Car Locked Itself with Keys Inside

keane2097

Bit of a disaster this morning when leaving for work. One of the housemates cars was blocking me in so put my own keys into my ignition, closed the door then went to move the blocker.

When I came back to my car (Audi TT 05 Coupe) I found that the car had decided to lock itself with the key in the ignition.

I don't have a spare key.

Any idea if the central locking will allow me to open the door handle with a hanger or something? Car has an alarm and immobilizer. I have roadside assist with my insurance but not sure what I should ask them to do if I call them out? Will I need to get it taken to a garage?

tossy

keane2097 wrote: »

Bit of a disaster this morning when leaving for work. One of the housemates cars was blocking me in so put my own keys into my ignition, closed the door then went to move the blocker.

When I came back to my car (Audi TT 05 Coupe) I found that the car had decided to lock itself with the key in the ignition.

I don't have a spare key.

Any idea if the central locking will allow me to open the door handle with a hanger or something? Car has an alarm and immobilizer. I have roadside assist with my insurance but not sure what I should ask them to do if I call them out? Will I need to get it taken to a garage?

I take it you just stuck the key in the ignition without starting it or even turning it ? If so then the cars deadlocks will be activated and you won't be able to open the door by pulling on the interior handle with something.

Obviously the car shouldn't do this but you probably have a dodgy mircoswitch in the doorlock so in other words the cart never knew the door was opened,it just assumed you unlocked it and walked away so it relocked itself

keane2097

tossy wrote: »

I take it you just stuck the key in the ignition without starting it or even turning it ? If so then the cars deadlocks will be activated and you won't be able to open the door by pulling on the interior handle with something.

Obviously the car shouldn't do this but you probably have a dodgy mircoswitch in the doorlock so in other words the cart never knew the door was opened,it just assumed you unlocked it and walked away so it relocked itself

Yeah didn't turn the key or anything I don't think.

Any options bar smashing the window in? Seems unlikely the someone would be able to get the keys out of the ignition with a clothes hanger!

Kencollins

I did the same thing with my Avensis at 2am in Dublin one night.

The only option I could think of was smashing my way in.

Go for one of the back triangle windows, these are cheapest to replace.

Get duck tape and cover the entire window with it.

Use a hammer and a big nail or other pointy object and cause the window to shatter. The duck tape will prevent most of the tiny squares of glass from getting into the car itself.

I used a brush handle, the hook from a hanger, and some more duck tape to hook the keys out of the ignition.

Don't drop the keys on the way out!!

Muckie

Happened to myself a few times, coat hanger should do the job.

Would also recommend using two flat screw drivers, the door frame and glass

will allow a certain amount of movement.

Small one in between the door frame gap (use a piece behind the screwdriver, save damaging the pain), then the large one a couple of mm down from it.

You should be then able to use the full length or the straighten coat hanger wire, with a hook formed at the end.

Hope that helps.

(break window as a last resort...glass pieces will be around for ages!)

keane2097

Thanks lads, I'll try the hanger approach first!

keane2097

It just occurred to me the alarm will obviously start going off as soon as I try getting in the window - any idea how long it would keep going for if I can't get the keys?

mcko

Friend of mine locked keys on his car and went to local lock smith who cut a key that opened the door

FISMA

keane2097 wrote: »

Any idea if the central locking will allow me to open the door handle with a hanger or something?

Not sure if the handles work on a locked door from the inside of an Audi. However, can you reach the power door lock button with a hanger?

If the locks can be activated with the push off a finger, perhaps, a hanger will work.

keane2097

FISMA wrote: »

Not sure if the handles work on a locked door from the inside of an Audi. However, can you reach the power door lock button with a hanger?

If the locks can be activated with the push off a finger, perhaps, a hanger will work.

The lock button is over in the middle behind the handbrake - should be able to get at it alright.

Rather than fumble at it in the dark I'm going to try getting the insurance to send someone over to me in the morning I think.

Moanin

keane2097 wrote: »

The lock button is over in the middle behind the handbrake - should be able to get at it alright.

Rather than fumble at it in the dark I'm going to try getting the insurance to send someone over to me in the morning I think.

I had a similar problem with a 2006 Passat which deadlocked. You will not be able to open the door with a coat hanger or the likes. I got a locksmith to come out. He stuck some kind of mechanism into the drivers door and was in the car in a few seconds. PM me if you want the name and number of company. They are in the Dublin area...

keane2097

Thanks all, I had a guy come out this morning with who was able to use a soft wedge thing to pry open the window frame a little bit, then he was able to feed in a metal rod which he used to press the door unlock button on the keys as they were sitting in the ignition.

Extremely satisfying clicking noise as the car doors opened, so all sorted - thanks for all the help and suggestions!

kerry4sam

keane2097 wrote: »

Bit of a disaster this morning when leaving for work. One of the housemates cars was blocking me in so put my own keys into my ignition, closed the door then went to move the blocker.

When I came back to my car (Audi TT 05 Coupe) I found that the car had decided to lock itself with the key in the ignition.

I don't have a spare key.

Any idea if the central locking will allow me to open the door handle with a hanger or something? Car has an alarm and immobilizer. I have roadside assist with my insurance but not sure what I should ask them to do if I call them out? Will I need to get it taken to a garage?

^^^ Glad you got sorted okay

I actually have to post to say Thank You.

Quite some months back I opened my door and sat into car but done nothing else and my car locked itself not knowing I was inside. When I opened my door I ended up setting off my own alarm <- That was the first time I realised it self-locked.
Today I had the balancing and tracking checked on my car & when done the mechanic left the keys in ignition, but engine off. Only for me reading your thread here reminding me yesterday of this feature in my own car & being seconds from door I was able to retrieve my keys back out before it self-locked with keys inside.

So just saying Thanks,
kerry4sam

Special Circumstances

kerry4sam wrote: »

^^^ Glad you got sorted okay

I actually have to post to say Thank You.

Quite some months back I opened my door and sat into car but done nothing else and my car locked itself not knowing I was inside. When I opened my door I ended up setting off my own alarm <- That was the first time I realised it self-locked.
Today I had the balancing and tracking checked on my car & when done the mechanic left the keys in ignition, but engine off. Only for me reading your thread here reminding me yesterday of this feature in my own car & being seconds from door I was able to retrieve my keys back out before it self-locked with keys inside.

So just saying Thanks,
kerry4sam

People up and down the country are putting up with this.

Check one thing before you accept it as a feature. Turn the interior lighting to whatever setting lights up if a door is opened. Close all doors. Open doors one by one.

One door didn't turn on the light did it?

Fix door. Breathe sigh of relief that you will not be caught out at the most inconvenient time. Curse "insert german owned car brand here" for the price of the part. Get a spare key anyway just in case of various mishaps.