Urgent Help needed

[TheBig1]

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

it's a hartal door and lock so a great many vans are identical

 

[DINGER]

Evening people......

Thanks to everyone who kindly posted and offered advice.

Well we’ve checked hand books and with Fiat regarding key fobs, everything looks in order. Having a key that gets you into the cabin stashed somewhere has to be considered BUT fully aware of insurance implications.
Another scenario could of been a thousand times worst if it involved a young child or pet locked inside, or even a cooker/ oven that was alight could cause serious damage.

Regards

Dinger

 

[Kev and Ju]

I was initially having issues with my Autowatch alarm auto -re-arming. Once it locked itself when I was walking to the shower block but fortunately I had the keys with me.
However recently the alarm has been behaving itself and I was not going to bother having the re-arm feature disable but after reading all your horror stories I definitely are going to and I'm going to get more keys cut and hidden. Belt and braces job!! Just imaging the stress / inconvenience and cost of this happening overseas!

 

[mitzimad]

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.

you only need a hab door key available from e bay to get you in we have a starter key hidden inside which short of tearing the van to pieces no one would ever find

 

[mitzimad]

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

duct tape in sufficent quantity is indestructable when i started banger racing 40 odd years ago we had to weld or plate and bolt the doors shut now duct tape is enough ive seen cars bent in half both ways and the doiors still in place

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[Jaws]

duct tape in sufficent quantity is indestructable when i started banger racing 40 odd years ago we had to weld or plate and bolt the doors shut now duct tape is enough ive seen cars bent in half both ways and the doiors still in place

Where did you race ?
Was the local gold top for 2 years ( on grass though )

 

[Minxy]

We went out in our MH today to the local market/car boot sale and whilst we were inside with the hab door open the wind, which wasn't strong at all, shut it ... so it DOES happen ... if it had closed with more of a bang it probably could have moved the internal locking handle sufficiently to lock it! Might have to think about hiding a hab key somewhere ? !

 

[Geistguy]

Do I remember this correctly ? Signals from radio or telephone masts can mess with the technology of central locking ?

As a retired insurance broker can I advise never to leave a spare key hidden on the vehicle, advice regarding theft claims earlier is spot on, get a basic habitation door key cut and wear it on a lanyard or similar around your neck.

 

[Pausim]

Do I remember this correctly ? Signals from radio or telephone masts can mess with the technology of central locking ?

As a retired insurance broker can I advise never to leave a spare key hidden on the vehicle, advice regarding theft claims earlier is spot on, get a basic habitation door key cut and wear it on a lanyard or similar around your neck.

Yes, I remember several years ago witnessing this at Crystal Palace and being told by a Warden that it happened from time to time. Just needed towing a little way away from the transmitter and all would be well. Not heard of it recently, perhaps new equipment or new tv transmissions have made a difference.

 

[sonny]

I taped a spare key underneath my car 8 months later I heard a clicking noise when moving took it to the garage didn't we have a laugh I'd forgotten about the key and tape had stretched a bit,he.didn't charge me, but I did feel a idiot.

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[sonny]

I taped it to the drive shafts.

 

[Pausim]

I taped it to the drive shafts.

Taking it for a spin were you?

 

[Steve494]

As others have said,
Put a magnetic box (cheap) and place it on TOP of a metal component underneath the MH (so you don’t just rely on the magnets). Just put a hab door key inside and hide an ignition key inside the MH somewhere.

This is what we do and yes I’ve had to use the spare in the past.
(This could easily happen to you. Once centrally locked (overnight for example) you open the hab door in the morning forgetting to take off the central locking and occasionally the hab door will stay in ‘lock’ mode when you shut it behind you)
In my case, the minute I shut the hab door the heavens opened and it took me ten minutes of standing outside in the rain before I remembered that I’d put the magnetic box under the MH FIVE YEARS EARLIER.
It was still there!!

No brainer!

 

[Vipar]

Tape a spare to the roof not many burglars carry a ladder with them

 

[steve 6644]

When observing someone going insane with stress trying to find their keys or who has been locked out the vehicle and desperate, I find it often helps to advise them to get a pair of those special trousers.


You know, those car key trousers

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[Mrsambulancekidd]

I became locked out of a caravan we had years ago, not an auto-lock issue, just a faulty lock.
One of the small windows at the front was on the snook so I fiddled it open and wriggled in, I couldn't do that now, i'd need the big window in the middle these days....

 

[Reallyretired]

I take both sets of keys with me when away and as swmbo wont carry a set I have both in my pockets so never without a key.
Leaving a key in or on the mh will invalidate theft insurance, if its nicked they will expect you to produce all the keys.

 

[CazPaul]

As others have said,
Put a magnetic box (cheap) and place it on TOP of a metal component underneath the MH (so you don’t just rely on the magnets). Just put a hab door key inside and hide an ignition key inside the MH somewhere.

This is what we do and yes I’ve had to use the spare in the past.
(This could easily happen to you. Once centrally locked (overnight for example) you open the hab door in the morning forgetting to take off the central locking and occasionally the hab door will stay in ‘lock’ mode when you shut it behind you)
In my case, the minute I shut the hab door the heavens opened and it took me ten minutes of standing outside in the rain before I remembered that I’d put the magnetic box under the MH FIVE YEARS EARLIER.
It was still there!!

No brainer!

Good idea, where do you get the magnetic boxes from?

 

[Pausim]

Good idea, where do you get the magnetic boxes from?

Or a bad idea if your insurance company excludes keeping keys on the vehicle.

 

[scotzsue]

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



I always keep my keys in my pocket , sorted.

OK there’s always a smart arse

Glad you’re in ok

Si did John, didn't work too well after he went swimming though glad yu got in ok

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[lifes2short]

Update....
Sorted .....Horray

AA man initially looked baffled, but then produced an array of thickish wire.
Kitchen sliding window lock, EASILY compromised, longer wire taped to broom handle ......keys fished out of window.

U RIKA........nearly kissed the AA man...lol but why oh why did the bloody van lock down, haven’t got a clue.

Any suggestions I would very much appreciate, but will seek the services of an auto lock smith / Fiat to get to the bottom of it.

Besides being a very stressful moment, it just showed and proved how easy it is to gain access if you put your mind to it.

Time to eat now, and a very big thank you to everyone that offered support and suggestions.


Regards

Less Stressed Dinger

That's why we have had the Vanbitz 'Growler' installed. They may get in but the alarm sirens are so loud they wouldn't want to stay in. Apart from electrocuting them it's the best option we could think of. After accidentally pressing the panic button, I could still feel my ears ringing an hour later, and I was stood outside the van not in it.