Car Keys and the Beach - a little tip.

May 24, 2014
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If you are anything like me when on the beach, Im always worried about security. Modern car keys with transponder can't be taken into the sea, and if somebody rifles your belongings on the beach, a few key presses will tell them which is your car. Dangerous to leave your keys unattended, so what to do.

I came up with the idea of the key blade without transponder, so at leaset the keys could be hidden inside the car and the car deadlocked. The keyblade could then be worn around the neck on a cord whilst in the sea. So with this in mind I went to Mitsubishi to be told they could only supply a key with transponder and i could have one unprogrammed for £70. As you can guess, we left and on the car park the girl from service followed us out and suggested that in the local village was a lock smith they used for when people were locked out of their cars. A quick visit to him and we had exactly what we wanted for £3 each. Sorted.
 
Apr 7, 2008
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If i lock mine with just the key instead of using the fob mine still sets the alarm and it goes off if i just use the key to open the door .... check if it will work before you go looking for a spare key cutting ;)
 
Nov 16, 2015
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Just checked mine, lock and unlock with key, no alarm goes off, lock with Fob, unlock with key , still no alarm goes off, leave car unlocked, windows half down, open door, dogs go off. :woohoo:
 
May 24, 2014
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My alarm only activates via the fob. Most cars are like this, how else could you turn the alarms off on the ferry?
 
Nov 16, 2015
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My old vectra 3.0 diesel, was the other way round, alarms were set by the key but the immobiliser for the engine was set by the fob, so if you locked it by the fob and opened by the key the car would open alarms would go off but you could not start the car.
 
Jul 15, 2008
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.......if you leave your car keys with your car you are almost certainly breaking your insurance conditions.
The keys may be hidden but I personally would not take the risk of loosing the vehicle and it's monetary value.
 
May 7, 2012
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Gafferbill is correct it, would be a breach of your insurance policy not to set the alarm and could mean any claim was turned down. In most cars setting the alarm makes a small red light flash to show that it is not working. Not setting it means the light will not flash and could alert thieves to this.
 
May 24, 2014
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Very true about the insurance, but Im sure also the insurance would take a dim view if the car were stolen and the keys left unattended on the beach. Im not saying its perfect, but its a little more secure. On the beach last year, at Godrevy, a number of people had their belongings rifled.
 
May 7, 2012
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This is a difficult one. The only totally safe solution is that one person stays with the belongings at all times.
 
Apr 7, 2008
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Thingy said:
My alarm only activates via the fob. Most cars are like this, how else could you turn the alarms off on the ferry?

My key has the transponder moulded into the key ....if i open the door and the alarm sounds when i put the key into the ignition the key is read the alarm goes off and the truck will start, but to make life easy i just use the fob ...

The wifes car is totally keyless ... that's fun when she gets out of the car and walks away from it with the key in her bag luckily the car stays running.... so if we use hers i carry the spare fob ....
 
May 24, 2014
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As Raywood says, but if there is only two people together, its a bit of a drag taking turns. I aprreciate the idea isnt perfect, but I feel its better than leaving your keys unattended. The idea falls down with keyless ignition, but for us mere mortals, it works fine ;)

On the XC70, there was an area pinned down under the boot floor that was held shut by the rear hatch, so if the car was deadlocked, even smashing the windows wouldnt allow them access.
 

Mel

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Mar 17, 2007
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I have a Tilley hat. Ridiculously expensive but it has a pocket in the crown where I can keep keys, B) B) :cheer: Plus it stops mey face getting sunburned.
Mel
 
Jul 15, 2008
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.......I have always been a beach lover and as I always keep valuables such as money, bank cards.watches.etc with me. then car keys are just one more thing to worry about.
I always leave them being guarded or I don't go swimming.
It never ceases to amaze me what people leave unattended and such easy pickings.
 
Nov 16, 2015
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Mel, they are expensive hats, but as long as you have registed them, even if you lose them you get a free replacment, pocket holds emergency cash an a couple of dog poo bags , empty of course, before any one calls me , Il merdi tete.
 
Jun 24, 2005
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Thingy said:
My alarm only activates via the fob. Most cars are like this, how else could you turn the alarms off on the ferry?

Most modern cars have a button on the dashboard which deactivates the movement sensor. This enables you to leave animals in a locked car, on the ferry, without them setting the alarm off. Mind you, the number of times I hear alarms going off on the ferry implies that quite a few people don't know of the existence of this facility!
 
Nov 16, 2015
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Are the ferry companies worried about alarms , no bodys down there apart from crew. I dont lock the car as there is nothing left in the car and anyone can get the hounds out if required.
As for the beach. Plastic bag for the keys. But UK beaches to cold.
 
Aug 11, 2010
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simple. buy an old ford from the 90s for when you want to go to the beach. cheaper than a fob replacement and no worries about where to hide your key or go to a beach like the one at Monaco where there is almost zero crime bar counterfeit Euro,s. .. but don't take the 90s ford to Monaco as thats a crime in itself..
 
May 24, 2014
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:cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

Two things wrong with the old Ford idea. Firstly an old Ford probably wouldnt reach the beach, especially if it was raining, which it will be. Secondly, no need to worry about a key, you dont need one to start an old Ford, if it is willing to start in the first place.

Apart from that, Im a figure of mirth on the beach anyway these days, why would I make it worse by turning up in a Ford of ANY vintage.
 
Aug 11, 2010
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Thingy said:
:cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

Two things wrong with the old Ford idea. Firstly an old Ford probably wouldnt reach the beach, especially if it was raining, which it will be. Secondly, no need to worry about a key, you dont need one to start an old Ford, if it is willing to start in the first place.

Apart from that, Im a figure of mirth on the beach anyway these days, why would I make it worse by turning up in a Ford of ANY vintage.
the old ford remark was just that. no need to worry about having to find a special place to leave your modern keyfob whilst on the beach, so no worries about insurance being invalid . hey i'll have you know my old R reg mondeo got me to monaco and back TWICE in the 90s.. LOL.
 
Aug 4, 2014
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I go to the beach a lot surfing and have a lockbox which you can clip round the tow hook or wheel strut then put the key in the box and put a code in the front no one can get int it without your 4 digit code. A lot of surfers use these and I've never known anyone to have problems with them. (Just don't forget your code!) :)
 

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