I have a problem with my doors locking with the key in the ignition. This is really becoming a problem. I leave my keys in the ignition and close the door and become locked out of my car.How can I fix this

Quit leaving your keys in the ignition when you close the doors? jk

That isnt in the manual






IBTM to OT

What year? Do you have key-less entry?

Dave T.

I had this problem with my '96 c4 / replaced the battery in the key fob and have not had the problem since. dS

If you can't remember to take your keys out of the ignition, keep and extra door key in your shoe.

The problem is covered in the owners manual. But it is probably locked in the car.
Solution: Physically rock the car to "wake up" the key fob. Your doors will unlock automatically.

Can the key fob be dipped in a solution of no-doze?

I've locked my keys in the car a bunch of times (I know.. I know...). And it usually happened in the most inconvenient places (200 miles form home or when I double parked in a friend who was in a hurry).
So I got pissed off and installed a push button somewhere under the car and wired it onto the door unlock button wire on the drivers door. Works great and I've used it a few times since. But it takes a little work.

Before I installed it I was always paranoid that I'd lock my keys in again. Never though about it again and it's happened less since.

Bye

It does this even if you have the PKE system turned off?

We all know the system isn't supposed to lock the doors with the keys in the ignition, but it has been known to happen.

But if you turn the system off, the door should never lock by itself.
If it still locks with the system off, then you have some weird issues going on.

This does work.

In my garage I keep the keys in and on occasion it locks. Sometimes it just unlocks by itself but sometimes not. I just rock the car and it opens. Battery in the FOB is just fine.

But you know I always have a door spare key close by.

Leave the window down....

Hire a chauffeur .... end of problem!

Just turn the system off, and you won't have any issues.
The only time I even turn PKE on, is if I am going to be parking the car out of sight somewhere.

I have done that and guess what happens when you open the door. The system is still armed and the horn goes off. Then what, bad move. Just rock the car and disarm it.


Love my PKE, never turn it off. If I park the car it is usually out of sight. Besides, these are the seldom problems, it usually behaves, I have no present complaints.

This was first post that popped up when I did a search of my issue and there are a lot of smart a$$ answers to a legitimate problem. My issue is this, my PKE has quit working, my car will remained locked if I lock with auto lock button on door panel and leave key in ignition, this is not done on purpose, but as troubleshooting, so it is a legitimate issue. So aside from all the smart a$$e$, how about some help.....

PLEASE READ THOROUGHLY

Leave key in ignition, open door, use door lock button, close door, doors remain locked.......... Do both doors have to be opened and closed.......?
door buzzer works by the way.....
this is connected to PKE not working, I just don't know how........
PKE worked after buying new FOB, ( no fob with car when bought) but quit after working on lighting issue with center console apart.......
Replaced PKE module with known good module,still will not work......
It does some strange things when attempting to program.

Attempt to program.......
PKE light will not come on.....
turn key to off, lock position, PKE light comes on solid
Leave key in, PKE light stays on, no flash ever, well, almost never
Take key out, PKE light stays on
Close door, PKE light stays on
Put key back in, Light goes off, or bring FOB in and rattle and light goes off
with key still in, bring FOB in and rattle to wake the FOB, the light will flicker, not flash.........

all fuses are good......... Alarm works......... door buzzer works..........interior lighting works when activated with passenger side or drivers side key lock........

However, If I unlock passenger side door with key and use passenger side door lock switch to unlock drivers door, alarm will sound........

while working on lighting for the center section of interior, (HVAC, DIC AND SHIFTER BACKLIGHTING NOT WORKING WITH AFTERMARKET RADIO.) Factory radio fixed all of this...
However, while troubleshooting lights prior to radio replacement, PKE light and rear hatch went haywire....... PKE light fluttered and flickered, rear hatch switch activated multiple times, all of this without input from me........
car was put back together with aftermarket radio, PKE would not work, but did prior to what is described, radio is replaced with factory radio, still no PKE, but lighting issue fixed.....

Ihatebarkingdogs, thanks for that information. I will check those things today. I was not aware of the 21 minute thing. First I ever heard of it.....

More not-to-the-point info:
PKE is a device of the devil ;-) When i got my '96 it had the wrong fob and was not working. Fool that I am, I got the proper fob, got it turned on and working. I found it to be a PIA, turned it off and put the fob away. Then it started having random fits of locking-unlocking doors and opening rear hatch. Rather embarrassing in the Walmart parking lot. Being a neo-ludite, I pulled a fuse, #40, if I remember right, and the problem has not recurred. On my '95 the PKE was turned off when i got it and I have never turned it on nor had any such problem.
The '96 has an aftermarket radio, the '95 is stock.

When mine worked, it worked flawlessly....
Getting ready to do the suggested troubleshooting