Automotive locksmiths must have the right tools at their disposal to open cars without damaging the window, door, or other aspects of the vehicle. After all, the ability to gain entry without breaking anything is a huge part of what separates professional locksmiths from amateurs and ill-intentioned lock pickers.
The process of safely opening a car door has changed a lot over the years, and the tools locksmiths use have changed along with it. Read on to explore the intriguing evolution of vehicle entry tools.
Opening the Vent Window
Vent windows were a common component of early hardtop vehicles from the 1930s onward. Coincidentally, this is close to the time when car locks and keys were becoming universal, making automotive lock picking a much more commonplace service. The vent window was a small window near the front of the door. It could pivot in place, opening the window slightly to let fresh air in while still keeping out rain and other elements.
The vent window was an invaluable feature in an age when air conditioning systems weren’t as common. It was also the primary way to gain entry to a locked car without harming the vehicle. The idea behind unlocking the vent window is like that of long reach tools or, of course, the crude but classic wire hanger trick. One could slip their vehicle entry tool in between the window and the weatherstripping, hook it around the lever, and open the vent window.
Early Long Reach Tools
Another common early vehicle entry solution was the long reach tool. Long reach tools have changed a lot over the decades, but the idea behind them remains the same. They employ the same technique as a wire hanger, presenting you with a long, thin tool that you can twist into your desired shape, slip in between the window and weatherstripping, and hook around the interior latch to unlock the door.
Wire hangers, of course, had their drawbacks. The wire wasn’t particularly strong, so it pulled straight and lost its shape when one applied any kind of pressure. This kind of crude tool was also likely to damage the weatherstripping and cause permanent damage to the vehicle and window.
Long reach tools offered a more professional and reliable solution. They were sturdier, which meant they held their shape better and could provide enough tension to move the locking mechanism. They were also designed to slip between the glass and the weatherstripping of the window without causing damage.
In some older vehicles, long reach tools didn’t go through the door window at all. Instead, some models worked by inserting them through the openings in the floorboard near the clutch or brake pedal. Meanwhile, those who worked with older-style two-door vehicles could slip their tools in through a corner of the rear window. These methods didn’t put the weatherstripping at risk, so they were more common among professional automotive locksmiths. It wasn’t until industry-wide regulations strengthened car door designs in the name of safety laws that locksmiths started using long reach tools primarily on doors.
Introducing the Slim Jim
Sometime in the mid-twentieth century, the Slim Jim tool arose as an alternative to long reach tools and other lock pick solutions that attempted to open the door from the inside. The Slim Jim bypassed the lock mechanism and focused more directly on the rods and levers that operate the door.
One critical component the Slim Jim took advantage of was the cam that engaged the latch mechanism. When the car was locked, the cam would disengage the latch mechanism and interrupt the linkage to the door lock. If you pulled on the exterior handle, it would miss the latch and fail to engage the lock mechanism, so the door would remain closed. A Slim Jim worked by sliding into the internal mechanisms of the door. One could maneuver the Slim Jim into where the disengaged cam would be, using it to re-establish the linkage, hit the latch, and open the door.
Because this style of door was universal, Slim Jims became a universal car opening solution. But they had their drawbacks, too. Because locksmiths were working with the internal mechanisms of the door, they ran the risk of doing more harm than good. An inexperienced hand could pull up electrical wiring and cause significant damage to the vehicle.
As cars evolved and manufacturers started installing more sophisticated locking mechanisms to deter thieves, Slim Jims became somewhat obsolete. With the right knowledge, though, a Slim Jim can still be effective on many classic cars.
Competing Designs in the ’80s and ’90s
In the late twentieth century, vehicle manufacturers were designing new and improved locking mechanisms to deter thieves and lock pick manufacturers fought hard to keep up with the changes. The result was an ever-evolving market that saw hundreds of competing tool designs.
Some of the biggest problems to solve were new vehicle door designs that either hid or put guards over the lock linkage rods, making them harder to find and manipulate with Slim Jims and other tools. To keep up, locksmiths used either general-purpose tools that were better at manipulating linkage mechanisms in a wide range of vehicles or specialty tools that targeted unique weaknesses within specific vehicle makes and models.
The Rise of Under-Window Tools
With vehicle doors becoming increasingly complicated, some automotive locksmiths moved away from manipulating the mechanisms within the door entirely. This led to a completely new trend: under-window tools.
These tools worked by slipping into the door cavity like a Slim Jim, but instead of continuing down through the door, they would move under the window and then back up on the other side. This allowed the end of the tool to reach the interior of the vehicle. From there, locksmiths could find and manipulate the lock as if they were sitting in the car.
Under-window tools quickly became popular, but they still had some disadvantages. They often damaged the window or tinting. Moreover, removing the tool once the job was done was often difficult, as it ran the risk of hooking the tool through an inner mechanism within the door panel.
The Return of Long Reach Tools
The late ’90s saw the rise of side impact airbags that were installed within the door. This increased the risk of using car opening tools that went into the door, as locksmiths chanced engaging the airbag. Long reach tools suddenly became appealing again, bringing the evolution of vehicle entry tools full circle. Locksmiths began optimizing long reach tools for modern vehicles, making them easier and less risky to use. The simple design and relatively straightforward process makes long reach tools a nearly universal solution for modern vehicles. As such, long reach tools are a preferred choice among today’s automotive locksmiths.
You can find the best vehicle entry tools in the industry at Locksmith Keyless. Explore professional locksmith tools for cars, including long reach tools, air wedges, diagnostics tools, and so much more when you shop with us today.
