How to open boot

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snowgoon
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How to open boot

Post by snowgoon » Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:48 pm

I've lost my Elise key and, after a thorough search of house, pockets, etc., have concluded that my worst fear of dropping the boot lid with the key laid temporarily inside the boot has materialised

Anyone know how to open the lid without a key?

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martins
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How to open boot

Post by martins » Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:58 pm

You should be able to get a metal coat hanger or similar in between the lid and the clam. Fit a small strong magnet on the end, or fashion a hook and go fishing. There may be an alternative but this worked for me in the past. Hope you are not one of those bodies who have a whole bunch of keys together....

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robin
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Re: How to open boot

Post by robin » Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:33 pm

Or remove the number plate and have at it with a hole saw ...

Or bust out one of the grilles then tiger seal it back in afterwards.

I guess you don't have a spare key?

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woody
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Re: How to open boot

Post by woody » Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:44 pm

S1?

I'd remove the roof - it's do-able with the door locked, I've done it in the past - and open the door from th inside, allowing you to pop the boot. Plan B is as Robin describes, but be aware there are cables just behind which your hole saw will snag and chew up possibly.

S2?

Possibly remove a wheel, arch liner and drill the boot box with a hole saw at a guess.

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Sanjøy
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How to open boot

Post by Sanjøy » Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:47 pm

S1 I used to go for the rear wheel arch liner then grab the cable.
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tut
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Re: How to open boot

Post by tut » Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:55 pm

S1 does not have a key, so must be an S2.

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by snowgoon » Sun Dec 05, 2010 12:19 pm

Does anyone have a set of black alloys they'd be happy to sell - for an S2?
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Sanjøy
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How to open boot

Post by Sanjøy » Tue Jun 18, 2013 10:59 pm

Ah if only a s2 then use an axe.
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woody
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Re: How to open boot

Post by woody » Tue Jun 18, 2013 11:26 pm

Sanjoy wrote:Ah if only a s2 then use an axe.

Whether you have the keys or not :blackeye

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robin
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Re: How to open boot

Post by robin » Wed Jun 19, 2013 8:25 am

I wouldn't drill into the boot box from wheel arch liner because you end up with a hole that you have to seal or boot will flood.

Pretty sure Walshy locked his keys in the boot on his S2 on one of the frolics and removed a boot grille which then allows you to ping off the catch somehow. Of course he may just have removed it for totally other reasons ...

Can somebody with an S2 (mine isn't here) open the boot and see whether with the key not in the lock, can you ping the catch manually by just tugging at it, and if so from which side do you do it (left or right).

At a guess you would remove the one on the pax side of the lock as the driver's side one is hampered by the inlet manifold.

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DJ
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Re: How to open boot

Post by DJ » Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:00 am

Before you do anything too drastic, try someone elses key.

Has happened to me too - long story - but first guy that tried with his S2 key worked. Post up where you live and a good chance there may be someone nearby.
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bertieduff
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Re: How to open boot

Post by bertieduff » Wed Jun 19, 2013 2:23 pm

The AA opened mine in seconds with a small inflatable balloon that the guy managed to slip between the seal and the lid. Opened enough to get a hand in and reach the keys. I'm not convinced that it didn't leave a slight set in the lid however, plus my keys were within easy reach...
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BiggestNizzy
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Re: How to open boot

Post by BiggestNizzy » Wed Jun 19, 2013 2:25 pm

bertieduff wrote:The AA opened mine in seconds with a small inflatable balloon that the guy managed to slip between the seal and the lid. Opened enough to get a hand in and reach the keys. I'm not convinced that it didn't leave a slight set in the lid however, plus my keys were within easy reach...

Did this with my S1, the lid has a slight lift to it and I looked like a self harmer for a week.
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tut
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Re: How to open boot

Post by tut » Wed Jun 19, 2013 2:34 pm

My boot lid is banana shaped and I have now taken the catch off completely so that it will not jam again.

No problem with it opening when you are going forwards, but spin on track and go backwards at 60 and it leaps up and acts as an air brake.

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steviej
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Re: How to open boot

Post by steviej » Wed Jun 19, 2013 2:39 pm

[quote="robin"]
Can somebody with an S2 (mine isn't here) open the boot and see whether with the key not in the lock, can you ping the catch manually by just tugging at it, and if so from which side do you do it (left or right).

Ive had a look and its not possible to do this as far as I can see, the catch is enclosed in a metal housing, there is a fair bit of lift at each side though which you could get a hooked wire or wire with a magnet attached into and try to fish them out.

Cheers
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tut
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Re: How to open boot

Post by tut » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:07 pm

Trade it in for an upgrade to an S1...........

<BG>

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