What happens when you lock your key in your car...

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pauly_gxp

New member
So Memorial Day has come and gone, but I have still been battling one "little" issue.  I locked my key in my car while washing it by running water over the keypad while at my parents house.  No big deal right... wrong.  I could not get my code to work, and I did not have the factory keypad number with me.  Instead of driving the couple hours home to get the extra fob, I thought I would take advantage of the roadside assistance program I pay for every month with my insurance.  My wife and I had to run a few errands so we borrowed Dad's truck and left.  Came back to a nightmare.  The insurance company used one of their so called, "Trusted services" in this case Marks Towing and Repair from Worthington, MN to help us out.  The damage he left me with is stated below, as shown by my estimate.

  Line Entry Labor Line Item Part Type/ Dollar Labor
Item Number Type Operation Description Part Number Amount Units
1 100561 REF REFINISH R Door Opening Frame Complete
2 100239 BDY REPAIR R Door Opening Frame
3 100742 BDY REMOVE/REPLACE R Frt Door Opening Weatherstrip AG1Z 5420708 AA
4 100985 BDY REMOVE/REPLACE R Frt Upr Door Moulding AG1Z 5420550 B
5 100989 BDY REPAIR R Frt Door Sash Moulding BUFF RT DOOR SASH
6 101848 BDY REMOVE/REPLACE L Frt Door Sash Moulding CG1Z 5420555
7 100436 BDY REMOVE/REPLACE R Frt Door Weatherstrip AG1Z 5420530
8 101863 BDY REPAIR R Rear Door Sash Moulding BUFF RT REAR SASH
9 101550 BDY PAINTLESS REPAIR R Roof Rail
10 101551 BDY PAINTLESS REPAIR L Roof Rail
11 101591 BDY REMOVE/INSTALL Roof Headliner
12 AUTO REF ADD'L OPR Three Stage
13 AUTO ADD'L COST Paint/Materials
14 AUTO ADD'L COST Shop Materials
15 AUTO ADD'L COST Hazardous Waste Disposal
ESTIMATE RECALL NUMBER: 06/06/2014 11:44:10
* - Judgment Item
C - Included in Clear Coat / Three Stage Calc

Estimate Totals
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Add'l
Labor Sublet
I.                              Labor    Subtotals    Units      Rate      Amount        Amount        Totals
Body                          6.9                                  55.00      0.00            250.00          629.50 T
Refinish                      2.7                                  55.00      0.00              0.00          148.50 T
Taxable Labor                                                                                                          778.00
Labor Tax @ 6.000 %                                                                                              46.68
Labor Summary          9.6                                                                                        824.68
[/b][/size]II. Part Replacement Summary Amount
Taxable Parts                                                                                                          539.92
Sales Tax @ 6.000%                                                                                                32.40
Total Replacement Parts Amount                                                                                572.32
III. Additional Costs Amount
Taxable Costs                                                                                                          112.65
Sales Tax @ 6.000%                                                                                                  6.76
Total Additional Costs                                                                                                119.41
Paint Material Method: Rates
Init Rate = 38.00 , Init Max Hours = 99.9, Addl Rate = 0.00
IV. Adjustments Amount
Customer Responsibility 0.00
I. Total Labor:                                                                                                          824.68
II. Total Replacement Parts:                                                                                      572.32
III. Total Additional Costs:                                                                                        119.41
Gross Total:                                                                                                              1,516.41
IV. Total Adjustments: 0.00
Net Total: 1,516.41

I'm sorry its difficult to read.  Just see the parts list and the total.  The guy who did the services was Mark himself, some business he has.  He damaged both sides of the car trying to get in, in almost every way imaginable.  Doors bent, chrome broke, pillars scratched, pillar clips broke, dented roof, ripped weatherstripping, etc, etc, etc, on and on.  I had a few choice words for him to say the least.  So far though, my insurance has been very good taking care of me and going after his a$$ for the damages, which has eased the pain a bit.  So other than the initial anger from the damages, the blood pressure has stayed relatively low haha.  Moral of the story: Have the factory code memorized or written down, or go get the spare key, or if you do lock the key in the car, last resort just break the windshield it is much cheaper and faster to take care of (if you have glass coverage).  Just my rant for the day, as it finally is getting repaired!   
 
Yikes!  You'd think the service guys would call for help if they came across something unfamiliar, rather than risk damaging the customer's vehicle.  Sad.
 
I have my code card with my credit cards in my wallet. I have not needed it yet, but one read of your story and I will have nightmares. Good luck with the repairs. That guy should not be working on cars. He has no sensitivity. Ham handed and clueless
 
Program the code into your phone under some name like Randy Ford. If it is an android your contacts are stored in your google docs (if you set that up) and if its an iPhone they can be stored in the iCloud thing. That way even if you lock your keys in the car with your phone any one with internet access can help you find the code. :)

Even if unfamiliar with the car I would think that due care and attention would be used by the towing company. I would write a letter of complaint to your insurance company's roadside division recommending that he not be used by them in the future.
 
I read in manual somewhere, the electronic chip prevents key fob from being locked inside car, unless you lock door from inside?

key_zpsef000574.jpg
 
Dxlnt1 said:
I read in manual somewhere, the electronic chip prevents key fob from being locked inside car, unless you lock door from inside?

key_zpsef000574.jpg
Click to expand...

The only way you can lock the door with a key inside, is with the other FOB, or with the number pad on the outside.  The OP triggered the locking from the numberpad by running water over it which locked the key in the car.

I have a custom keyless entry code programmed, but on my wife's car the car once 'lost it' so I'm going to take the good advice here and put the factory codes on my google drive in case this ever happens.
 
It should be noted, that if any of you choose to wash your car at one of those automatic washes, and the business requires you to exit the vehicle while it's rolling down / through the wash itself, they will likely keep it in 'Neutral' so it can obviously roll down the line.

The key pad is rendered inoperable when the car is in gear. Yes even when in Neutral.

Therefore, if they leave the Key Fob Remote in the car, and lock it by accident, you will NOT be able to utilize the key pad in order to gain entry.

You will either have to use the Secondary Key Fob, or resort to what the OP has posted here (and likely incur damage as a result).

Just a friendly tip. :ok:
 
The keypads are supposed to be waterproof. Cars sit outside in the elements. If the locking was indeed triggered by "water" over the keypad, then there lies another issue. Take car in for service. There MAY also be an separate electrical short from water damage as well as the keypad
 
That's the difference I think. If you keep the fob in your pocket, the car can be running..in neutral through the wash. If it locks by accident, no problem cause you have the fob. Leave the key fob in the car and things can go south quickly.
 
Program your own code into it, one that is easy for you to remember like you birth year and one more number. that way you know the code and do not have to store the factory cade anywhere. What happens if you lock you phone in the car along with the key? You still have no code.
 
I agree that the vehicle should not have locked itself. What year is it ?


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Wow unbelievable that some who is suppose to be a pro could be so reckless! Hammer would have been more effective and cause less damage.
 
Did you know if the key fob is near the car you can just swipe down from top to bottom on the number pad on the door and it will unlock?  You don't need the code if the key is within range.
 
When needing to break into your own car, make sure they use a blood pressure sleeve to enter...easiest and gaurantees no damage...
 
Interesting, mine won't lock unless I specifically press 8/9 at the same time.

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Dxlnt1 said:
The keypads are supposed to be waterproof. Cars sit outside in the elements. If the locking was indeed triggered by "water" over the keypad, then there lies another issue. Take car in for service. There MAY also be an separate electrical short from water damage as well as the keypad
Click to expand...
It has been reported by many forum members that the keypad is very sensitive, even to water.  Usually it would unlock repeatedly, but this time it locked.  I rarely use my keypad and somehow MY password did not work, which I know by heart.  I just didn't know the factory code for backup.

kinder said:
Just a thought.... with the key inside and car locked.... would it still allow for trunk to open?
Click to expand...
Good thought, but I tried this and failed.  I thought the same thing though!

jmr061 said:
I agree that the vehicle should not have locked itself. What year is it ?


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Click to expand...
2011

12sho said:
Did you know if the key fob is near the car you can just swipe down from top to bottom on the number pad on the door and it will unlock?  You don't need the code if the key is within range.
Click to expand...
False, I tried it several times.  I thought I had read this somewhere here too so I tried it.  The key was in the tray in the center console.  It would not allow me to swipe to unlock.  I tried several times throughout that morning.

SHOnUup said:
When needing to break into your own car, make sure they use a blood pressure sleeve to enter...easiest and gaurantees no damage...
Click to expand...
I was not there to see the doors get unlocked.  My Dad was, but he wasn't paying attention to him the whole time. Apparently he used a prying device to get an airbag in to pop out the top edge of the door.  He used the roof rail as his prying surface and left 2 dents on the driver side.  Once he got the airbag in he inflated but the door didn't have enough give to get inside.  Instead he broke the keypad clips, and whatever he used to get between the door with to unlock the car with he scratched the pillar and inside of the door jam with.  Then he went to the passenger side door, did the same thing and he was rougher with that side and got the door open.  So the air bag technique does not guarantee no damage.  You still have to get the bag between the door and the jam.  At the very least it will take the door out of wack, which would have been no big deal.  The rest of the damage... Unacceptable.

crash712us said:
Wow unbelievable that some who is suppose to be a pro could be so reckless! Hammer would have been more effective and cause less damage.
Click to expand...
Like I said, and I told the owner of the company this too, it would have been cheaper to break the windshield and pay the glass deductible. 

Just so everyone knows, this is being paid for by Mark at Mark's Towing and Repair.  My insurance has footed the bill so far, and they are pursuing him for damages.
   


 
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