[V8] Lost key
Mark Hanman
av8ruk at hotmail.com
Mon Apr 18 13:44:54 PDT 2011
> 4. lost key (Kent McLean)
> Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2011 06:18:19 -0400
> From: Kent McLean <kentmclean at comcast.net>
> To: v8-list <v8 at audifans.com>, quattro <quattro at audifans.com>
> Subject: [V8] lost key
> Message-ID: <4DAC0FEB.1010704 at comcast.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> I have/had one key for my '90 Avant converted with a V8. When I took a job in
> NY 6 months ago, my significant other asked for the key in case the car needed
> to be moved. Now I can't find my key, and she denies I gave it to her.
>
> So, what to do? I tried briefly to fish a jimmy through the window stripping,
> but not knowing what it looks like behind the door, I couldn't feel something
> to hook onto to lift the door lock.
>
> Does anyone have a picture of the interior of the Type 44/V8 door?
>
> I figure once I get the door open, I can remove the cylinder and take it to the
> local locksmith.
>
> Any other suggestions to open the door and make a key?
>
> Thanks.
>
> --
> Kent McLean
Key and opening doors.
I watched my local RAC (auto club choppy, UK accent) use an inflatable bladder to wedge the door open sufficiently to then slip in a loop of some of that stiff plastic banding that people use to secure parcels. Using the tension in the banding, he then manoeuvred the loop over the locking knob, to catch it, grip it, and pull.
It is possible to 'recode' the locks to a new key, if you have sufficient brass 'tumbler' bits. So, presumably it is a relatively straightforward, but time-consuming, process to backwards engineer the code to determine the key profile. I really should get a couple of spares cut before I lock my self out again.
Here in the UK, it seems almost impossible to get the dealers interested supplying a new lock to an old profile, even with the car details.
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