Auto-locking Focus

jmc41 · 03-12-2008, 09:15

Strange one here, I opened up the car and turned it on, grabbed de-icer and scrapper and closed door.
Ignoring the whole enviromental issue with doing this for 2 minutes please

I sprayed the car down, opened passenger door and chucked de-icer in, closed door.
The Car locked. With my Keys inside - car keys, house keys, everything.

Fortunately I was a) at home and b) quickly worked out that if I banged on the door someone could let me in and I'd grab the spare key. But what the heck happened? If I'd been at work the only solution that springs to mind is smashing the window in... Or going home, picking up spare key and coming back even assuming someone is at home - plus the car was running with a fairly full tank of petrol.

I'm going to have to use the spare key I think and keep the locking/unlocking fob and house keys on my trousers during the winter but thats a real pain.

Matblack · 03-12-2008, 09:47

The MINI autolocks BUT only if you haven't opened the door for 90 seconds. I believe the idea is to make sure that if you acidentally unlock it with the keys in you pocket it knows its not needed and relocks. Once you have opened any of the door after the unlock it won't autolock so you can't lock your keys in it. Clever little MINI

MB

Zirax · 03-12-2008, 10:31

Hmmmm, on mine you can hear it lock as you move off. Never thought about it locking itself sat on the drive.... I don't think mine does. Although yours is newer than mine so it might be a feature.

The solution is to run outside, squirt the de-icer and then wander back in to finish your cuppa. Give it a few mins and then go out do a defrosted car

leowyatt · 03-12-2008, 10:40

You could just be a man and scrape the ice off and then drive to work in the cold car

Fayshun · 03-12-2008, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by leowyatt

You could just be a man and scrape the ice off and then drive to work in the cold car

With the windows open and no heating.

Darrin · 03-12-2008, 18:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by leowyatt

You could just be a man and scrape the ice off and then drive to work in the cold car

I will now be a sordid git with the obligatory reminder that NONE of you even KNOW what a cold car is!!

When your antifreeze has frozen into a solid block in your engine, come talk to me, ok?

leowyatt · 03-12-2008, 18:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrin

I will now be a sordid git with the obligatory reminder that NONE of you even KNOW what a cold car is!!

When your antifreeze has frozen into a solid block in your engine, come talk to me, ok?

well it's cold for here

you decided to live in an ice bowl so there

Justsomebloke · 03-12-2008, 11:00

That doesn't sound right to me & I would suspect a failing battery in your fob, Try it with your spare & see if it does the same thing.
Matts post is interesting though and You lot have to bare in mind that I am Old Gen when it comes to motoring so am not aware of these new fangled gadgets, damn cool though.
My Jeeps screen is around 6 feet from my front door on my drive, After making a tea I add a tad of cold water to the kettle then open the door & just sling it at my screen & quickly shut the door

Justsomebloke · 03-12-2008, 11:12

In nowt but your Boxers.

Del Lardo · 03-12-2008, 11:24

My Mondeo did that last winter when it was cold and this winter the central locking refuses to work when it is really cold. Guess it is a Ford issue with the central locking but have yet to be bothered to find the cause.

03-12-2008, 09:15	#1
jmc41 Absinthe Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,070	Auto-locking Focus Strange one here, I opened up the car and turned it on, grabbed de-icer and scrapper and closed door. Ignoring the whole enviromental issue with doing this for 2 minutes please I sprayed the car down, opened passenger door and chucked de-icer in, closed door. The Car locked. With my Keys inside - car keys, house keys, everything. Fortunately I was a) at home and b) quickly worked out that if I banged on the door someone could let me in and I'd grab the spare key. But what the heck happened? If I'd been at work the only solution that springs to mind is smashing the window in... Or going home, picking up spare key and coming back even assuming someone is at home - plus the car was running with a fairly full tank of petrol. I'm going to have to use the spare key I think and keep the locking/unlocking fob and house keys on my trousers during the winter but thats a real pain.

03-12-2008, 09:47	#2
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	The MINI autolocks BUT only if you haven't opened the door for 90 seconds. I believe the idea is to make sure that if you acidentally unlock it with the keys in you pocket it knows its not needed and relocks. Once you have opened any of the door after the unlock it won't autolock so you can't lock your keys in it. Clever little MINI MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"

03-12-2008, 10:40	#4
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	You could just be a man and scrape the ice off and then drive to work in the cold car __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"

03-12-2008, 11:00	#8
Justsomebloke The Night Worker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,228	That doesn't sound right to me & I would suspect a failing battery in your fob, Try it with your spare & see if it does the same thing. Matts post is interesting though and You lot have to bare in mind that I am Old Gen when it comes to motoring so am not aware of these new fangled gadgets, damn cool though. My Jeeps screen is around 6 feet from my front door on my drive, After making a tea I add a tad of cold water to the kettle then open the door & just sling it at my screen & quickly shut the door __________________

03-12-2008, 11:12	#9
Justsomebloke The Night Worker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,228	In nowt but your Boxers. __________________

03-12-2008, 10:31	#3
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	Hmmmm, on mine you can hear it lock as you move off. Never thought about it locking itself sat on the drive.... I don't think mine does. Although yours is newer than mine so it might be a feature. The solution is to run outside, squirt the de-icer and then wander back in to finish your cuppa. Give it a few mins and then go out do a defrosted car

03-12-2008, 11:24	#10
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	My Mondeo did that last winter when it was cold and this winter the central locking refuses to work when it is really cold. Guess it is a Ford issue with the central locking but have yet to be bothered to find the cause.

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