It was Sunday night and we had to meet a couple for dinner
at 6:30 p.m. My wife was fretting about
the ice in the driveway and I was watching a football game. She came in to obsess
about the ice that had formed on my windshield and how it was never going to
melt. She decided to run the defrosters at full blast for a while to end her
concern, and came in and got my keys.
I was paying no attention, and it never crossed my mind try
and explain the automatic locking system my car has, as it really never made
much sense to me although I never had any problems. Basically, the vehicle will
automatically lock and re-arm itself after 40 seconds if you have not removed
the key. This includes a running car!
I have only one key for the car and it includes an embedded
emergency key inside of the actual key, both in the car. A new key (an extra
one) was intended to be purchased, but at the Mercedes dealer the key cost $350
and what in the world would I need it for? I have never lost my keys before.
It was cold, we were nearing the time to leave, my car was
running in the driveway and I was going to kill someone very soon. My wife had
closed the door on a running car so it would be warm inside.
I called CAA of course, but I had no comparable emergency as
I was at home watching football anyway. They had given estimates (there had
been a snow/ice storm for the last 24 hours) of a minimum of 3 hours up to
five.
I Googled my query and found an Auto Key Pro in Hamilton and
called. For money, he would come out immediately, about 30 minutes. He also guaranteed
not to harm my car by scratching or breaking parts and could get me a key for
less. I took him at his word and he came running.
He arrived in 25 minutes and worked at lubricating and
picking the lock for about 45 minutes and it didn’t work. He then suggested we
cut a new emergency key which I would pay for but would keep, and using my car’s
VIN number he could make it and cut it in his van for and extra $60. OK!
He made a key and I am glad he was a good guy (making a car
key in the back of a van from a VIN number scares me on many levels) because he
did it instantly. The emergency key will open the door, not start the car and
would give me a backup if I ever let my wife near my car again which probably
won’t happen.
After 15 minutes or so the frozen lock guy was giving up and
asked if I had ever used the door lock before. “No, never” was my response, so
he thought it may be broken. He gave it to me to play with and in 3 tries I got
it open! The lock had been frozen!
In the end we made it to the restaurant, I never saw the end
of the game, and it cost me $180 with tax. I will get the rest of the key from
the guy in the New Year for an extra $200 and will have a sound sleep.
But it always goes to show you, as my Aunt Ida told years
ago, “For Money You Get Honey!”
