Norcal Safe and Vault | Service
Locked out, or is the lock failing? Our technicians open, repair and re-lock safes in the shop or at your home, for the brands we sell and most others. Call the shop nearest you.
Keypad won't open? Try a fresh 9-volt battery first.
The Short Answer
Norcal Safe and Vault opens locked safes, repairs and replaces locks, changes combinations, swaps dials for keypads and rebolts safes after a move, in our West Sacramento and Campbell shops or on site. We service Liberty, Fort Knox, AMSEC, Browning, Rhino, Champion and most other brands. Proof of ownership is required. Call (916) 372-7677 or (408) 559-7233.
Locked Out
Most electronic lockouts are a dead battery. Before you call, open the keypad cover, pull the 9-volt battery, put in a fresh one from a sealed pack, and try the code again. The lock runs on that battery inside the keypad, not on a wall plug and not on anything inside the safe.
Swap in a fresh 9-volt from a sealed pack and try the code again. If that fails, or you have a dial, call the shop.
Don't force the handle, and don't let a general locksmith drill before you talk to us.
Service Menu
| Service | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Lockout opening | Safes that won't open: dead lock, lost combination, bolt jammed, handle spinning free |
| Combination change | Resetting a dial or electronic combination after a purchase, a move, a divorce or an employee leaving |
| Combination recovery | Recovering a lost combination on a dial lock, with proof of ownership |
| Electronic lock replacement | Swapping a failed keypad lock for a new UL-listed lock |
| Dial to keypad, or keypad to dial | Converting the lock type on a safe you already own |
| Bolt and handle repair | Jammed boltwork, a broken handle, a tripped relocker |
| Rebolting after a move | Unanchoring from concrete or subfloor, moving, and re-anchoring at the new location |
| Routine service | Lock inspection and cleaning, combination verification, bolt lubrication, door seal check, dehumidifier check |
| Warranty repair | Filed through our dealer channel for Liberty, Fort Knox and AMSEC. Covered repairs may cost you little or nothing. |
Moving a safe?
Unbolt, move and re-anchor, with a quote back within 24 hours.
Before You Call
The faster you can describe the problem, the faster we can fix it, and often the fix happens over the phone. When you call, have these ready.
01
Inside the door, or on the receipt. “A big black Liberty” is fine if that's all you know.
02
Dial, keypad, or both.
03
Beeps and nothing happens, beeps twice, no beep, dial spins freely, handle won't turn, handle turns but the door won't open, key won't turn.
04
A new battery, a move, a power outage, a dropped safe, a child entering codes.
05
Ground floor, upstairs or garage, and whether it's bolted down.
What It Usually Means
Keypad beeps but won't open after a fresh battery
Usually a failed lock that needs replacing
Dial spins without catching
Usually a dropped combination wheel
Handle turns while the door stays shut
Usually a tripped relocker
We've seen every one of these thousands of times. After more than 100,000 safes sold and installed, there isn't much that surprises us.
How We Open Safes
Our first approach is always non-destructive: manipulation, a replacement keypad on a failed electronic lock, or a factory-authorized procedure. Drilling is the last resort. When it's necessary, we drill one small hole in a spot that lets us repair the safe afterward, replace the lock, and plug and refinish the hole.
First
Working the lock open without damage.
Or
On a failed electronic lock, or a factory-authorized procedure.
Last resort
Placed so we can replace the lock, then plug and refinish it.
The safe comes back as a safe, not as a project. A general locksmith who drills a gun safe in the wrong spot can hit the hardplate, trip the relocker, and turn a routine opening into a safe that has to be cut open. That's why we ask you to call us before anyone drills.
Norcal Safe & Vault
Fees and Ownership
How fees work
Every job gets a quote before we start, so there are no surprises. The price depends on the lock, the problem and whether we do the work in our shop or at your home. If a part needs replacing, the quote shows parts and labor separately.
If your safe is still under the manufacturer's warranty, the repair may be covered. Ask us when you call and we'll check.
Proof of ownership
Before we open a safe or recover a combination, we need to know it's yours, so bring or send proof of ownership. Call the shop and we'll tell you what works for your situation.
We don't make exceptions, and you wouldn't want us to. That policy is what protects your safe from someone else calling us.
Our technicians are Norcal employees, trained on the locks we sell. We've serviced safes sold 10, 15 and 20 years ago, and we'll service yours. We don't disappear after the sale.
Norcal Safe & Vault
Frequently Asked Questions
Norcal Safe and Vault opens locked safes in the Sacramento and San Jose areas, in our shops or at your home, with proof of ownership. We start with non-destructive methods and drill only as a last resort, then repair the safe. Call (916) 372-7677 or (408) 559-7233.
Replace the 9-volt battery in the keypad first, which fixes most electronic lockouts. If the keypad still won't open the safe, or the dial won't catch, stop and call us. Forcing the handle or prying the door can trip the relocker and make the opening harder.
Yes, on dial and electronic locks, for most brands, in the shop or on site. Electronic combinations change in minutes with the door open. Dial combinations need the lock reset with a change key. Bring proof of ownership.
Yes. Most safes we service were sold elsewhere. We carry locks and parts for the common brands and can source the rest.
It depends on the lock, the problem and whether we come to you, so we quote before we start. If your safe is still under the manufacturer's warranty, the repair may be covered, and we'll check when you call.
For a safe we sell, call us first. We have the manufacturer's procedures, the right replacement locks and the warranty channel, and a general locksmith doesn't. For a brand we don't carry, we'll still take the job or tell you who should.
Yes. Rebolting, bent bolts, pried doors and tripped relockers are routine. If the door was attacked, send photos first. Sometimes the right answer is a replacement, and we'll tell you which.
Service Shop
Shop service at either showroom, Monday through Saturday 9am to 5pm. No appointment needed for a drop-off.
817 Jefferson Blvd, West Sacramento
Showroom (916) 373-1900. Service (916) 372-7677.
Sacramento Showroom2897 S Bascom Ave, Campbell
Showroom (408) 559-5004. Service (408) 559-7233.
San Jose Showroom
