, making a key for a vehicle can be a very simple process most of the time. However, there will be times where the ignition, door, or glove box lock would need to be taken apart in order to make a key. It may be time consuming, but most of the time, it will be the only way to get the job done.

I recently got a call from a customer to make a key for a 92 Nissan NX. Thinking I could probably impression the key without any issues, I gracefully accepted the job (which was not too far away from me). Once I got to the job site and started the impressioning process, it seem like things weren't going my way. At the point when I realized I could not impression a key, I turned to the only other option I had which was pulling one of the door lock.

I started taking apart the passenger side door panel in order to remove the door lock. Although it was a gamble, I figured it might be easier to do that in order to get part of the code then taking apart the ignition switch. When I got to the lock and was able to remove it, I noticed there was a code on the tailpiece. There seem to have 5 numbers there, but I knew the last 4 would probably be the "key" to make the key. I've just added an x in front of the 4 digits I pulled out from the lock, and I was able to find code and make the key in no time.

Visit the following links for information on Boise locksmith solutions. | NorthWest Locksmith Boise services.

Merry Christmas!!!

See full list on Listly

Glove Box Lock Fix

I got a call the other day from a customer to make a key for a trunk of a 94 Buick Lesabre. Normally the way I and any other experienced locksmith technician would make such key in case there are no existing keys in the customer's possession, I will get some of the cuts from the glove box lock. When I got to the job site and started taking apart the vehicle's glove box lock in order to get last 4 cuts, I accidentally broke the plastic ears that held the cylinder lock  inside its housing. At that moment, I did not know what to do since I knew I didn't have any lock of that type in my service vehicle, but after further inspection, I noticed that on the back of the cylinder lock there was a some sort of a cut that was in fact the base for the retainers's ears.

I did quick measuring on the housing part where I noticed the back of the cylinder was blocked and went on to drill a hole in the housing which would be aligned with the small cut that I found on the plug. The next step i did was screwing a sheet metal screw through the lock housing and into the cut on the back of the cylinder. I got the idea from working on a Mortise type lock where it seem to have the same idea where a set screw is holding the cylinder. Quickly I replaced the glove box back and successfully finished the job.

Visit the following links for more information about NorthWest Locksmith Boise Services. | Boise Locksmith Solutions.

Automotive Broken Key Extraction in Boise

See full list on Listly

Lexus Lockout Tips

One of the issues I constantly ran into during my years as a locksmith technician servicing a Lexus LS400 is unlocking the trunk in a case where the customer locked the keys inside the trunk. It seem like even after I would unlock the car, the Valet-Lockout cylinder will still be locked. Going to the back of the valet-lockout  will be required  by lowering the bottom part of the driver side dash. On the back of the cylinder there will be a wire clip the slightly wraps around the cylinder. The clip would need to be removed and the plastic retainer would need to be depressed. The cylinder will then pop to the open position

In another situation I ran into, the valet-lockout cylinder will be unlocked, however the trunk would still not open. I found that the reason for such case its because the factory alarm system will shut down some of the operations in which the on-board computer control. Once both doors are closed, the vehicle's alarm system will instantly re-lock them. In order to re-operate the computer again, the alarm would need to be reset. In order to do this, either one of the door panels would need to be removed, following by detecting the wires that go from the cylinder and jump the lead until the alarm will reset. It is important to mention that there is no sign into when the alarm is resetting, so it will be necessary to pay close attention. Once it will reset, the trunk release button will work when activated.
Visit the following links for more info about locksmith service in Boise, ID. | Boise Locksmith Solutions.

Residential Lockout Service in Boise

See full list on Listly

Extractor Tool Tip

The following is something Iv'e learned during my years of experience in the locksmith field while doing broken key extraction from ignition jobs using a spiral extractor tool. Usually, most technicians will remove the head from the broken key and slide the "improvised" key into the key-way of the lock to the point it will make contact with the other broken piece of the key. In this point the extractor tool will come into the picture sliding it down the milling sticking to the broken piece and then pulling it out of the lock. The upper piece of the broken piece is used as a guide to the extractor tool and at the same time lifting the pins or wafers out of the way so there won't be any interference while extracting the broken piece from the lock.

The trick I came up with is mostly concern keys with larger milling. The large blade of the extractor tool is not large enough for those type of keys usually which will require thinking out of the box in order to extract a broken such key. In such case what needs to be done is putting a small bend about 12' from the end of the extractor tool. At this point, if the tool will be inserted down the key-way of the lock again, the bent tip of it will be enough to get a good grip on the broken piece and pull it out of the ignition cylinder.

Check out the following links to inquire more about our locksmith services in Boise, Idaho. | Boise locksmith solutions.

Exit Devices Services in Boise, ID

See full list on Listly