Locked car and have lost our only key!

whatanidiot_2

Thanks for all the replies - still looking for the damned key!
The car is a ford escort 1998.
Will carry on looking for it and log in later to update and see if take advise given.
Many thanks

KillerWatt

whatanidiot wrote: »

The car is a ford escort 1998.

That will be equipped with either PATS I or PATS II as a form of security (98 was the changeover year, with some PATS I systems also having certain features that were standard on PATS II), so I'm afraid it's not just going to be a case of getting another key cut and everything working again.

colino

I don't think the 98 had quarterlights, so unless you can get a coathanger in to pull the lock open, I'd be a bit more direct and "pop" the hatchback with a nice long lever. You might be lucky and find with its age that its already had a break-in or been stolen recovered and that the immobiliser has already been bypassed or an old key has been taped inside the steering column. If not, and your not able to swap out the lock set yourself, it really is borderline about paying someone else to do the work on such an old warrior.

whatanidiot_2

Have turned house upside down and still no key.
Called the garage but our mechanic is not in today so I will call back on Monday.
I have called an auto locksmith who said it would be 195.00 plus vat which is not too bad and will be worth it as, even though the car is very old and therefore not very valuable.it is a good car. It originally belonged to my inlaws who bought it brand new and had it for 6 years before they gave it to us. It had only done 14000. miles and had been looked after. It has now done 52000 and, if our mechanic is to be believed, has a few more years left in her.
Will keep looking for the key though.......

wealdroam

Perhaps the inlaws still have the other key.

RedBern

we did this once when on a campsite in France - although the key was in the ignition! I think it was a sierra - anyway - there was an english family on the site and saw we were having problems, and the guy walked around until he found another ford, borrowed the key and put it in the door and then turned it left and right whilst gently thumping the door next to the lock. It popped! The guy said he was a car dealer (as opposed to a thief I suppose) and that it never failed.

Once you get the door open - may be worth getting a replacement ignition barrel from a scrappie (with a couple of keys of course!) and just replace that.

pendulum

It is frustrating because the people who may know about immobiliser bypasses on owners forums etc will not help you, in case they're helping a thief, and its just a dodgy thing to ask about! Maybe if you posted along with some proof you own the car on an owners forum, you might have some luck via PM if its easy to bypass, I have heard on some of the older immobiliser systems its as easy as removing a couple of electrical cables or adding a wire.

Kilty_2

If you're going to break a window to get in - break the windscreen. Seriously.

9 times out of 10 it's cheaper than a side window.

mcjordi

kilty- its the same excess on the insurance for any glass..

for an escort your talking a 10er for a door window at any scrappy and a piece of cake to fit.
OP where are you? i can recommed a good cheap locksmith in the North East.

Kilty_2

mcjordi wrote: »

kilty- its the same excess on the insurance for any glass..

for an escort your talking a 10er for a door window at any scrappy and a piece of cake to fit.
OP where are you? i can recommed a good cheap locksmith in the North East.

Yeah excess is the same but if you were to pay for a new replacement ie not from a scrappy then it'd be more for a side window usually.

Good call on a side window from a scrappy though, there will be a few Escorts about :T