How to Open a Car Door with a Spare Key?

[LeAngelina]

To use a spare key, you need to insert it directly into the door's keyhole to unlock the door. The spare key does not have a remote control. It is used when the primary key is lost. Here is some relevant information: 1. The vast majority of vehicles come with two keys, one primary and one spare. Some cars also have a dedicated repair key, which is given to technicians for test drives during repairs. Some high-end vehicles have spare keys with remote controls. The remote key contains a battery, which needs to be replaced when it runs out of power. 2. When using the remote key, avoid unlocking or locking the car from a long distance, as this can accelerate battery drain. Once the battery is dead, it must be replaced immediately. Some cars are equipped with a push-button start system, and vehicles with this system do not have a keyhole inside the car.

[Noelle]

That day I temporarily drove my friend's old car and realized the spare key is different from the main key. Many new cars don’t have a visible keyhole on the door handle—you need to pry open a small plastic cover (usually at the end of the handle) first, either with a fingernail or a coin, to reveal the lock cylinder. Insert the spare key and turn it counterclockwise all the way until you hear a click, and the door will unlock. Note: remember to start the car immediately after unlocking, or the anti-theft system might start blaring. Some cars require pressing the lock button on the key again to deactivate the anti-theft system after unlocking—I had to try this twice last week to get it right.

[AlexisLee]

Last time I helped my neighbor unlock their Japanese car, the spare key wasn't a remote one which was quite troublesome. First, feel for the groove on the side of the door handle, gently pry up the plastic cover without breaking the clips to expose the lock cylinder. Turn it 90 degrees clockwise. If the mechanical key is blunt, you'll need to turn it while pulling the door handle until it's in position, then the door lock spring will release. The key point is that after unlocking, you must insert the key and start the ignition within 30 seconds, otherwise the engine immobilizer system will lock the steering wheel. With older German cars, you also need to be careful with the turning force as the plastic covers are particularly brittle.

[ElizabethRose]

As a forgetful car owner who often leaves keys behind, I have experience with emergency mechanical key usage. Modern car keyholes are hidden; use the tail of the key to push open the small square cover on the door handle (usually marked with a square or semicircle). Once you hear a click, insert the key. Turn it left and feel two stages of resistance: the first disengages the central lock, and turning it fully unlocks the driver's door. After opening the door, remember to power on the car before starting the engine, or the anti-theft alarm will blare through the neighborhood. Last time, I spent ten minutes searching for the infotainment reset button with the door open.