Opening Door W/Mechanical Key

[kn5owa]

What is the trick to using the mechanical key to open the driver's side door?

The manual says at p. 3-11 to "remove the cover" but conveniently fails to mention how. It looks like you push the little tab in with the key and then swivel the cover up and off, exposing a key hole. But no luck so far, and I don't want to break anything by forcing it.

The key works just fine on the trunk.

 

[GeorgiaGuy]

Finding the keyhole is similar to those of other makers. Place the mechanical key in the slot found under the cover at the back of the driver’s door handle (1) and pry or pull forward and up (2). Yes, you must pry a piece of your car off, but its ok! The cover will come off exposing the keyhole.
Afterwards, the cover can be pressed back on, but your immediate concern is getting into your car.

 

[MagicRobert]

The solution is in the manual on page 3-11. With pictures. The pry-off cover is made to be pried off; this is not going to damage your car.

 

[kn5owa]

Finding the keyhole is similar to those of other makers. Place the mechanical key in the slot found under the cover at the back of the driver’s door handle (1) and pry or pull forward and up (2). Yes, you must pry a piece of your car off, but its ok! The cover will come off exposing the keyhole.
Afterwards, the cover can be pressed back on, but your immediate concern is getting into your car.

This is a truly wacky procedure - at least the trunk is easy to get into. - I'm gonna keep a spare fob in the trunk then. Works fine as long as you shield the fob.

Thanks!

 

[MagicRobert]

OTOH, the design is consistent.

You have a problem with the key fob battery? You use the key to remove the door handle lock cover and then open the door with the key.

When you replace the dead battery in the fob, you remove the key from the fob and use the key to open the fob by twisting the key in the opening where the key was held in the fob.

I like not having an exposed emergency key lock on the door that anyone can see. I also like that the lock on the trunk and achieves the same thing by being normally out of sight.

Each to his own.