Lost car keys, desparate. Where do I start!?

archersluck

Hi, hope someone can point me in the right direction as I'm a tad stressed!

Car is a peugeot 306, V reg so about 10 years old. Have a clicker to open it, but can use the ignition key in the door too.

Never got any spares - did chase this up at time I bought it but never appeared.

The car is locked at the stables where I ride - think mud everywhere! Keys were in my pocket, could have fallen anywhere and the riding arena is about 6 foot deep.

Obviously going to go look for it in the light but if it doesnt appear what do I do?

I did ring the aa as didnt know what else to do but they had no locksmiths in my area so I got a taxi home. Everything is in the car - money, cards, railcard if I have to get train to work til I've sorted this. Argh!

I've googled and heard about a VIN - can this be read from the outside of the car? Do I contact the local peugeot garage with this? If this doesn't work then do I go to a locksmith? How much are these various options likely to cost?

Any advice gratefully received. Thanks in advance

pir

Not much help for new keys but how about metal detector? Anyone you know have one? A bit of time spent hovering about may be the best and cheapest way to go.

FelinePrincess

Would it be worth trying to get hold of a metal detector and trying to find then as soon as you do make a copy? I don't know anything about a VIN but it sounds like it's probably a good idea speaking to a peugeot garage for advice. If they can't help the next step would be the locksmith.

Hope you get it sorted without too much difficulty

Wig

What do you mean 6 foot deep?

I'd get searching, and a metal detector is a good idea, but where do you get one from? It's not the sort of thing many people will have.

Locknut

Hi Artchersluck

I hope you have stopped panicing now, and I hope you are successful with the metal detector. but if not.

then try http://www.autolocksmiths.net/
or http://theinstituteofcertifiedlocksmiths.org/findalocksmith.htm

and somone in your area should be able to help in your area.

archersluck

Hey, thanks for ideas. I'm at uni here so don't really know anyone with useful things like a metal detector! I think you can hire them but only place I can see in my town is miles away so I'd need my car - grr!

Wig - by 6 foot deep I mean that if you picture a horse riding arena its not just sand on top of the ground, they are dug really deep into the ground and have layers of rocks for drainage, etc.

The arena will be raked at some point tomorrow which could help to show it up but could push it further into the ground.

jamesb1239

Do you have any mechanically/technically minded friends? get one to pop down to the local scrapyard, get a new ignition barrel with keys and swap them over, unless of course you have an immobiliser

Wig

It's not in South Wales is it (the arena)?

6 foot deep understood now, - but the keys will still be on the top layer, I think a rake is a good tool to find them, without seeing the place difficult to judge, but I imagine a rake will be good. Atleast they will have the place raked by you for free.

archersluck

Sadly not wig - the north east!
Just have to hope work are understanding as I'll need to be quite late in tomorrow. Oh dear

marmitedog

I only have one key too (plus a plastic one), I panicked when I read your post as I couldn't find the plastic one!

Anyways, found now!

If you need something desperately, then smash rear glass and get somebody small to climb in; aty least you'll get you're purse and cards and stuff.

After that then wait until light and do the raking. Its bound to turn up.

ariba10

If you can read the Vin number a main dealer should be able to get you a key.