How do I open the engine lid?

[brianhiggi]

I'm interested in buying a '90 964 locally. However the owner who inherited the car doesn't have the keys to the car. I'd like to be able to check out the engine but can't open the engine lid because the car doors are locked too.
Does anybody know of a way that I can open the engine lid without a key? Or is there a good way to get into the cabin so I can pull the engine lid lever?

[cdrik915]

Hi ,


First , try to move right & left your engine lid.

Sometimes that works.

Or sacrify your blower tube (that comes from the fan) that downs to the heat exchangers.

If there is no other way...............

[ivangene]

not that I am paranoid - OK I am....

this info should be PM'd and not just openly displayed IMO

AND

before PM'ing anything like this look at the user profile and make sure the join date wasnt 10 minutes ago

just sayin'

[attamz]

2 wedges and a coat hanger should do the trick

[Porchcar guy]

Why doesn't the owner step up and pay a locksmith to do the job ?

[Kidasters]

If you buy it, how do you drive it away with no keys?

This makes no sense.

[Dave Colangelo]

The lack of keys is suspicious here. These cars came with 2 keys, granted over 30 years things get lost and misplaced these keys are some what of a key ingredient to using your car. Also I would be very hesitant to buy a car that some one says is "working" with out seeing it run. I agree if he wanted to sell the car, he should have a lock smith open it up or he should find the key.

Regards
Dave

[brianhiggi]

I thought my question might raise a few questions of concern. Here's the deal. The car was abandoned at a local car dealership after the car was diagnosed with a $3500 engine problem. The car has sat for at least a year at the dealership. That is where the new "owner" at the impound yard got the car from. A new title is in the process of being acquired and they're going to sell the car once they get it. The "owner" doesn't want to get a key made and I don't want him to damage the car trying to break into it to check the engine condition. He says he "hates these foreign cars" and I don't think he'll be as careful as I'd like him to be. He already damaged the door trying to pull it open from the top to get a clothes hanger into it.
Thanks for the tips thus far.

[ivangene]

sounds like the "owner" needs to have his ass kicked

[Kidasters]

So this car had a mechanics lein put on it and now a new title.

OK.

I still say, you need a key.

[brianhiggi]

I purchased another car ('78 SC) from this guy a year ago with the exact same circumstances, no keys, unknown amount of work needed on the car, abandoned at the same dealership, and the "owner" had to wait almost a year for the title to go through. I don't know the legality of it all. Why does it take so long for a title to come? I don't want to pay for a key to be made if he might be asking too much when the title comes.

[Kidasters]

It probably takes a while, because they might be trying to ensure that the car wasn't stolen and then "made" legit by just getting a new title.

Or - the people at your DMV are just really really lazy.

Hard to say.....

[ivangene]

think of the money spent making a key like spending money on a PPI...the whole idea is to spend a little money to protect yourself from being burned by unknowns of a car you wish to purchase....not just tire kick

quit being so cheap and buy a key for the thing if you want the car..the owner obviously is of poor character or he would have already spend the money....so letting the owner damage the car is your other option....

sorry....this isnt that hard, you just have to man up to the car or walk away....if you spend the money on a key and the car turns out to be a lemon, walk with your key to the edge of the ocean and throw it in....take the owner if he insists you cannot have your key, let him watch you throw the key into the ocean

I have more, but dont feel like typing it all, not being mean, but this is sort of silly on multiple levels anyhow

BTW I know the ocean is a little far for you being in UT and all..but......

[RWebb]

you need to get the car to a mechanic who is experienced with the 911 (of that vintage, called a 964) and have the car carefully checked over BEFORE you buy it

maybe a tow is in order

local PCA chapter could help

[Dave Colangelo]

+1 for having it checked out by some one who knows whats up. The only way I would buy the car as is, is if he has the title in hand and its legit, and more importantly he is willing to take a VERY VERY low price due to the unknown condition of the car.

Regards
Dave

[hcoles]

$3,500 engine problem sounds a bit suspicious. You should be able to track down the mechanic that came up with that number, it was only a year ago. "A local car dealership" ? Was it the Porsche dealership? I don't like the sounds of all this. Remember even if you get the car for $100 it may not be a good deal other than parting it out. A suckers bet.

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by RWebb

you need to get the car to a mechanic who is experienced with the 911 (of that vintage, called a 964) and have the car carefully checked over BEFORE you buy it

maybe a tow is in order

local PCA chapter could help

If this guy is not willing to spend a few $$$ to get a single key made, I don't think he'll spend that extra money on PPI. Some people are cheap and some are ridiculously cheap to the point of being labelled stupid.

Tony

[86 911 Targa]

Send this guy, (Call It Friend-O), he'll get the key.................

[Craig]

Sorry, but I think everything lies with the 'owner'.
If he isn't willing to put out the few bucks to get a key made for a car he is trying to sell, it would be so long from me...
Not to mention the title issues and unknown engine issues even if the key was there.

Craig

[Paul K]

Truth is, you won't really be able to 'check out the engine' unless it's running.