Bizarre! 993 Locked & armed itself with key inside!
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Bizarre! 993 Locked & armed itself with key inside!
Hi: Just been searching through the many treads that talk about being locked out with fobs/keys not working, but didn't find anything like this weird situation which has me stumped - and a bit freaked out as well.
I backed my car out of the garage yesterday to work on another car and left it close by in the driveway. Ignition off and switchblade key still in the keyhole - where I sometimes leave it if I'm going to be moving it again.
Went out several hours later to drive it back into the garage and was dumbfounded to find it locked. What's more, the door LED's were in normal armed (slow blink) mode. AND the key fob was still right where I left it sticking out of the dash! It's a '96, so there are no inside lock buttons to hit accidentally.
Fortunately, I was at home and had access to my spare fob (with dead battery!) but after correcting that, I was able to unlock my car as always and start it up. Now it locks and unlocks normally.
I can't imagine I would ever leave the fob in the car for any period of time if I was away from home, but having no idea how, or how soon, this happened, it's got me concerned about being completely stranded someday. Nothing like this has happened in the six years I've owned it.
If this is a known issue and I missed some threads, please point me in the right direction. Ditto if you have any hunches as to how this could happen as I've run out of ideas. It's got me thinking of getting an old-fashioned magnetic Hide A Key!
Thanks,
Ron
I backed my car out of the garage yesterday to work on another car and left it close by in the driveway. Ignition off and switchblade key still in the keyhole - where I sometimes leave it if I'm going to be moving it again.
Went out several hours later to drive it back into the garage and was dumbfounded to find it locked. What's more, the door LED's were in normal armed (slow blink) mode. AND the key fob was still right where I left it sticking out of the dash! It's a '96, so there are no inside lock buttons to hit accidentally.
Fortunately, I was at home and had access to my spare fob (with dead battery!) but after correcting that, I was able to unlock my car as always and start it up. Now it locks and unlocks normally.
I can't imagine I would ever leave the fob in the car for any period of time if I was away from home, but having no idea how, or how soon, this happened, it's got me concerned about being completely stranded someday. Nothing like this has happened in the six years I've owned it.
If this is a known issue and I missed some threads, please point me in the right direction. Ditto if you have any hunches as to how this could happen as I've run out of ideas. It's got me thinking of getting an old-fashioned magnetic Hide A Key!
Thanks,
Ron
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The only time the car locks itself is if you unlock with the FOB, then don’t open the door within 1minute. This is normally harmless ( because you’re still outside with the FOB) but if the door jamb switch sticks in the “door closed” mode it’s possible to enter the car (undetected), leave the key inside and have it auto lock on you. Review the sequence of events and see if that might have happened.
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The only time the car locks itself is if you unlock with the FOB, then don’t open the door within 1minute. This is normally harmless ( because you’re still outside with the FOB) but if the door jamb switch sticks in the “door closed” mode it’s possible to enter the car (undetected), leave the key inside and have it auto lock on you. Review the sequence of events and see if that might have happened.
If the key is left in the ignition so the buzzer switch is activated, does this disable the auto lock-out too?
Andy
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Thanks to all. Yes, lesson learned for sure. I've been trying to duplicate it and was able to make it happen again - once. I wanted to see if perhaps I didn't fully turn the key to off, however I'm sure it was not left on. (The key buzzer and my always-on fog lights/DRLs would definitely have reminded me about that.) However, this is a TIP and we have sort of a "no man's land" between "off" and twisting it even further to the left to release the shifter interlock - in order to remove the key.
I repeated the sequence and left the key in this in-between status - and lo and behold the car was locked when I checked about 10 minutes later. However, I've now done that about 10 more times and can't get it to happen again. So it's inconclusive.
Jay, thanks for the tip about the door switch. I'm going to check that out next.
Ron
I repeated the sequence and left the key in this in-between status - and lo and behold the car was locked when I checked about 10 minutes later. However, I've now done that about 10 more times and can't get it to happen again. So it's inconclusive.
Jay, thanks for the tip about the door switch. I'm going to check that out next.
Ron
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Hi Ron,
I had the same issue as self-inflicted pain. I added a timer relay to my car so the doors automatically lock shortly after the ignition switch is turned to the accessory position or beyond. Kind of a nice feature as no pressing of the central locking rocker switch is required to lock the doors. Initially, I set the timer at >10 seconds delay. Then, in an emergency situation, I started the car, got out, and the timer relay locked me out. Of course, this was at the side of the highway during the morning rush with a flat tire and now with the engine still running. Felt like an idiot. Called my wife to bring the extra set of keys to me. The fix involved shortening the delay to <10 seconds. so it locks the doors quickly in case I try to get out of the car in a rush again.
If someone wishes to add this feature to their car here is how to do it:
https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...g-to-your.html
Andy
I had the same issue as self-inflicted pain. I added a timer relay to my car so the doors automatically lock shortly after the ignition switch is turned to the accessory position or beyond. Kind of a nice feature as no pressing of the central locking rocker switch is required to lock the doors. Initially, I set the timer at >10 seconds delay. Then, in an emergency situation, I started the car, got out, and the timer relay locked me out. Of course, this was at the side of the highway during the morning rush with a flat tire and now with the engine still running. Felt like an idiot. Called my wife to bring the extra set of keys to me. The fix involved shortening the delay to <10 seconds. so it locks the doors quickly in case I try to get out of the car in a rush again.
If someone wishes to add this feature to their car here is how to do it:
https://993servicerepair.blogspot.co...g-to-your.html
Andy
Last edited by pp000830; Mar 7, 2023 at 04:49 PM.
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