Some scumbag attempted to break into my 2000 Seicento yesterday afternoon, and wrecked the driver's door lock in the process. I expect I'll end up claiming on my insurance, as the door is also scratched, and the panel around the barrell is somewhat buckled, but does anyone know if the locks are available seperately, or do they only supply them in sets, and what are the implications when a factory immobilser is fitted.
As the barrell was half out, I was keen to make it a little more respectable looking, and less obvious, as the car's parked on the street. I used a bolt and two penny washers to straighten the buckled edges of the hole, allowing me to successfully refit the damaged barrell. Out of curiosity, does anyone know what a professional panel-beater does in similar situations?
Regards
jonbenj.
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When some scum broke into my Pug 205 many moons ago I had to buy a pair of locks at £50 in order to repair the one lock.
However, the number of cars I've seen with different keys on driver and passenger doors must indicate some manufacturers sell singly.
I'm not sure about your immobiliser comment - nothing related to the doorlock methinks unless ur immobiliser chip is located within the key.
If you go 2 a dealer to replace the locks etc make sure you take details such as VIN No./Chassis No. and any other relevant details.
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Guy Lacey wrote:
>
> , the number of cars I've seen with different keys on
> driver and passenger doors must indicate some manufacturers
> sell singly.
Sorry, I should have made it clear that I don't want more than 1 key. I talked to the dealership where the car was purchased today, and the salesman thought that they could 'build' barrells to suit individual keys!!?? Never heard of that before.
>
> I'm not sure about your immobiliser comment - nothing related
> to the doorlock methinks unless ur immobiliser chip is
> located within the key.
>
I think there is a chip/transponder located in the key. I know I'll find out tomorrow, when the service dept. reopens, but I'm naturally impatient and curious.
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Citroen can build the lock to the key for a modest cost, not sure about others.
There is a bodyshop tool that is like a round weight either side of a long thread that will pull the door to shape. Just helped a customer find a bodyshop for the same damage/repair as you mention.
David
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That makes a change! When some scumbag tried to break into my Cavalier a about six years ago (removable stereo, Stoplok and nothing inside worth nicking), my local Vauxhall dealer said they'd have to replace the door skin.
My local Howard Basford repaired the damage and repainted the are so that it was indistinguishable from the rest of the door panel. Cost a lot less, to. I wonder how much profit dealers make out of costly and unnecessary insurance repairs.
Andy
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I bought a secondhand escort mark 2. The rear door had a different lock. Carefully dismantled it enabled me to match they normal drivers door key. I think it only had seven interchangeable bits of metal so not sure about modern cars!
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Thanks for all the feedback. The car's booked in to get an estimate at th end of the week, so I'll find out then what the score is. If I decide not to claim my insurance, the 'home barrell rebuild' is worth looking at. I wish I'd had a proper look at the lock when I had it out.
Regards,
jonbenj
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It may well be possible to build a lock to suit a key. I've done it many times with car locks (admittedly not in the last 10 years) and with Yale door locks, where I want one ket to operate two locks.
It involves dimantling the lock barrel from the back and removing the tumblers. They can often be juxtaposed to fit a different key. At worst perhaps one tumbler may need filing to fit. Doing it this way you might be able to get a lock barrel from a scrappie and build one good lock from the two.
Ian
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Last time I had my car broken into, I just went to the Vauxhall garage and quoted the key no. for a replacement. Took a day or two on order and cost something ridiculous like £1 more than an off the shelf with a set of keys. That was a while ago, but why should they stop doing this?
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Ash,
When I did a '95 Astra the other week Vauxhall supplied a new barrel as a "bag of bits", the idea was that you built it up with the tumbler plates from the old lock and kept the same key.
I hardly need to comment on the patience needed to make up that lot!
David
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That's what mine turned into when I pulled the key out to check it was the same. Doh! Still it only took a few mins to put all the tumbler plates back in, maybe I got lucky (or maybe there weren't that many combinations). Couldn't they supply them with a bit of tape around the barrel to stop mishaps like that?
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