Locked out

[Everest]

Sorry, no idea, just a hunch - I don't have a google account, but I thought I once accessed someone's document on their google account.

So was guessing there is a setting to make it generally available - hopefully someone more trusting of Google with one of their accounts can chip in?

 

[flawia]

Right - just uploaded to youtube as the google drive doesnt seem to make it easy

 

[MG Clive]

That's weird @flawia, there's no logical reason why it should do that, definitely one for the MG Dealer to have a look at.

 

[Everest]

And for the RAC to reimburse you for the locksmith's costs.

 

[Martinonline]

@flawia, could you please do one more trial, if you have not done it, and this time just open and close the boot without putting the key in. This will confirm or reject the need for the key to be present in the car for the car to lock and may reveal that open/closing any door causes the car to lock.

As I have reported I cannot repeat your outcome following the same procedure, with and without a key. It may be that our software is different; could you please answer my questions in post #50.

I am currently waiting for the DRLs to go out having placed the key in the boot previously. This to see if it is the presence of the key after the 30 minute DRL out time can trigger the issue without the boot opening being involved. Unlikely given previous attempts but adds to the knowledge.

Thanks in advance.

 

[flawia]

@flawia, I carried out your procedure on my 23 reg Trophy and had to wait 30 minutes before the DRLs went out. Then I just opened and closed the boot - nothing happened. I then went indoors and retrieved the key from its Faraday pouch, opened the boot and put the key in and closed the boot. Again the car remained unlocked.

If the problem is consistent then there must be something seriously wrong and a dealer must investigate.

As an aside, please tell what the car's infotainment version is and whether the car has had the software fix to the locked-in recall. This info may not be linked but it is background knowledge.

Not sure where to find infotainment version - is this the Entertainment system version? if yes, it is: SWI68-29958-1300R30 and the Telecommunication version is SNAKP18E32.

 

[Kithmo]

Right - just uploaded to youtube as the google drive doesnt seem to make it easy

That looks like the 30 second auto lock feature to me, which shouldn't engage after opening the boot.
I tried unlocking mine, without opening a door, but opened the boot to chuck the key in and the car didn't auto lock. I also did the same without chucking the key in and again it didn't lock.

 

[Martinonline]

Yes, @flawia, that is the information I sought. R30 is an old version, my Trophy is at R33, bought April 2023, and there are updates to 40, 59 and 63, each with their foibles. So a few questions to see if who carried out the car's services carried out the mandatory software updates.

When the car was provided did the supplier mention a DVSA recall to fix a locking safety issue? And when it was first serviced did the dealer mention SCUK001? When the second service was done did they mention SC077?

When you use ACC and give the left wheel button a quick update push does the set speed increase by 5mph or 1mph?

Do the car's lights come on automatically in a not really dark situation?

Do you have any problems with the Lane Keeping Assistance jerking the steering wheel or would you consider it a gentle nudge?

 

[flawia]

@flawia, could you please do one more trial, if you have not done it, and this time just open and close the boot without putting the key in. This will confirm or reject the need for the key to be present in the car for the car to lock and may reveal that open/closing any door causes the car to lock.

As I have reported I cannot repeat your outcome following the same procedure, with and without a key. It may be that our software is different; could you please answer my questions in post #50.

I am currently waiting for the DRLs to go out having placed the key in the boot previously. This to see if it is the presence of the key after the 30 minute DRL out time can trigger the issue without the boot opening being involved. Unlikely given previous attempts but adds to the knowledge.

Thanks in advance.

I have just done it, the key makes no difference. The car locks itself after shutting the boot. Will try again later with a different door.

Yes, @flawia, that is the information I sought. R30 is an old version, my Trophy is at R33, bought April 2023, and there are updates to 40, 59 and 63, each with their foibles. So a few questions to see if who carried out the car's services carried out the mandatory software updates.

When the car was provided did the supplier mention a DVSA recall to fix a locking safety issue? And when it was first serviced did the dealer mention SCUK001? When the second service was done did they mention SC077?

When you use ACC and give the left wheel button a quick update push does the set speed increase by 5mph or 1mph?

Do the car's lights come on automatically in a not really dark situation?

Do you have any problems with the Lane Keeping Assistance jerking the steering wheel or would you consider it a gentle nudge?

The car was serviced about 7-8 weeks ago. I know that a software update was done as the lane assist doesn't try to kill me anymore, but not sure about other updates you have mentioned. And no, I have not heard about any re-calls...

That looks like the 30 second auto lock feature to me, which shouldn't engage after opening the boot.
I tried unlocking mine, without opening a door, but opened the boot to chuck the key in and the car didn't auto lock. I also did the same without chucking the key in and again it didn't lock.

Thank you for checking. As I have just done it again, this time without the key and the car locked itself, I think you are right and it is the auto lock feature. I am wondering why this is happening with mine and not yours or any other ones...

 

[Everest]

Thank you for checking. As I have just done it again, this time without the key and the car locked itself, I think you are right and it is the auto lock feature. I am wondering why this is happening with mine and not yours or any other ones...

I'm going to hazard a guess here. Cars made in the last 20 or so years that have central locking will automatically re-lock themselves after about 30s if no doors are opened. This is to prevent a car being left in an unlocked state if (for example) the keyfob was accidentally pressed near the car, but not attempt to get in was made.

If the car's door / boot is opened, the vehicle detects that event and should then disable the re-lock timer. However, if the micro-switch / proximity detector that detects the door being opened has failed, the car will not know that the door / boot has been opened and hence cannot disable the re-lock timer.

I guess you could check if that is the problem by seeing if the boot light illuminates when the boot is opened - if it doesn't then it sounds like a faulty switch to me... Having said that, do I recall that the MG4 doesn't have a boot light - in which case you can't check it that way - suggest you have the dealer look into it.

 

[MG Clive]

Right - just uploaded to youtube as the google drive doesnt seem to make it easy

Does the same thing happen if you put the key in the front of the car, instead of the boot ?

 

[siteguru]

There is a boot light (as I recall) but it's not very bright.

The recall was RC008, but I would have expected your car to have already been done. However, since you're still on 1300R30 then that could mean a lot of other things haven't been updated.

You could do worse than use the MOT checker, scroll down on the results and check the Recalls section. Before mine got RC008 there was a recall listed there.

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

 

[flawia]

There is a boot light (as I recall) but it's not very bright.

The recall was RC008, but I would have expected your car to have already been done. However, since you're still on 1300R30 then that could mean a lot of other things haven't been updated.

You could do worse than use the MOT checker, scroll down on the results and check the Recalls section. Before mine got RC008 there was a recall listed there.

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/

No recalls there. I'm booked with the garage for the 30th of July.. apparently the first available date. See what they say but they were not overally helpful over the phone.

 

[flawia]

So I just did another test - this time just opening the passenger door and closing it, no key involved. The car auto locked itself. Is this an expected behavior?

 

[MG Clive]

So I just did another test - this time just opening the passenger door and closing it, no key involved. The car auto locked itself. Is this an expected behavior?

No, when the car is unlocked, and a door has been opened, the car should remain unlocked until you lock it with either the key or the lock button on the door handle.

 

[siteguru]

I agree. So your car has a fundamental issue - probably software-related.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

Maybe the aerial/receiver for the boot area is kapput and then not recognising the key, the other aerials in the car are either too far away for the strength emitted by the key . As earlier suggested try a new keyfob battery with the same technique .
Lock the car fully, then try to just use the keyfob to unlock the boot from a distance with an assistant physically opening the latch , keep going closer until it or does or does not work , this could possibly test the aerial. Repeat with the new battery. Good luck.

 

[Martinonline]

So I just did another test - this time just opening the passenger door and closing it, no key involved. The car auto locked itself. Is this an expected behavior?

Thank you for providing all this information and good luck with your dealer. What is happening is not the correct behaviour; it does not happen with my Trophy. As @MG Clive states the car should not lock itself once a door has been opened and that includes the boot.

In respect of the trial in the quotes, was the open/closing after the DRLs had gone off or did it happen with the DRLs on?

It could be a proper safety issue in that if you had a passenger and you left them in the unlocked car for greater than 30 minutes (DRLs) off then if they opened and closed the door without getting out the car would lock. Without the key they would not be able to get out of the car except via the boot emergency route. According to a manual pressing the unlock button inside a locked car triggers the alarm.

So best to leave a passenger with the key.

 

[Everest]

or a hammer.

 

[Martinonline]

or a hammer.

Yes, every EV should have a window smasher and a battery booster. Mine are in the centre console.