vehicle security?

[andy]

my old car had to be opened/locked with a key. at the same time as locking it i would make sure it was actually locked.

however, the car i have now has remote locking. when it locks/opens it flashes indicators, but how many people actually check to make sure it has locked the door (or all doors?!) for all you know one of the locks could be faulty and it could still be open.

are things like remote central locking reducing security?

 

[bill1]

On my ford, the lights on flash when all the locks lock. One of my doors central locking motor failed recently and the car will not flash to say it's locked until I lock the failed door manually. Presumably all manufacturers have similar features?

Something I find more worrying, are the newer cars that have the 'smart' lock/unlock, where you just need to be near the car, that sounds like a bad idea to me!

 

[andy]

On my ford, the lights on flash when all the locks lock. One of my doors central locking motor failed recently and the car will not flash to say it's locked until I lock the failed door manually. Presumably all manufacturers have similar features?

never knew that. mines probably the same but havent noticed

Something I find more worrying, are the newer cars that have the 'smart' lock/unlock, where you just need to be near the car, that sounds like a bad idea to me!

sounds a bad idea. id rather have it where you have to press a button to open it rather than go near it

 

[AdamW]

That's not too bad... however fingerprint recognition is a VERY bad idea

 

[WoodYouLike]

however, the car i have now has remote locking. when it locks/opens it flashes indicators, but how many people actually check to make sure it has locked the door (or all doors?!) for all you know one of the locks could be faulty and it could still be open.

The lights flash indeed to indicate all doors are locked (ours flash twice), but I never ever use this 'security' option and always lock the car with the key (and then also the light flashes twice to indicate all doors are locked). I don't trust 'automagic' functions that often

 

[AdamW]

The only advantage to using the key in the lock with my car is (Andy, have you tried this one yet?): If you turn the key to the "lock" position and hold it there, it winds all the windows up if you've forgotten to. Can't do that from the keyfob (although doesn't the Astra convertible close the roof from a keyfob button?)

 

[ohmygodwhathaveyoudone]

when i press the remote button once it beeps and locks the doors but if i do twice it deadlocks all the doors and you can hear the clicking from all the handles,also all the handles are disconnected from the locking mechanism as well.if i forget all together to lock it the alarm sensors and seat sensors detect that the car is empty and lock it anyway if anyone did break in they could'nt nick it as its locked in park and won't deselect without the key.saw some remote locking devices on a house the other day where they have remote solenoids in the doors and windows and operated by a rmote blipper.i'd still want to check it every time just in case.

 

[AdamW]

I've discovered a problem with car deadlocks.

My car has a similar mechanism. Press once for lock and twice for deadlock. They do this for a reason: people inside the car can't get out if the deadlocks are on.

However, you get into the habit of always pressing twice as you walk away from the car. I have absent mindedly done this at petrol stations with people in my car: if there was a fire they wouldn't be able to open the doors.

 

[andy]

I've discovered a problem with car deadlocks.

My car has a similar mechanism. Press once for lock and twice for deadlock. They do this for a reason: people inside the car can't get out if the deadlocks are on.

However, you get into the habit of always pressing twice as you walk away from the car. I have absent mindedly done this at petrol stations with people in my car: if there was a fire they wouldn't be able to open the doors.

most times if people are in the car i take the keys out and give them the key so they can lock it if they decide to follow me into the shop or summit

 

[petewood]

How do these remote thingies work? With my car, to lock or unlock it I have to stand at 30 degrees from the offside rear wing (although I think this position changes if there is a 'r' in the month... or if it's raining), then I have to take the weight off my left foot, point the remote under my right armpit, pretend I am looking at something else and then press the button.

If the car is in a particularly good mood it may condescend to lock or unlock. If not, I charge at it holding the remote and firing in random directions until it works!

Please don't ask me if I have changed the batteries.

My wife's car, on the other hand, is so well behaved that all you have to do is to fondle the remote control gently, from almost any distance and pointing in any direction and it will do the job first time.

Is this to do mine being a Ford and hers being a Toyota? Or is mine just in a bad mood because I never wash it?

 

[AdamW]

Well, the obvious answer might be that hers is RF and yours is IR: Infrared remotes were all the rage at one time as the RF ones were easy to "grab".

Also, do you have a habit of clicking the fob absentmindedly, as a fidget thing? Do you have a need to lock and unlock the car more than your wife?

And lastly, have you tried replacing the batteries? It's dead easy with mine (according to the Haynes manual), would probably be easy with yours too.

According to Top Gear, holding the key right next to your head helps.

 

[petewood]

Well, the obvious answer might be that hers is RF and yours is IR: Infrared remotes were all the rage at one time as the RF ones were easy to "grab"..

But my car is newer than hers.

Also, do you have a habit of clicking the fob absentmindedly, as a fidget thing? Do you have a need to lock and unlock the car more than your wife?

No

And lastly, have you tried replacing the batteries? It's dead easy with mine (according to the Haynes manual), would probably be easy with yours too.

I told you not to ask me that question Yes I have replaced the b****y batteries!

According to Top Gear, holding the key right next to your head helps

Will try this tomorrow, thanks.

 

[AdamW]

So have you tried changing the batteries then?

 

[petewood]

So have you tried changing the batteries then?

**$%* !**"*

 

[Diyisfun]

Why do people turn any key to lock a door THEN try the handle.