Cannot manually unlock door using physical key

[MG Clive]

If you do hide the spare in the car make sure it's in a Faraday pouch.

Good advice, but any key hidden on the car should probably be a mechanical key only, without any built-in electronics.

 

[Ian Key]

Good advice, but any car hidden on the car should probably be a mechanical key only, without any built-in electronics.

Its a conundrum. If you only have a mechanical key unless you had your phone with you you still wouldn't be able to start the car, and if you have your phone you don't need a mechanical key.

I think in @DixieTGS case, as they often go out without their phone, it would be better to apply the KISS principle and use a safety pin to attach the key-fob to the lining of their pocket so it can't be stolen or lost.

 

[DixieTGS]

The mechanical key plus old phone always in the car method also helps if you have your phone snatched to some extent. a) you have a phone to use as soon as you get back to the car and b) you can use it to disable ismart on the stolen phone or even the whole phone if you want.

Having said that, I rarely visit town centres etc so I'm not too worried about that myself.

 

[Deleted member 2148]

I didn't realise that. But the point of the physical key is as a backup if the remote control is not working, and if the remote doesn't work, I wonder how I turn the alarm off ...

Place key fob in emergency detection position in car.

 

[Sam S]

You do not have to put the key in the centre arm rest, it will usually be detected on your person. The centre console position is if you have a weak fob battery.

In respect of the mechanical key, the only references to it I've seen posted is when the 12V battery fails (and so the alarm will not sound) and you need to lift the bonnet.

Others have found it very stiff and there is a YouTube video showing how to use it.

When I had to use the mechanical key, I found there was little leverage to turn it and it was digging into my fingers. I used a micro fibre cloth I had handy to wrap around it and it worked fine. A small bulldog clip or similar might get to get a grip on the key .

 

[John1941]

I posted my experience a while back, flat 12v battery. I couldn't get the mechanical key to work. The AA sorted it for me.