No key hole?

zagfles

facade wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:


On my [STRIKE]Renault[/STRIKE] Nee-San, the doors auto deadlock, so they would never open from the passenger side, or inside, the only way to deactivate the deadlocks would be to turn the ignition on.

So how do you get in to turn the ignition on? Smash the window?

EssexExile

zagfles wrote: »

Presumably using that keyhole would unlock all doors, and not just the passenger door? The designers can't be that stupid, surely?

The problem is if the car isn't used for some time & the battery goes flat, even if you climb over the roof of the car, hang down the passenger side, unclip the cover from below the door handle, get the key in & turn it, there will be no power to operate the locks on the other doors.

zagfles

EssexExile wrote: »

The problem is if the car isn't used for some time & the battery goes flat, even if you climb over the roof of the car, hang down the passenger side, unclip the cover from below the door handle, get the key in & turn it, there will be no power to operate the locks on the other doors.

Who comes up with these brain dead designs? I'd wager it's not ever about the cost or the technicalities, some marketing genius thinks it looks better and people will be superficial enough to buy on looks not on practicalities, like HTF do I get in if the battery's flat!

AdrianC

zagfles wrote: »

And to cater for flat car battery how about designing keyholes on both sides of the car? Hardly rocket science. Just on the passenger side is brain dead. The passenger door is far more likely to be inaccessible eg parked against a wall.

Which is precisely why the lock is on the side that, on the majority of cars produced, is the driver's door.


Very few cars on the UK market are designed for predominately RHD production. Even Japanese brands are often European-market models not available in Japan. Where there is a truly global model, the largest markets will likely still be LHD.

zagfles

AdrianC wrote: »

Which is precisely why the lock is on the side that, on the majority of cars produced, is the driver's door.


Very few cars on the UK market are designed for predominately RHD production. Even Japanese brands are often European-market models not available in Japan. Where there is a truly global model, the largest markets will likely still be LHD.

So lets get this straight - they're capable of producing cars for the UK market with the steering wheel, pedals etc on the right, but not with the (only) keyhole on the right :rotfl:

AdrianC

zagfles wrote: »

So lets get this straight - they're capable of producing cars for the UK market with the steering wheel, pedals etc on the right, but not with the (only) keyhole on the right :rotfl:

How often does that keyhole get used?

Why bother with the hassle and expense of making a RHF door handle with key assembly, when it's probably not going to ever be used during the life of the car?

zagfles

AdrianC wrote: »

How often does that keyhole get used?

Why bother with the hassle and expense of making a RHF door handle with key assembly, when it's probably not going to ever be used during the life of the car?

I've used mine several times when the fob battery is low.

elsien

As an aside, how long would you expect the key fob battery to last on average?

Never needed to replace in my last car, so that was 12 years and going strong before I successfully managed to write the car off.

Johnmcl7

elsien wrote: »

As an aside, how long would you expect the key fob battery to last on average?

Never needed to replace in my last car, so that was 12 years and going strong before I successfully managed to write the car off.

It depends on the car, I don't remember replacing the batteries for the fobs in my last two cars, I've replaced them once in eight years for my Mum's car but I've replaced them twice already for my current car in the four years I've had it. I'm assuming that's down to the keyless entry/start system as both fobs seem to need batteries around the same time even though one is rarely used.

When I notice the wireless range on the fob reducing I just replace them now as the batteries are cheap and it avoids problems down the line.

John

facade

zagfles wrote: »

So how do you get in to turn the ignition on? Smash the window?

Sorry, my bad writing.
Only the passenger door opens with the key, the other 3 doors stay deadlocked until the central locking releases them, which will be when the ignition is turned on.


I don't know if the passenger door would open from the inside until that happens, I'm not about to snap the plastic cover off the door handle to use the key to find out. If it won't, and the car battery is flat, then you would be stuck inside if the door closed until someone finds you, you are able to call the AA or you smash a window I guess.


Just remember that "modern" cars are better in every way than the ones we used to have in the Olden Days