Urgent help required - please - someone !!!

[Teaman]

Hello to all

I live in SW France and I am new to the 4x4 experience and so far it has not been a good one. I paid 5k euros for a 1997 Maverick last Wednesday 29/12, did a 400km trip to collect some shetland ponies on Friday 31/12, got home switched off the engine and it would not start again. Hmmm, battery perhaps. Charged it overnight. Still wouldn't start. I tried all the suggestions on this forum but to no avail.
I had to ask a friend to contact the guy I brought it from because I don't speak French. The seller came the same afternoon, tried everything I had already done and concluded (as I had) that is was starter motor related. He came back this morning and replaced the starter motor with a new one! Hooray :clap
I moved the Maverick a few feet to a more sensible place on my drive, had a cup of coffee, went to open the rear door - LOCKED! All the doors are locked with, naturally, the keys in the ignition. I have no spare key so anyone got any suggestions - PLEASE!!

 

[briggie]

Hello to all

I live in SW France and I am new to the 4x4 experience and so far it has not been a good one. I paid 5k euros for a 1997 Maverick last Wednesday 29/12, did a 400km trip to collect some shetland ponies on Friday 31/12, got home switched off the engine and it would not start again. Hmmm, battery perhaps. Charged it overnight. Still wouldn't start. I tried all the suggestions on this forum but to no avail.
I had to ask a friend to contact the guy I brought it from because I don't speak French. The seller came the same afternoon, tried everything I had already done and concluded (as I had) that is was starter motor related. He came back this morning and replaced the starter motor with a new one! Hooray :clap
I moved the Maverick a few feet to a more sensible place on my drive, had a cup of coffee, went to open the rear door - LOCKED! All the doors are locked with, naturally, the keys in the ignition. I have no spare key so anyone got any suggestions - PLEASE!!

apart from breaking a window .... are you in some sort of motoring organisation ?

 

[briggie]

however im sure someone will be along shortly who is more knowledgable than me with a less dramatic and less damaging solution :thumb2

 

[Teaman]

Hi briggie
I was afraid the window suggestion may come up - spares are so expensive here I was hoping to avoid that course of action.
It does beg the question though, why did the doors lock in the first place. Have I done something to cause it to happen. Is it because the battery was disconnected when the starter motor was replaced? I did reset the clock, would this have caused the problem?
I do have breakdown cover with my insurance but what can they do other than the window option?

 

[briggie]

Hi briggie
I was afraid the window suggestion may come up - spares are so expensive here I was hoping to avoid that course of action.
It does beg the question though, why did the doors lock in the first place. Have I done something to cause it to happen. Is it because the battery was disconnected when the starter motor was replaced? I did reset the clock, would this have caused the problem?
I do have breakdown cover with my insurance but what can they do other than the window option?

im not expert , but possibly you have accidently activated the alarm / immobilisor/central locking .. if your mav has such a system , breakdown cover may be able to pick the lock or something , is your sunroof slightly open ? ...... im making a phone call , dont panic just yet

 

[rayf3262]

Take the VIN and or key ID number to a Ford/Nissan dealer and ask for a key to be cut?
you only need to operate the drivers door lock, nothing else...

 

[briggie]

Take the VIN and or key ID number to a Ford/Nissan dealer and ask for a key to be cut?
you only need to operate the drivers door lock, nothing else...

apart from the above suggestion , all of the suggestions ive been given involve damage to your vehicle in some way ..... best suggestion is to try the above solution suggested by ray

 

[cncfabs]

Hello to all

I live in SW France and I am new to the 4x4 experience and so far it has not been a good one. I paid 5k euros for a 1997 Maverick last Wednesday 29/12, did a 400km trip to collect some shetland ponies on Friday 31/12, got home switched off the engine and it would not start again. Hmmm, battery perhaps. Charged it overnight. Still wouldn't start. I tried all the suggestions on this forum but to no avail.
I had to ask a friend to contact the guy I brought it from because I don't speak French. The seller came the same afternoon, tried everything I had already done and concluded (as I had) that is was starter motor related. He came back this morning and replaced the starter motor with a new one! Hooray :clap
I moved the Maverick a few feet to a more sensible place on my drive, had a cup of coffee, went to open the rear door - LOCKED! All the doors are locked with, naturally, the keys in the ignition. I have no spare key so anyone got any suggestions - PLEASE!!

I had that happen to me if you connect the battery with the doors shut it locks the car.apart from other suggestions most people in the trade could get into it for you you can buy tools to do this although they are more difficult than they used to be .coat hanger used to suffice but the locks have guards to prevent easy access down the window rubber these days

 

[solarman216]

it all locked up because you tried to open the rear door with the key in the ignition it is programed to do that, with the key in the ignition you have to open the drivers door first then the rear door, lesson learnt, as for getting in, your drivers door lock will probably be well worn, unless a plip was mostly used, so you will probably be able to open it with a similar double sided key, and a bit of jigling, failing that or a proper key then the passenger door window will be the best option, Rick

 

[11redrex]

If anyone does have an answer, please don't post it publicly, PM the OP instead.

Are you a paid up member Teaman ?

 

[jims-terrano]

If anyone does have an answer, please don't post it publicly, PM the OP instead.

Are you a paid up member Teaman ?

Good idea:thumbs

PM Sent.

Jim

 

[solarman216]

it all locked up because you tried to open the rear door with the key in the ignition it is programed to do that, with the key in the ignition you have to open the drivers door first then the rear door, lesson learnt, as for getting in, your drivers door lock will probably be well worn, unless a plip was mostly used, so you will probably be able to open it with a similar double sided key, and a bit of jigling, failing that or a proper key then the passenger door window will be the best option, Rick

incidently if you do break a window I am breaking a Mk 1 T2 if the windows are the same I will happily post you one, if you cover post and packing, Rick

 

[rustic]

incidently if you do break a window I am breaking a Mk 1 T2 if the windows are the same I will happily post you one, if you cover post and packing, Rick

Good offer, but if you want to get one locally, find out what they have in stock..

When you ask them, they will be surprised when you say ... I don't know, I haven't broken it yet !:lol:lol

Most garages can find a way in without a brick.

 

[Teaman]

Latest update:

Sincere thanks to everyone who replied to my posting. It has taken about 2 hours but I now have the keys in my hand - and no damage to the vehicle. :thumb2. I won't make that mistake again!!!

A bit late I know but may I wish everyone a Very Happy (and hopefully prosperous) 2011.

Thanks again

Paul

 

[Teaman]

About me

Now my emergency is over, let me introduce myself.

My name is Paul and I live with my partner Maria in the Lot-et-Garonne in SW France. We have a smallholding where we breed miniature Shetland ponies. Apart from the ponies we both enjoy fishing (when the opportunity presents itself) and have spent many hours fishing the Lot river which is local to us. I believe there are large fish to be caught, wild carp of 40kg+, but sadly I have yet to confirm this myself.

The weather here is very similar to that in the UK except the summers are very hot - too hot to do much at all. Consequently we will be moving to Correze in the near future where the summer temperatures will hopefully be lower and more acceptable.

I brought my Maverick for towing my horse trailer because my Tranny is a bit old and 'worse for wear' now. I do like my new vehicle but fear I may be contacting the experts on this site frequently because the handbook that was supplied with the vehicle is in French. I can follow pictures but the text ......:nenau

Gotta go now

Paul

 

[zippy656]

we welcome.

fir point bonnet open or closed?

if you can DISCONET the battery..

bonnet closed..

maybe you can disconnect the EARTH from the battery.. may work no idea really

 

[briggie]

for the benefit of the forum , perhaps you could describe how you got the keys without causing any damage ? :thumb2

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

Welcome, I keep Shetlands ponies (for driving) in Sunny Shropshire! we will have to compare notes :thumb2

 

[Teaman]

briggie

Sorry but 11redrex recommended not to make any suggestions public so, not wanting to upset anyone, I would prefer not to go into detail here but if anyone needs to know I will be more than happy to explain by PM. I would, however, recommend that anyone with just one key goes and gets a spare one cut. I will be doing just that first thing Monday morning.

PLANK

Sounds like a good idea. We have just bought a shetland that would be ideal to drive, the downside is that like everything else over here, any equine driving equipment is diabolically expensive. Also shetlands are not as popular in France as they are in the UK but they are growing in popularity.

Paul

 

[BigBlack]

Bad idea!!!

for the benefit of the forum , perhaps you could describe how you got the keys without causing any damage ? :thumb2

Good idea!!! :thumb2

Sorry but 11redrex recommended not to make any suggestions public so, not wanting to upset anyone, I would prefer not to go into detail here but if anyone needs to know I will be more than happy to explain by PM.