Date:         Thu, 15 Apr 2004 21:25:09 -0700
Reply-To:     Tobin Copley <tcopley@SFU.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tobin Copley <tcopley@SFU.CA>
Subject:      Re: Breaking into a vanagon?  How do you lock the keys in?
In-Reply-To:  <407EE01C.27011.25BFABB@localhost>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

On Apr 15, 2004, at 8:18 PM, Jack wrote:

> With so many people locking keys in their cars, I'm curious.  On my '85
> Weekender, it takes a key to lock the driver's door.  So, assuming I
> always
> use that door, it's impossible to lock the keys in.  I'm sure that's
> saved
> me many times.
>
> Isn't that the case with all Vanagons?

I don't think it's impossible to lock oneself out of a vanagon when
exiting the driver's door.

On my current vanagon--and all the VWs I've owned (2 1976 westies, a
1976 Rabbit)--one can override the
need-a-key-to-lock-the-driver's-door-when-exiting-the-driver's-door
feature by pushing the interior locking plunger down with the door
open, then closing the door with the exterior latch squeezed.  If
they're not designed that way, VW at least has been consistent with
this "feature" in my experience.

That said, I still don't understand how people manage to lock
themselves out of their cars so often.  In over twenty years of
driving, I've never once locked myself out of a car.  I *have*,
however, dropped keys out of a torn pocket on a long wilderness hike,
and that was a real sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach when we
got back to the car, especially since we had only another couple of
hours of light left and we were a good full day's hard hike from the
nearest pavement.  Happy ending: found the keys lying on the trail just
a few kms from where we parked the car.  I didn't have a spare key on
the car, and now that I think of it, I don't have a spare on my Vanagon
now.  Hmmmm... add to list for camper prep this summer...

Someone posted once the idea of sealing an oiled key (to prevent rust)
in a very small baggie (the kind used for a small amount of weed, for
example), then taping the bagged key to the underside of the bus in a
"good" spot.  Then spray over the spot (and reasonable surrounding
area) with flat black undercoating spray.  Makes the key almost
invisible, so better than a hide-a-key from a theft perspective.  Sure
it's a one-time use kind of thing, so it probably wouldn't work well
for people who are habitually locking themselves out of their vehicles,
but if it's something you'll probably never use (but could save your
butt should you need it), it has a certain appeal.

T.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tobin Copley        Vancouver, BC, Canada      49deg 23'N-123deg 19'W

'82 Westfalia 1.6L NA diesel ("Stinky")
'97 son Russell                               =============
'99 daughter Margaret                        /_| |_L| |__|:| clatter
                          SPEED KILLS!       [.      =     .| clatter!
                     Drive a Vanagon diesel   ~-()-==----()-~ ~  ~