I’m just curious: What’s the best way to get out of a locked car trunk? Just in case.
Answer
251
8-5-11
Mr FF says:
When you’re the junk in the trunk
Okay, look. I don’t know if you’re here because you’re currently stuck in a trunk and have a smartphone (at which point I’d try, oh, I don’t know, dialing 911) or are concerned you will be stuck in a trunk at some point in the future. Either way, I’m not going to judge you or the people you associate with. I’m merely going to recognize the fact that, on certain fronts, my life is considerably less interesting than yours and move on.
Don’t panic
So, you’re trapped in a trunk. The first thing you need to do is not panic. You aren’t going to suffocate in there, because even on the highest end luxury car, no trunk is airtight. It’s going to get stuffy and possibly very hot or cold (depending on the weather) — and if you had a burrito for lunch you’re going to probably be quite unhappy — but you won’t run out of air.
The great escape
So now that you’ve calmed down, here are some steps you can take to free yourself from whatever horrible fate awaits you…
Look for an emergency release handle: Every car made since September 1, 2001, is required to have some sort of internal trunk release latch. The most common type is a T-shaped glow-in-the-dark emergency release, like the one pictured here. They generally either hang from the top of the trunk lid, or will be located inside the luggage compartment near the tail lights. Pull this, and the trunk should pop right open.
Try the backseats: Many cars have fold-down rear seats. See if you can find a trunk mounted release for them, or if that fails just start kicking or pushing against them. This may not work if there’s a couple Mafia heavies in the back seat.
Look for the trunk release cable: Most cars have a remote release lever or button. If it’s a button type, you might be in trouble here, as they use a solenoid to pop the latch open. Older lever style ones use a physical cable, and if you can find it, pull like crazy and try to pop the trunk.
Try to force the latch: If you’re like MacGyver, you never go anywhere without your trusty Swiss Army knife. Failing that, feel around for a screwdriver, the tire iron, a prybar, or any other tool you can use to attempt to force the latch with. Some cars even come with a factory toolkit mounted in the trunk, so you might luck out here.
Remove the brake lights: Unless you’re an anorexic supermodel, no, you won’t be getting out this way. However it will get you fresh air and the ability to signal for help. The brake light assemblies on most cars can be removed without any tools whatsoever. If you can get the whole thing removed, you can stick your hand out through the hole and wave frantically for help. At the very least, disconnect the wires — because without working brake lights, the chances of getting pulled over go way up. Of course, getting rear-ended would ruin your day, but that beats the 9mm hemmorage Gino and Luigi might be about to give you.
Use the jack to pop the trunk: This one is a bit of a longshot, but when you’re facing the wrath of the Corelones, it’s worth a try. If you can pry the thing out from under you, see if you can raise it enough to bust the trunk open. This is really only a possibility with cars that have classic scissor jacks (the kind that forms a diamond shape)… and if the car is equipped with run-flat tires, I’d be preparing to sleep with the fishes if you’ve already tried everything else.
Final (ha ha) thoughts
Again, I’m not judging, but if you consider it likely that you will be stuffed in a trunk — or you currently are — you may want to reconsider your lifestyle choices.
In all seriousness, this can even happen accidentally. You might be lying in the trunk working on your car, your kids might be playing hide and seek, what have you. If your car doesn’t already have an emergency trunk release, you can purchase one from kidsandcars.org for about $15. They’re pretty simple to install, and offer a little peace of mind.
And try not to annoy/offend/off anyone whose last name ends in a vowel or has a cousin named Vito.
When you’re the junk in the trunk
Okay, look. I don’t know if you’re here because you’re currently stuck in a trunk and have a smartphone (at which point I’d try, oh, I don’t know, dialing 911) or are concerned you will be stuck in a trunk at some point in the future. Either way, I’m not going to judge you or the people you associate with. I’m merely going to recognize the fact that, on certain fronts, my life is considerably less interesting than yours and move on.
Don’t panic
The great escape
So now that you’ve calmed down, here are some steps you can take to free yourself from whatever horrible fate awaits you…
Final (ha ha) thoughts
Again, I’m not judging, but if you consider it likely that you will be stuffed in a trunk — or you currently are — you may want to reconsider your lifestyle choices.
In all seriousness, this can even happen accidentally. You might be lying in the trunk working on your car, your kids might be playing hide and seek, what have you. If your car doesn’t already have an emergency trunk release, you can purchase one from kidsandcars.org for about $15. They’re pretty simple to install, and offer a little peace of mind.
And try not to annoy/offend/off anyone whose last name ends in a vowel or has a cousin named Vito.
loading...