deadhead1960

As Ilko and I were fueling up yesterday morning in anticipation of our day long run up to Saratoga/Lake George, I turned off my car, left the key in the ignition and closed the door. After filling up I found myself locked out; somehow the car locked itself. Probably 90% of the time I do take my key with me but occasionally leave it inside, knowing/thinking that 993's don't lock by themselves. Thank goodness I had Ilko to drive me home and retrieve the other key. Much appreciated there!

So my question is twofold; one, what would cause the car to lock itself and two has this ever happened to anyone else?

Arena993

Don't know why your car locked, but a bigto Mr. Ilko for the save.

Mike

Slow Guy

Never experienced it myself but heard enough stories. Only time I leave the key in the car with windows closed is when the car is getting washed in the driveway, spare is in the house. I do leave the key in at the gas station sometimes but put the window down first.

No idea why or how but with the Immobilizer not much surprises me. The only people I think that system deters is we owners.

A hearty to Ilko.

CorrdoBrit

Weak battery? Dirty contacts in the ignition switchgear?

Sounds very odd , especially with the key inserted in the ignition.

user 70801213

Car should auto lock if you unlock with remote, then don't open the door, after some fixed time has past....2 minutes or so. In your case it should not have happened.

Rinty

This is something I've been concerned about; thanks for posting.

coltj

Yes, happened to me once, with the car running!! Fortunately one of the windows was down. Still no idea what happened.

Christian J

Good to know. I leave the key in all of the time.

ilko

That was really weird. We were both looking at the car as the gas was being pumped, then as soon as it was done and the pump went click the car locked! I thought it may have had something to do with the knock of the pump against the car or something similar.

I'm considering cutting a key and keeping it inside the tail light lens or taping it inside the fog light duct. That way I can unlock the car with just a philips head screwdriver Obviously it won't be very useful to a thief since that key only gains access to the inside but without the remote you can't start it. Just a thought.

mjsporsche

Ilko,

Not a bad idea. You can also use those magnetic hide away key holders and stick it inside the wheel well where you can find some sheetmetal.

Marc Shaw

I guess instead of a spare, we should all just carry an ilko.

Marc

ilko

You know you're important when your name becomes a noun.

deadhead1960

I might have it figured out or at least a connection. I noticed on a few occasions after this incident that the interior lights did not always turn on even though they were in the middle position. I subsequently realized when opening the driver's side door, the locking mechanism didn't release as well. So I'm thinking the little "nub" in the door jamb might have stuck and the system wasn't recognizing an open door. That would explain why the passenger door didn't unlock and possibly the system "tricked itself" into re-locking the driver's side door as well. I'm actually going to try and simulate this scenario...with the spare key in hand.

Kika

even more so when you become a verb, as in ilkoing, i.e. the kind act of helping a stranded Rennlister.

Years ago, we coined Caganizing after Alex Cagan had spent many hours hand polishing his wheels. thereafter the act of handpolishing for hours on end became known as Caganizing

g_murray

Yep, I'd definitely put some WD-40 on that door sensor.

I agree with the other poster. If you unlock a locked car, via the remote, but then don't open the door, she will 'self lock' within 2 mins. or so.

When I bought the car from the PO, he gave me a black hard-plastic key - which he called the 'valet key'. I always keep it in my wallet - it's no wider than a credit card.

Gerry