Urgent Help needed

[Lisa]

Glad you got it sorted....

We had the same problem on our previous van, which was a Bessacarr. (Fiat base).
We put it down to the fact that we had locked ourselves in the van overnight, using key fob. Next morning, to get out, we opened the hab door without using the fob and shut the door. It then automatically locked.
Luckily for us, it was in summer and skylight was open. I had to climb in from the roof.
it’s amazing how awkward that is to do until your neighbour produces a telescopic ladder

 

[canopus]

We keep a spare door key in a magnetic box hidden on the chassis. Can get you a bit mucky if you need to retrieve it.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Our spare key is very hidden under the chassis packed in grease. Only I could ever find it ?

 

[chaser]

Just an aside to this hidden key if your van gets nicked and you havnt got both keys , insurance won't pay out. Been there , done that.

 

[gus-lopez]

but why oh why did the bloody van lock down, haven’t got a clue.

Most vehicles these days, let alone alarm systems, have an auto relock feature. Mine relocks after 30 secs if no door opened.

Just an aside to this hidden key if your van gets nicked and you havnt got both keys , insurance won't pay out. Been there , done that.

I just had 4 more keys cut as I always carry 2 complete sets + 1 hidden under the van & spares indoors.
You can't supply 2 keys to a Uk insurance scammer if the vehicle you bought only came with one ,like the last 3
I have purchased.
get spares cut any time you are in spain .Cheap as chips I find.

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[Paddywack]

find a spot under van and duct tape a spare key

Be aware that such action will invalidate your insurance.

 

[chaser]

Most vehicles these days, let alone alarm systems, have an auto relock feature. Mine relocks after 30 secs if no door opened.

I just had 4 more keys cut as I always carry 2 complete sets + 1 hidden under the van & spares indoors.
You can't supply 2 keys to a Uk insurance scammer if the vehicle you bought only came with one ,like the last 3
I have purchased.
get spares cut any time you are in spain .Cheap as chips I find.

Got to be genuine ones though for insurance, and to get any cut with a chip in costs a fortune.

 

[Just smiffy]

All these vans with keys underneath...... I know where you all live....?

?

 

[Nik]

Horse and stable door I know but I've got a small weatherproof combination key safe bolted to a secure area under my van. It is not visible if you look under the van but is easily accessible for me and the combination is additional security. I keep a spare ignition/door key and alarm fob in it.
Glad you got it sorted.
Cheers
Nik.

 

[Podney]

Glad it’s sorted.............
But why do your insurers make it so hard for you to contact them?
Maybe we should keep their contact details with us in case of similar problems. Ours,not yours!

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[Jaws]

find a spot under van and duct tape a spare key

Duck tape yes, but then cable tie OVER the duck tape to make sure it does not just fall off !

 

[WESTY66]

All these vans with keys underneath...... I know where you all live....?

?

I’m safe, I have an Elddis??

 

[Silver-Fox]

All these vans with keys underneath...... I know where you all live....?

?

Going to cost a bit for the controls to drive it though ??

 

[Gromett]

My Eura Mobil started locking itself. After being locked out once because I forgot to take my keys out with me it cost me a replacement fly screen.

Since then I am extremely sure to never leave the van without my keys on me.

 

[gus-lopez]

That's why I said get them in spain. chipped, cut, programmed ford key 60€
Any type of plain yale type key or double sided falt vehicle keys or for lockers, etc; are 1€ each locally by me & that is key + cutting.

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[Masman]

My Rapido does the same.If you forget to unlock doors with fob or accidentally press fob and not realise.you can still open habitation door but when you close it the whole of the van is locked. I did it once but luckily me other half was still in the van.

 

[Lenny HB]

I keep a spare hab key hidden since I locked myself out last year. Boss had left her keys in the van I locked the door then managed to lock my keys in the garage.
Lucky we were at BIL's so rather than risk damage I got my daughter to post the 3rd hab key to us.

 

[Just smiffy]

Going to cost a bit for the controls to drive it though ??

That’s what sawn off fork handles are for....?

 

[TheBig1]

on my previous vans I taped a spare hab door key to the inside wall of the van, accessible via a fridge vent. if you didnt know where to find it by touch, it was very hard to find. bonus is, its not under the van and inside for insurance purposes

 

[Robert Clark]

There is an insurance available against being locked out, I use it .............



I always keep my keys in my pocket , sorted.

Me too

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[WESTY66]

on my previous vans I taped a spare hab door key to the inside wall of the van, accessible via a fridge vent. if you didnt know where to find it by touch, it was very hard to find. bonus is, its not under the van and inside for insurance purposes

I would have to find a screwdriver if I did that, my fridge vents have been screwed on since @HowardH had his nicked at the services! There was a load of travellers there, I wonder if they had theirs stolen too?

 

[Snoopy]

Glad your sorted, yes quick response from the call out Service, definitely worth thinking about , I will be thinking of a contingency plan, if sadly like your situation, it happens,

 

[Snoopy]

Roger that, we do exactly the same, worth thinking about now

 

[addoaddo]

just get the key cut without the immobiliser. That way you can still get in to the van if necessary but if a thief found the key they could not steal the van.

 

[Lenny HB]

just get the key cut without the immobiliser. That way you can still get in to the van if necessary but if a thief found the key they could not steal the van.

That's why I just keep a hab key hidden it will open hab & driver's door. Only downside they could open the garage and nick the bikes etc.

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[nabsim]

My Sprinter has a switch on the dash that will auto lock doors after a certain time when ‘on’. If I am ever doing anything that means I need to leave keys in ignition I always put a cab window down.
My hab door is not linked to cab central locking though so I either need the key to lock it from outside or someone inside.
No use to you I know but check if you have a similar dash switch.

 

[Yorick]

We keep a spare door key in a magnetic box hidden on the chassis. Can get you a bit mucky if you need to retrieve it.

I kept a spare key above the toilet cassette.

 

[TinaLes]

If you have a Hartal type Hab door with a chrome lock Lever that you simply push inwards to lock the door, then beware.
We got locked out in a lay bye once, as the hab door slammed shut in the wind, which surprised us at the time.
I can, and have now, clearly demonstrated to a few fellow Carthago owners, that by slamming the door shut the impact can sometimes force the lock handle inwards so as to lock the door, then you are buggered if you dont have a key in your pocket or one stashed away somewhere.
Glad you got back into the van Ok, it is scary how easy it is to open the windows for the thieves, but I guess making it any harder would cause more expensive damage by those more determined to get in.
Les

 

[Pausim]

No auto lock for us to to worry about but it is still possible to accidentally nudge the hab door lock into the locked position. Our Carthago solution:

In this case cut and rolled from a yoga mat, other materials are available but the world must be full of redundant yoga mats.

 

[TinaLes]

Yip that the same as ours Pausim
The simple solutions are often the best, however I just know being me,I would forget to place something in the door behind the lock.
During a previous hab check at our dealers, it was noted by them that the door lock handle had become "loose" in its action. They reckon they knew this could be a common problem and said that they had "adjusted" it. I didnt realise it was "loose" and to be honest, could not see any difference in its action afterwards.
I am just wondering how many others have the same door lock on their vans, and if they do if they have locked themselves out.
Les

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