Lexus Trunk Lockout

For the average locksmith technician, unlocking a vehicle should be a fairly simple task. However, the level of difficulty in opening a vehicle often depends on the vehicle's year, make and model. Some manufactures designed their security locking system better than others which makes it harder on a beginner to average locksmith technician to unlock a vehicle. Usually what makes things more complicated would be the fact that the vehicle will be equipped with an alarm system. To unlock these types of vehicles  require some experience and improvising ability.

I remember years ago I got called by a customer to unlock the trunk of his 96 Lexus. Apparently, he accidentally dropped the keys inside the trunk as he was putting away his grocery bags. At that time, I didn't have much experience unlocking Lexus vehicles back then, but I figured it shouldn't be so different than other foreign vehicles I had the chance to unlock at that period of time. I decided to take the job since I figured it would be a good learning experience for me.

Figuring the vehicle must have a trunk release button or lever, as I got to the customer's location, I decided to unlock the vehicle then use the trunk button to pop the trunk, retrieve the customer's keys and be back on my way. However, I learn that with Lexus models this won't be the case. As I started working on unlocking the vehicle, the alarm went off as soon as I got the door opened. At first I didn't think it would be a big deal for me, but when I located the trunk release lever and tried to use it, nothing happened and I suspected that the alarm probably was responsible  in disabling it.

Since picking the trunk lock was not an option for me because I didn't have the right tools, I decided to call a Portland locksmith friend of my hoping he may have some previous experience working with Lexus vehicles. When I finally got him on the phone, he said that my only option would be to remove the door panel and disconnect the electrical wire from the door lock and turn the actuator which in turn will fool the on board computer and allow me to use the trunk release button. I then followed his exact instructions and to my surprise it worked! I was able to bypass the alarm by disconnecting the wires and the trunk release button was active again allowing me to pop the trunk and get the customer his keys back.