Problem with 'valet' key

Fred_Bear_2

Yesterday I hired a car (Renault Kangoo) to take my disabled mother to the seaside. When I attempted to return home I couldn't start the engine. It turned the engine but it would not start. The display showed STOP and the red service light was flashing. I assumed the company had not serviced the car. I called the AA (who it seems I will have to pay for because the hire company had allowed their AA membership to lapse - but that's for another question). The AA arrived in about 15 minutes and instantly identified the problem. I had been supplied with two keys and the AA man said I was using the 'valet' key which would not start the engine. He said this was a very common cause of call-outs. I have never heard of a valet key, so when I got home I googled it and appears that a valet key is supplied on expensive cars and WILL start the car but not allow access to the boot and a locked glovebox. Now the Kangoo does not have a boot or a glovebox in any case so I am very confused. Now with hindsight I obviously should have tried the other key but at the time I didn't consider the possibility. Has anyone heard of this problem with so called valet keys before?

maninthestreet

The valet key should have been able to start the engine (assuming no engine fault), as 'a valet key is supplied on expensive cars and WILL start the car but not allow access to the boot and a locked glovebox'.

Mankysteve

maninthestreet wrote: »

The valet key should have been able to start the engine (assuming no engine fault), as 'a valet key is supplied on expensive cars and WILL start the car but not allow access to the boot and a locked glovebox'.

That will depend on the manufacture surely. There won't be any reg regarding valet keys. Manufactures love to use a different standards.

mikey72

Did the other key start the car ok, after the AA had been out?

Mark_Hewitt

Presumably this is as in valet parking rather than valet as in cleaning?

Fred_Bear_2

mikey72 wrote: »

Did the other key start the car ok, after the AA had been out?

Yes the other key started fine. I was stupid not to have tried the other key but I didn't know some keys don't start the engine and from the displayed STOP and flashing service warning light I assumed it was an engine service issue.

Jakg

Mankysteve wrote: »

That will depend on the manufacture surely. There won't be any reg regarding valet keys. Manufactures love to use a different standards.

No, but what else would you use it for?

Valet key is for valet parking, i.e. you want to let someone drive the car but don't want to give them access to anything else.

Horizon81

Yeah some manufacturers supply 3 keys with a car - 2 remote central locking (with inbuilt chip for immobiliser), and 1 Valet key. The valet key opens the doors but won't start the engine as it doesn't have the immobiliser chip in it. The engine will crank but wont fire up. Nothing new! The keys are usually a different colour or the valet key doesn't have buttons on it, so yeah, it's your fault for not trying the other key!!!

Fred_Bear_2

Horizon81 wrote: »

How did you get to the seaside in the first place? Not using the valet key?

I used the other key on the outward journey.

Horizon81

sorry i amended my post after i read the thread a bit closer!

Fred_Bear_2

Horizon81 wrote: »

Yeah some manufacturers supply 3 keys with a car - 2 remote central locking (with inbuilt chip for immobiliser), and 1 Valet key. The valet key opens the doors but won't start the engine as it doesn't have the immobiliser chip in it. The engine will crank but wont fire up. Nothing new! The keys are usually a different colour or the valet key doesn't have buttons on it, so yeah, it's your fault for not trying the other key!!!

Thanks for that info.
So, there are two types of valet key: 1st opens locks but doesn't start engine. 2nd starts engine but doesn't open various locks.
BTW the valet key was marked 'Renault' the other key had no markings.

The second thing I have learnt is that you are never too old to learn!