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‘83 242: Trunk/glovebox key locked in trunk.

S

Superloop

Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2023
Not a catastrophe here, I closed the trunk lid with the keys in there while my ignition was running so I still have door/ignition keys.

No access through ski hole, my subwoofer box blocks it entirely.

I’ve called three dealerships to see if I can get key codes by vin but it looks like that’s no longer an option.

I’m reaching out to locksmiths to see if they can decode through the cylinder and cut me a new key.

Question: My glovebox is unlocked, is the key code stamped on these cylinders? Might pull it to take it into a locksmith to make decoding easier if not.

open to any other advice/strategies. Thanks all.
 
Drive the car to a locksmith and have them cut a key using the trunk lock. You are probably looking at $35-$75, depending on rates in your area and how long it takes the person making the key. It usually takes 1/2-1 hour to make a key from the lock. There is no number on the locks. Here is a video of how it is done. You can do this yourself if you have the patience.

<iframe width="593" height="334" src="
" title="How Do Locksmiths Make Keys Without an Original Key - How to Impression a Key" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
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If you remove your rear seat back can you maybe fish something through to get the keys? On my 242 theres a peice of fiberboard material that could definitely be cut through or even just pushed through if I wanted to... without the board theres just open holes
 
I'm really surprised that you couldn't get a key made at a Volvo dealership using the VIN. I had one done for an 88 recently. Was it a matter of not being available after a particular year?
 
nickyy said:
I'm really surprised that you couldn't get a key made at a Volvo dealership using the VIN. I had one done for an 88 recently. Was it a matter of not being available after a particular year?
Click to expand...
It was age related, one dealership stated that recently the raised the cut-off year for ordering keys and that they no longer had the software for looking up codes by vin.
 
A straightened coat hanger would work as well. Once you do have it, get someone to make a copy of it, and maybe of the ignition key (an all-metal version). Then, you can keep those in your wallet, just in case you wind up accidentally locking your keys in the car, and don't have access to a phillips #3 screwdriver to pop the quarter glass open.

A nice upgrade to a 1979-85 240 sedan is the power trunk release. Since you had your key in the ignition lock, if your car had the power trunk release added, all you'd need to do is open the glovebox, hit the button, and grab your key.
 
I've been told that most any 242 trunk key will work on most any 242 trunk with a little jiggle juice.

Know anybody local with a coupe?
 
John242Ti said:
A straightened coat hanger would work as well. Once you do have it, get someone to make a copy of it, and maybe of the ignition key (an all-metal version). Then, you can keep those in your wallet, just in case you wind up accidentally locking your keys in the car, and don't have access to a phillips #3 screwdriver to pop the quarter glass open.

A nice upgrade to a 1979-85 240 sedan is the power trunk release. Since you had your key in the ignition lock, if your car had the power trunk release added, all you'd need to do is open the glovebox, hit the button, and grab your key.
Click to expand...
aka pop the trunk!
 
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