Mind Of Its Own

[Ian in Northampton]

For some reason, my Galaxy has decided that it wants to lock itself. Like this morning, I stuck my briefcase in the car, closed the door, then went to put the bins out - came back, and it's locked itself. Not the first time that's happened in recent days. The worrying thing is, if I open the car and leave the keys in it and then it does it - well, I'm screwed. Has it developed a fault, or is this a feature I've inadvertently turned on? And if the latter - how do I turn it off again?

[johnb80]

If you have a faulty door light switch it can do this. If you unlock your car but don't open a door it will lock itself within 30 seconds or so. If you have a duff door light switch it won't know you've opened the door!

 

Regards - John

[Ian in Northampton]

Thanks John. Yes, I think I knew about it locking itself again if you don't open a door - but now, it locks itself after I've opened a door (and then closed it again). So far as I can make out, there are no problems with the door switches - interior lights seem to work as they should... I'll double check, though.

[suzuki91]

definately have a spare key on yourself or hiden on the outside of the car,

could save a lot of swearing later? untill its sorted...

[Ian in Northampton]

Too right. Easier said than done, though...

[Masked Marauder]

http://www.speeding.co.uk/acatalog/Car_Acc..._Rings_159.html

 

Scroll down to the bottom of the page, I think it is third item up.

[Ian in Northampton]

Thanks MM. That's a good thought. Right now, though, I have one remote key and one regular key - the remote lives on my keyring, the regular lives on my wife's. To do as you suggest would really need me to get another key cut - which, IIRC from various other posts, is a non-cheap undertaking. Do you know offhand roughly what it would cost to get a 'regular' key cut? (And am I right in thinking, a duplicate remote will cost me of the order of a hundred squids or more?)

[Masked Marauder]

Ah yes, but if the risk is locking the keys in, you would only need a key to open the door to recover the other keys.

 

So no need for a remote fob for it or a transponder chip.

 

Indeed the lack of a transponder chip on a hidden key could well be a good idea as then someone can't start the car and drive off if they find it.

 

So a key from any key cutter could do the job and would cost less than

[Ian in Northampton]

Holy good thinking, Batman! Thanks MM. Off to Rutherfords in Wellingborough on Saturday, then...