Let’s face it: most of us don’t know how to open a car door. Heck, we might not even know how to open a door that doesn’t have a handle! Sure, we might be able to get into our car by jumping into the passenger seat and opening the door from there, but what about cars with automatic doors? If you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic. Here are five tips on how to open a car door without tools—whether the door is stuck or not.
The Right Tools
When you find yourself stuck in your car, the last thing you want to do is try to break the window to get out. This is especially true if it’s cold outside and your window is frozen shut. Instead, use these three simple tips to open a stuck car door.
First, try using the door handle. If that doesn’t work, try kicking or banging on the door. Finally, if all else fails, use a key or a remote opener to unlock the door from inside the car.
The Wrong Technique
There are a few wrong techniques that people use when trying to open a car door that is stuck. One of the most common mistakes people make is trying to use brute force. This often results in broken car doors or worse. It is important to use the right technique for opening a stuck car door.
The first step is to try pushing on the door from the outside. If you are able to push it open then you know that the spring mechanism has failed and the door can be removed by hand. If you are not able to push the door open, it may be because there is something blocking the opening or the hinges may be frozen. In this case, it will be necessary to remove whatever is blocking the way and free up the hinges with a wrench or pliers.
The Right Process
It’s not always easy to know how to open a car door that’s been locked from the inside. Here are some tips to get you started:
1. Get a key. If you don’t have a key, try using a coat hanger or knife to pry the door handle off.
2. Try the windows. Windows on the driver’s side should generally open from the inside, while those on the passenger side will often require force to opening.
3. Check for handles or latches on other doors leading into the car. These may be easier to access than the main door itself.
4. Look for something wedged between the car and doorframe, like a phone book or crutch, in order to leverage against and break open the door panel.
The Results
If you’re stuck inside a car, there are a few things you can do to try and get out.
First, slowly open the door from the inside. If you can’t do this, use a key or other object to pry the door handle up and move it towards the window. Once the door is open about an inch, use your hand to push it all the way open. Now try to pull yourself out.
If that doesn’t work, try using one of these methods:
-Use a coat hanger or similar object to hook around the inside edge of the window and pull. Be careful not to scratch the glass.
-Position yourself so that your head is outside the car and lean against its side. Again, be careful not to scratch the glass with your arm or hand. Use your other hand to reach through and open the door from outside.
– wedge something under the door handle, like a book or piece of paper, then hold onto it while trying to lift the handle up from outside.