You might remember when cars had proper metal keys and you had to unlock each door manually, including the boot and fuel tank. Nowadays, more manufacturers are producing auto-lock cars. Then came power locks and you only had to unlock one door and the rest opened automatically.
For years now, keyless entry is standard across the model range and the autolocking feature is quite common even in some modest models. Today most of the premium models have a keyless entry and start option in which you only need to have the key in your pocket and the car automatically opens all the doors and lets you start the engine by pushing the button, not physically pushing the key into the console.
These are all very convenient and advanced but also can be very problematic. Here are some problems that may arise from driving an auto-lock car!
Forgetting a key inside the car
One of the most common mistakes is when you forget your key inside the car and exit the vehicle. It will automatically lock itself in a matter of seconds and there is no way you can enter it.
The most elegant solution is to find the second key you got when you bought the car, but what to do if the second key is in your house and you are hundreds of kilometers away? Basically, nothing, you could either call somebody to bring you the second key, or call locksmith with their knowledge and tools.
We do not recommend you trying to open the doors using force or breaking the windows because it will trigger the alarm and you will look like you’re trying to steal the car.
Not properly closing the doors or the boot
Some new premium and expensive models have an auto-closing feature that automatically closes the doors.
However, most common models do not have that installed. The problem occurs when you don’t properly close the door or the boot and you left your car parked. The auto-lock feature will engage but will fail to lock the said door.
This will not only leave your car open but it will leave the interior light on. You could experience a dead battery or someone could enter your car. So before you let auto-lock do its thing, check all the doors and the boot before walking away.
Leaving pets or children inside the car
If you need to step out of the vehicle and you have passengers inside, always leave the key in the car. This way you will not lock your passengers or small children inside and leave them trapped.
This could be very dangerous if you are in a hurry and your car key is in your pocket and you have children in the back seat. You have to remember that once you are a couple of meters away from the vehicle it will automatically lock all the doors and anybody who is in the vehicle will have to stay inside until you come back.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need to gain access to your car, need a spare or duplicate key, then look no further! Give Jay a call on 082 651 6416 and he’ll be able to assist you at affordable prices.