I have only one key for my car and am currently unable to afford to have another programmed key manufactured. I am not concerned about losing the key but I have a fear of accidentally locking it in the boot.

If I had a cheap key cut by the likes of Timpsons, would it allow me to unlock the car to gain access and hopefully retrieve the real key? I know the alarm would sound after 15 seconds but we are talking about the car probably sitting in my drive at the time.

Currently, if I open the boot by itself I unlock it then put the key back in my pocket before lifting the hatch, but one day I will accidentally drop the keys in the boot or possibly lay them in the boot while I pick something up.

And yes, I do know I can just unlock the entire car then it won't lock automatically!

The alarm wouldn't go off, you just wouldn't be able to start it with a dumb key.

If I open my car with the key I have to turn on the ignition within 15 seconds or the alarm goes off.

37 minutes ago, Jocko said:

If I open my car with the key I have to turn on the ignition within 15 seconds or the alarm goes off.

 

Then one of the switches in your door lock isn't working.

41 minutes ago, Jocko said:

If I open my car with the key I have to turn on the ignition within 15 seconds or the alarm goes off.

I think that's normal, in cars with RF remote locking? (And an alarm fitted)

Edited 16 March, 20233 yr by Breezy_Pete

2 minutes ago, Breezy_Pete said:

I think that's normal, in cars with RF remote locking? (And an alarm fitted)

 

It's not, unlocking the car with the key should deactivate the alarm, bear in mind that turning the key twice in the lock direction locks the car but disables the alarm.

Can't check now cos our Fabia was built minus alarm, and Polo one I ripped out pre-empting trouble.

 

You may be right, there's always a chance. 🙂

 

Page 40 of the owners manual.

 

If the vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft alarm system*, you must unlock the
vehicle by inserting the key into the driver door you then have to insert the key into
the ignition lock and switch the ignition on within 15 seconds after unlocking the
door. The alarm will be triggered if you do not switch on the ignition within 15
seconds.

Mine isn't like this but you can still switch on the ignition with a dumb key, it just won't start.

5 hours ago, Jocko said:

Currently, if I open the boot by itself I unlock it then put the key back in my pocket before lifting the hatch, but one day I will accidentally drop the keys in the boot or possibly lay them in the boot while I pick something up.

And yes, I do know I can just unlock the entire car then it won't lock automatically!

 I had the same concerns over the car locking itself with the key inside so had one cut to a photo through an advert on Ebay. It would be interesting to know what Timpsons charge, for a simple cut and cut/programmed for the immobiliser, as the ones online are nominally around £10 without programming.

 Given the issues that can occur with broken wires in the doors, you may get re-locking through slamming the hatch.

Edited 16 March, 20233 yr by KeithCheetham

I was going to check on my wife's Mk3 for you but looking out of the window I see the boot doesn't have an external key lock. 😄  Like the very best here I also make mistakes.

 

Is your boot also missing the external key lock?

 

The only door with a key lock is the driver's door but I am sure if I can open the driver's door I could get into the boot somehow.

28 minutes ago, Jocko said:

if I can open the driver's door I could get into the boot somehow

I've just tried on my wife's Mk3 Fabia, unlocked the driver's door with the key blade, alarms goes off as soon as I open the door so key blade in ignition switch and turned on (just for luck) asap to kill the bloody alarm.  I opened the rear door from inside (child lock is always off), moved rear seat back forward and knocked the hat shelf up ready to remove it, easy access without crawling all over the car.  A couple of minutes of very easy work (except for the annoying alarm).