The problem with 1 key..
 

So the other day I was wiping my car down with a micro fiber cloth which I keep in the trunk and I close the trunk with the key still inside. Unfortunately, both doors and locked and I don't feel like tearing a hole in the soft top just to get to the trunk lever. I've read that you could possibly drill a hole in the rear license plate to get to a latch but am unsure if this will work 100% with my NA8 since those instructions were for an NA6.

Either way, I'm about to find out really soon or get my car towed from the local 7-11....

Find a coat hanger or something to get to the lock . Miata is literally the easiest vehicle to break into.

If you have triple a or someone around you does and is willing to waste one of their uses on you. Have them call a locksmith out for a lost key. If thats not an option and you're too cheap/thrifty you can pull the passenger side door panel and disconnect the clip from the lock. On the lock housing is a key code. Take that to a locksmith or the dealer and they'll cut you a key for like 15 or 20.

You don't have to have triple A either any kind of towing/lockout coverage should help. Comes with insurance if you aren't too cheap to decline it.

I ended up using a piece of wire to get the passenger door open only to find out that the trunk latch doesn't work... just my luck. I decided to call AAA and have the car towed home so I can figure this out later...

Locksmith here:

Your window can be pulled away from the top pretty far before it's any issue. Slip a non-marring wedge between the top of the window and the convertible top frame.you should be able to get it at least 3/8" apart. I use an air wedge.

Watch this for inspiration:

From there you can slip a rod of some sort into the gap. I use special rods made for this but you can problably be creative and figure it out.

Some police departments will do vehicle lock-outs.

LOL - you posted that while I was making my reply. You should be able to get into the trunk by taking the carpet off the package panel and removing some bolts. I forget the exact routing but I was able to get SOME access to my trunk that way.

That's kinda what I was hoping on, stuck my iPhone in there and used it as a wedge. Good to know that cops do vehicle lock-outs but I highly doubt they will both around where I live... They already have a hard time responding to a live robbery..

+1 to pulling off the rear parcel cover. You can reach in and grab stuff from the trunk.

That depends on what roll bar you have installed, and how long your arms are.

--Ian

Different cover. The small one in back. Right into the trunk.

I am also a locksmith and I gave you advice I thought would result n the least amount of possible damage. If you still need to get into your car and have manual windows you can push down on the window. If you get enough momentum it will actually keep going down and you can just reach in. AAA will actually send a locksmith out to make a key or reimburse you up to 100 if you have platinum or 50 if you don't then you pay the rest.

I could make a key in about 15-20 min and would charge about 75-85 normally. Anyway if you can get the key with just taking the panel off do it. On an Na miata I don't think it's necessarily bad but just my opinion I'd never let anyone shove an air wedge in my car. they are for lazy hacks. Sorry chi. I've never used one and never had to. I've been a locksmith for 15 years and my father and grandfather are and were as well. Bending doors definitely isn't harmless.

In fact if you aren't in a hurry and you pm me the key code I'll mail you a key for free

Fair enough. Auto's aren't my thing. I am an institutional guy and only do lockouts if the security guys can't get in. In the hundreds of lockouts they/we have done I have never seen a door bent, but then again, I'm not an expert in that.

A customer commented to me before oh you're not going to use that pump thing in the door? good. Ever since the last guy did it I hear a slight whistle when I'm going fast from the door jam. I'm going to assume that's not the first or last. I mean honestly what do you think prying a big heavy latched metal against its will is going to do? I never liked the thought of it and never adopted it for many reasons.

Obviously when you do something for a living you try and keep best practice and have pride in your work. If someone is DIY and doesn't care just wants to do t themselves that's a different mentality obviously.

Many people use pump wedges and they do their job. Just not something I'd use on my own car so wouldn't on a customers.

You also risk getting your paint chipped and scratched up because they just slide the tool against your paint. nobody notices or complains too much cause it's in a part of the door they don't see too much... anyway you get the point.

I've had a similar issue--actuator rod between lock and latch came loose.

Your NA8 should have a plug in the bottom of the trunk, a bit like a freeze plug, except bigger. You can use a jack and pop it into the trunk. If you don't have a crapton of heavy shit in your trunk, you can reach up through, and feel around for the latch mechanism. You may need to fiddle around underneath the panel covering the latch. When you're done, you just RTV the plug back into place.

This avoids drilling holes and perhaps promoting rust.

uh dude.


1. you can pop the trunk from the outside if you have drilled your hole out behind the license plate.

2. you can unzip you rear window from outside the car, then pop the trunk.

3. you can easily unlock the car with a stick through a gap in the window, then pop the trunk.


this is probably the easiest car in the world to break into.