MOT nightmare

mattyfez · 4 Apr 2015 at 14:00

More of a rant than anything, got some MOT work done on my car, a 2001 V70 by a garage that I've been using for a few years, went to pick it up and they managed to flatten the battery, no signs of life at all. Not a big deal in and of itself...

Then the assistant manually opened the doorlock with the key, and tried the ignition, dead, so went to get a booster pack, yes you've guessed it, then closed the door with the key in the ignition, it's now locked and I have no spare.

I've told them they will be covering any expense to sort it out and they didn't protest which is fair enough, but with it being bank holiday their more experienced mechanic is of till Tuesday :eek:

Luckily I don't need the car so again not a massive deal.. Just wondering what the solution is, presumably they'll need to smash a window and replace it to retrieve the key?

Skeeter · 4 Apr 2015 at 14:09

Do you have AA cover or similar?

The level of incompetence in the motor trade knows no bounds.

mattyfez · 4 Apr 2015 at 14:12

Skeeter said:
Do you have AA cover or similar?

The level of incompetence in the motor trade knows no bounds.

Nope! they asked me that and I would have been happy to use it, but I didn't renew it this year as the car is soundly maintained, semi recent battery and alternator, etc.

Dogbreath · 4 Apr 2015 at 14:23

mattyfez said:
Luckily I don't need the car so again not a massive deal.. Just wondering what the solution is, presumably they'll need to smash a window and replace it to retrieve the key?

I would hope not, you'll be finding splinters of glass forever. Automotive locksmiths can get into most cars without resorting to butchery like this - all they have to do is call one and pay him.

Despite the garages foul up here, I think this serves as a warning for having only one key to your car. I simply couldn't live with the knowledge that a simple mistake means you could be stranded somewhere with no option but to pay a fortune (probably to a dealer) to get a new key cut and coded.

mattyfez · 4 Apr 2015 at 14:38

Yeh a new spare key would be ideal, but they are very expensive, with this car the only scenario where you can lock the key in is this one, i.e a totally dead battery, I trust myself to be disciplined enough not to do something so daft.
As far as I'm aware Volvo themselves have to do the coding bit, you can save a few quid buy buying the key/fob elsewhere, but it still needs to be officially done in order to work.
My logic for not buying a spare is simply the fact that its about £400, so I'll get one as an when I need one!

ADT · 4 Apr 2015 at 14:39

A friend of mine left his key inside his e46 boot (don't ask how) and all he did was call the AA and the guy got it open in like 10 minutes. Hopefully these people do the same and won't break the window

sigma · 4 Apr 2015 at 14:47

Skeeter said:
The level of incompetence in the motor trade knows no bounds.

Quoted for truth.

mattyfez · 4 Apr 2015 at 14:51

ADT said:
A friend of mine left his key inside his e46 boot (don't ask how) and all he did was call the AA and the guy got it open in like 10 minutes. Hopefully these people do the same and won't break the window

Sounds promising, the garage is closed for the weekend now so I cannot contact them, but I'll call them when I can and suggest an automotive electrician, or as you suggest it may be cheaper for the garage to simply take out a years AA cover on my behalf, along with the idiot tax for immediate assistance, still may work out cheaper for them as they wont need to buy a window and valet the car due to glass everywhere.

Scania · 4 Apr 2015 at 16:58

Common problem with Volvo trucks, (and Scania's come to think about it) drivers at work are often locking themselves out of the truck with the keys in, both Volvo and indeed Scania come out (at a charge) and get them open within minutes - I don't know how mind you - I see no reason why the lock security would be any worse than a Volvo car especially given the price (not much change from ~ £90k)

It does make you wonder about manufacturers claimed security though!

I'm yet to do this, and it reminds me I can't find the spare for my 530i....

One thing OP, you have a 13 - 14 year old car yet think because its running ok it does not need breakdown cover? not imo a wise move!

My 530 is nearly 15years old, 115k miles and properly maintained with FSH yet it has breakdown cover as its age makes it fairly inevitable that at some point it'll need it alas.

Redgie · 4 Apr 2015 at 18:23

Here's what the AA do:

(If it's a physically activated lock)
1. Get your consent as door has to be bent
2. Prise open the door on the opposite side using typical tools by a few millimeters
3. Thread in an inflatable balloon type object
4. Inflate said object until the gap is around a centimeter
5. Thread in coat-hanger-type object that has been flattened out to pull open the lock on the far side.

(If it's an electronically activated lock)
1. Use electronic gadget of magic nature
2. Open door

As you can probably tell, I have more experience with the former

Scania · 4 Apr 2015 at 19:59

Redgie said:
Here's what the AA do:

(If it's a physically activated lock)
1. Get your consent as door has to be bent
2. Prise open the door on the opposite side using typical tools by a few millimeters
3. Thread in an inflatable balloon type object
4. Inflate said object until the gap is around a centimeter
5. Thread in coat-hanger-type object that has been flattened out to pull open the lock on the far side.

(If it's an electronically activated lock)
1. Use electronic gadget of magic nature
2. Open door

As you can probably tell, I have more experience with the former

A fairly useless approach for any car with deadlocks!

233 · 4 Apr 2015 at 20:53

A professional automotive locksmith will have it open in under a minute

Garage have messed up this should have been sorted same day for you poor show by the garage

DXP55 · 5 Apr 2015 at 10:09

I had a key cut for wife's Yaris years ago - it wouldn't start the car but it did open the door and it was best £6 I ever spent - she locked both keys in boot. (don't ask)

Dave

bledd · 5 Apr 2015 at 11:27

How did the door lock? Sounds like a poorly configured alarm system.

slick rick · 5 Apr 2015 at 13:07

DXP55 said:
I had a key cut for wife's Yaris years ago - it wouldn't start the car but it did open the door and it was best £6 I ever spent - she locked both keys in boot. (don't ask)

Dave

I agree with this, just get a cheap blank and get it cut, it wont start the car obviously as there wont be a programmed transponder but it could help if this situation arises again and you don't wan to pay £££ for a fully functional key.