Retrieving Keys From a Lexus

Recently, I heard of a locksmith technician who worked on a 2003 Lexus ES300. The keys were locked in the trunk. Usually it is necessary to order keys from Lexus in order to open the trunk without any damage, and the other option is drilling the door lock.

The technician was able to open the vehicle with an "under-the-window" tool while preparing to pull the panel and hot wire the security system in the door. Before the technician tried to bypass the security system, he noticed that on the driver's side door, there was a plastic access port. Once removed, it allowed access to a T-30 headed screw that was removed. He was then able to easily remove the driver's door cylinder. It was very similar to  an old Volkswagen door handles, except in this case, only the cylinder was removed.

Using a #3 Philips head screwdriver, the technician activated the linkage/security switch on the cylinder which deactivated the alarm and allowed the trunk release to function. The technician got lucky in finding a simple solution where most locksmith companies would have recommended ordering a new key. The customer was very satisfied as well!