Thursday, May 31, 2012

How to Unlock Mustang Trunk without a Key or Remote

Ok, this could happen to you. My wife has a 2007 Mustang Convertible. She locked the keys in the trunk. Bad for me because I have a bad habit of losing things ....like the spare key.

I didn't want to call a lock smith, AAA, etc.

I thought perhaps I could remove the rear seats and reach in the trunk: NOT. The convertible top tray (if that's what it is called) will block access.

Basically after a few mistakes, the EASY way is to locate the trunk release relay under the hood. It is right in the fuse box, and very accessible. Pull the relay and short pins 87 and 30 with a paper clip. It is actually called the "Luggage Compartment Relay".

I took me about 1.5 hours with removing the seat, incorrectly looking up a 2010 MY wiring diagram, disassembling things that were unnecessary to figure this out.

Now that I have learned the hard way, you can do this in 5 minutes even if you have no mechanical or electrical ability. After you are done, go have a beer. Of course tell everyone you figured this out on your own.




77 comments:

  1. Does there have to be power to the car with jumper cables to the battery for this to release the trunk?

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    1. The battery must not be dead, otherwise you will have to hook up jumper cables. Basically the relay is providing power to a solenoid that unlocks the trunk. Normally this relay is controlled by the keyless remove. By shorting the two leads, you are just doing the relay's job to provide power to the solenoid in the trunk. Note that the wiring changes for different year Mustangs. There is a reasonable chance this will work on 2005-2010, but this as specifically for 2007.

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    2. This saved my life just now, I was about to try and find the trunk wire and put 12v down it from the battery using directechs info, this was soooo much easier!

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    3. Hi Tom, I have been facing same issues with my 2016 mustang convertible but the circuit diagram doesnt match as shown by you. where can i find this info, owner's manual doesnt have it. please help.
      Thanks

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  2. Omg thank you from Texas just had to use this an hour ago!

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  3. Wow wow WOW!! Thank you so much. My son thought it would be funny to throw in the keys while I was closing the trunk after shopping... This totaltaly worked!

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  4. I tried this on my 2007 Mustang, with no luck.
    Removed the gray little fuse/ relay, and nothing happened.

    Did I miss a step???

    Sandy

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  5. Did you use the paperclip To short the two leads in the fuse box?

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  6. Just to be more clear, remove the "luggage Compartment Lid Relay". Bend a paper clip into a u shape. Place one end where pin 87 from the relay is inserted into the fuse box, and the other end where pin 30 is inserted into the fuse box. The relay basically completes this circuit which energizes the solenoid that opens the trunk. The paper clip is doing the job of the relay.

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    1. Thank you so much, I just did it on my 2005 Mustang Gt, I just cut one of my old phone chargers wire and used it to short pin 87 to 30 took literally 5 mins!!!!

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    2. after i did all these steps it worked. however now my key fob trunk release button doesn't work. I even replaced the relay and when I press the trunk release on the key fob i can hear that relay clicking. help please

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    3. If you can still use the paper clip, and you are convinced that the relay is making clicking noise, it seems like the relay might be bad.

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    4. Tom I'm a single female that locked her keys in trunk 2997 Ford mustang convertable I need help

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  7. Tom I just wanted to say how extremely awesome you are :) my husband was mad at me for locking my keys in trunk so I told him to go on and I would figure it out. Boom found your post. Now I'm awesome and saved myself 75$ on a lock smith. Can us women have a beer too lol

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  8. Many thanks Tom, your suggestion for short circuiting the trunk relay worked a charm, we'd locked our keys in the trunk of our 2009 Mustang and saw your instructions, it worked a treat. Great suggestion!

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  9. Worked perfectly! My mother in law owes you a beer!

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  10. OMG!!! Thank you. This is the 2nd time I have done this. Wish I would have had the info the 1st time.

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  11. omg your are the greatest mechanic alive. sell your ideas on craiglist!!! all jokes aside it actually works and i did it with a bobby pin

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  12. This works! Amazing! My friend just locked her keys in her 2008 mustang convertible's trunk and this actually worked!

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  13. Tom, save my trip to Napa... Thanks for taking the time to post and keep this alive. I've shared your secrete with all the members of my Mustang Club DVMA here in Concord CA. Thank you!

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  14. You don't have "remote trunk release control" in this version?
    On my 2000 mustang convertible, there is a yellow bottom located in the
    glove compartment. It worked for me :)

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  15. You saved the day!!! My hero!

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  16. I just found your post and tried it....you are a life saver! Thank you so much for being kid enough to share your knowledge with those of us who know nothing about cars. It was quite intimidating for me to even lift the hood of my '06 GT, but I manned up and did it. I found the fuse box, followed your diagram and instructions and viola! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

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  17. You saved me yesterday! I was about to call AAA then tried one more search. Your post was amazing. I'm so thankful to know this tip!! Love those that take the time to help others

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  18. Tom,

    Worked an absolute treat for me also, a 07 mustang owner in the UK...

    Lifesaver!

    (Still can not believe Ford did not include in the interior of the car though)

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  19. This worked for us too!! Thank you, Tom from Tammy and Amy out in Nashville. Sistas doing it for themselves!

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  20. I just did it like 5 mins ago. If you are ever in cali, Ill buy u a beer.

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  21. Anyone know how to do this on a 2013 mustang? There is only one trunk release fuse listed in my manual

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  22. Please help, I don't know what to do, my keys are locked in my 2005 mustang convertible and I have my friends car seat and her and her child are stranded waiting for me!!!! I've tried the fuse box to get into the trunk but there is no way into the car from my trunk. Please PLEASE HELP

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  23. worked like a charm and I looked like a bad ass chick in front of the guys. thank you!

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  24. You can also try checking the glove box for a trunk release in there. I have a 2002 Mustang and the fuse box is different. Lo and behold, it turns out there is a yellow trunk release button in the glove box.

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    1. No the 2007 does not have any other methods to open besides the key and the fob. I think it was for security so no one could cut the top, open the door, then unlock the trunk.

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  25. OMG!!! You saved my butt!!!! My wife was about to kill me stranded four ours from on a Sunday when nothing is open. Worked on our 2005 Ford Mustang convertible. Thank you!!!

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  26. This just happened to me and found your post. Worked in less than a minute. Thx.

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  27. Keys are in the trunk. Car is also locked. 2009 Mustang. How do I get the hood popped open to try this?

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    1. Make a hook out of a coat hanger.
      Lie on your back under the car and look in between the radiator and front grill. You will see the locking mechanism of the hood. There is a cable that is connected to it. Follow the cable to a part that you can secure the coat hanger hook to. Pull towards the cable. It should unlock the mechanism. Also look at my post dated: August 5, 2016 at 1:25 PM

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  28. OMG THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!! I can't begin to express my gratitude for this post! I locked my only set of keys in the trunk of my 05 GT this afternoon. I waited outside in blazing heat for 3 hours for AAA and when the guy got there he had no idea how to get that trunk open. Thank god I used some of that time to find your post. Once he got the door open and popped the hood, I showed him how to do your trick and it took under a minute. Bless you.

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  29. Worked perfectly well on my friends 2007 Mustang convertible. In her case the keys were locked in the trunk and the car was locked too. Called the locksmith, who worked for an hour and couldn't get it opened. Being an engineer myself like you, I figured that if the hood can be popped from the inside by pulling a cable, there has to be a way to pull the locking mechanism from the outside too. So I made a hook out of coat hanger and pulled the spring assembly by reaching it from under the car. The hood popped and than it was simply following your directions to get the trunk to open.
    Thanks a lot for sharing.

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  30. So if you don't pull it with a paper clip does it not work? I'm still having trouble smh

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  31. I'm having a similar but different problem.
    My car alarm key fob won't open the trunk & the key won't turn in the lock.
    Will this work for this situation do you think?

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  32. nope....i disconnect mechanical and electrical to figure out why it was not working. started to rain, closed everything up. next day went to work on it realized nothing is connected. removed rear seat and theres a board blocking access into trunk :(

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  33. Thank you so much!!!! This worked perfectly within 2 min. You saved me so much money, time and a ton of stress

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  34. Thank you, thank you, thank you! This was a lifesaver in Minnesota!!!

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  35. Okay probably a weird question but does using the paper clip have any chance of shocking you??

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    1. I think it would be difficult given that it's 12VDC, and the ground path through the paper clip and the downstream solenoid coil is way better than you.

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  36. This blog is very helpful.all information about auto keys i found here.

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  37. Any chance this would work for a 2018 Toyota Camry

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    1. No, but if you can get your hands on a wiring digram for a 2018 Camry you might be able to do something similar.

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  38. This blog is best for this service.I think this is one of good blog.
    To see this video click auto lockout.

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  39. For locksmith this site very helpful.I think this is one of good blog because all service found here.
    To see this video click auto locksmith.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Worked like a charm.
    Had it open before my got off her phone for a tow truck!
    Thanks man.

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  41. Thank you! Worked on our Mustang tonight...I didn't want to call our AAA and my husband was sleeping (why does stuff seem to happen when everyone is asleep) I found this blog, and was hesitate at first, but after pondering thirty minutes, tried it and worked like a charm! I am a 55 years old and managed to do this all by myself. The hardest part was getting the nerve to pull out the fuse cover. I also watched another you tube video. Thanks again!

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  42. That worked! It was really funny one of these comments was my mom from years ago when my brother threw the keys into the trunk. It’s funny I came across it after all that time but it was helpful!

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    1. I wanted to add I felt a very tiny shock, but I just barely barely felt it and wasn’t wearing gloves or shoes. Maybe not the smartest but I thought people would like to know there is no risk in trying this as long as you do it correctly. Really tiny shock that didn’t cause any pain whatsoever.

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  43. i locked my keys in my trunk and im not sure where the spare set is and i was wondering if my friends mustang keys with the same year and model mustang would fit in the key whole to unlock the trunk???

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    1. EXTREMELY doubtful. Is this not a 2005-2009?

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  44. Ok. Have a dead battery in 2015 Mustang convertible. Need trunk access for jumper cables. Owner manual instructed putting key in spot by left hand rear seat. The key fell. Where does it fall to so it can be recovered?

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  45. Worked like a charm! Thanks from Liz and Ray in Manitoba Canada. Especially Liz!

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  46. Huge Day Saver here. Thanks Tom. 2005 Convertible GT. Took me a bit as I tried to match to manual which did not list luggage compartment. When I focused on the diagram you provided it was any easy. For those that may be challenged like me, looking from in front of the car - remove the larger grey fuse by the first bolt revels 4 small plug holes. place one end of paper clip in hole to near left (of view) and the other to the far right.

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  47. Thank you SO much for this. I was able to do this by myself within 5-10 min AND I saved $200! (That's what the locksmith wanted to charge me). You are a life saver!

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  48. What do I do after the trunk is open

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  49. Good morning Tom,
    I have a 2010 mustang convertible. It won't latch close. Replaced latch mechanism. The new (used) mechanism won't latch either. I am thinking it's the trunk relay. Any suggestions? Thanks for your time. Paul

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  50. Another success! Guest at home locked in trunk. Pop hood, remove relay, short pins named. Done!

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  51. You can actually access the trunk by removing the rear seat. First release the tabs on the lower seat cushion. Second, remove the two 13mm head bolts from the upper seat cushion and remove. If you look closely, you can see past the trunk cardboard interior trim liner. (using a flashlight). With a long reach tool with a hooked end, you can pull the emergency trunk release handle on the trunk lid.

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  52. I just did this today in 2021 Tom what’s your cash app 😂

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  53. Thank you very much for the detailed information!!
    Based on you diagram and description, I popped the trunk open in 10 seconds.

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