A Key consideration...

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!”