Auto Lockout Tools

[Ethanol Hater]

I am new to the locksmith business and I would like to know what do most locksmith's use to open cars. Do they pick the locks, use the LISHI tool or use the wedge and the wires, or the try out keys? I am just trying to start a locksmith business and I need to purchase tools. What would I need for auto lockouts? I like the try out keys but they are expensive for a complete set.

[KPick]

I think this might fall under the advanced forum. . . Sorry.

[Squelchtone]

I am new to the locksmith business and I would like to know what do most locksmith's use to open cars. Do they pick the locks, use the LISHI tool or use the wedge and the wires, or the try out keys? I am just trying to start a locksmith business and I need to purchase tools. What would I need for auto lockouts? I like the try out keys but they are expensive for a complete set.

Hello,

Welcome to the forum. As with any forum we have some house rules, please familiarize yourself with them.

They may be found here: http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=715

Please see Rule 19 regarding discussion of automotive opening. Until you have access to that forum, we ask folks to not discuss car opening techniques and tools in detail, if you want to just know about what set of tools is the bare bones minimum you need, you can ask in the Locksmith Business area, I will move your post there now.

Thank you,
Squelchtone

[billdeserthills]

I am new to the locksmith business and I would like to know what do most locksmith's use to open cars. Do they pick the locks, use the LISHI tool or use the wedge and the wires, or the try out keys? I am just trying to start a locksmith business and I need to purchase tools. What would I need for auto lockouts? I like the try out keys but they are expensive for a complete set.

I think I can try to answer your question without stepping on too many toes.
I personally hate auto opening, the calls always come at the worst time. Today for example I had to choose between eating lunch at 1:30pm or unlocking a vehicle at the post office. I went hungry and opened the car. Then the guy's credit card wouldn't go through and I wound up taking his business card, home address & phone # and asking him to send me a check instead.

Anyway to get back to your question the auto tools I like best are made by Tech-Train. I actually met the inventor of the tools, Steve Young and I liked the guy. Every year he rents the new vehicles for that year and pulls off the door panels and his tools and books reflect the work he does. Unlike many companies he doesn't like to add a lot of new tools each year, which saves me money. You can buy his book and tools from Lockmasters (800)654-0637.

Beware of companies like High Tech who intentionally create lots of similar tools, just to fleece you out of a bunch of money. I actually almost bought a set from them and as soon as I saw their auto opening book I knew I had to send it all back. Their auto book was made from the same paper as the phone book and twice as thick. I knew there was no way that book was gonna last even one year in my vehicle without being all ripped up!

[victorylocksmith]

i feel like in my short experience, auto lockout are a bad way to go when starting out. this is because a lot of them flake on you and when you finally get there, they wont pickup the phone to tell you that they already bailed because they got into their car already. also, there is a HUGE liability if you damage the car in the process of getting it open, which most certainly can happen. thats why i only do lockouts for people i already know, or for people who are real desperate and drive beater cars. because at the end of the day, im not going to be making negative money because i broke a window to an import luxury vehicle.

[billdeserthills]

i feel like in my short experience, auto lockout are a bad way to go when starting out. this is because a lot of them flake on you and when you finally get there, they wont pickup the phone to tell you that they already bailed because they got into their car already. also, there is a HUGE liability if you damage the car in the process of getting it open, which most certainly can happen. thats why i only do lockouts for people i already know, or for people who are real desperate and drive beater cars. because at the end of the day, im not going to be making negative money because i broke a window to an import luxury vehicle.

Remember if/when you break a window,-You still have unlocked that car. That means I write up an invoice, just like I had unlocked the vehicle, in fact last time it happened I hadn't yet quoted a price for the auto opening & you can bet that price just went UP. I think I wound up paying the window guy the money I charged plus $25, so all was not lost. I have broken lots of stuff in the last 25 years, sometimes that is how I learn
and I won't beat myself up over it. Fortunately it has been quite awhile since I had to learn something the hard way, knock on wood.

The new cars have new rules to go with them. Side curtain airbags are adding even more wiring to the insides of the door panels and in the long ago it was simply funny to me watching the tow truck driver jerking his slim-jim up & down frantically trying to beat me in opening the same vehicle, now it can be your last living mistake on this planet. If you want to be good, do what other pro's have done & buy some instruction. A Tech-Train car opening guide is going to pay for itself in 1-2 jobs. I almost grabbed an under-window tool last time I had to open a Cadillac, fortunately I looked up the car before I did, as it was loaded with side curtain airbags & my book immediately warned me to Not Attempt to open the vehicle with that type of tool & why not. That alone could save a guy Thousands of $$$. Even with my liability insurance I don't have any interest in paying the deductable which is $500.

[Dan82]

90% of the time I use an air wedge and long reach tool.

[YouLuckyFox]

Has anyone heard of the pump wedge bending the door, before?

[GWiens2001]

Yes, with the biggest complaint being the customer stating that there is 'wind noise' from the door. Tip - be gentle, and use soapy water to lubricate the wedge. A plastic milk jug can be cut into a square with a hole in the middle, then folded in half. That can be inserted in the gap opened by the air wedge to keep the reach tool from tearing the weather stripping.

Gordon

[billdeserthills]

Has anyone heard of the pump wedge bending the door, before?

Every pump wedge company will tell you to never pry open anything more than you need to.

Before the pump wedge I had a "Door Jack" it would & did bend doors, but like the pump wedge You are only supposed to use it just enough to keep from scraping paint off & still unlock the door. Take your time, even if the family pet or kid is locked inside. And don't let the client grab any of your tools so's they can give this here car opening thingy a try for themselves. When I get done opening the door I like to make a free door key. I just do it to make everyone who won't look greedy and uncaring