To expect to RETURN after the school run in the SAME CAR AS I LEFT IN????

[QuintessentialShadows]

I went with my kids on the morning school run in our lovely big charcoal metallic SUV (well, a second hand Fiat Stilo to be fair.)

I returned home in a 17 year old tiny white Fiat Tipo with only 3 working seats, the car stinks of petrol and leaves a stinking grey FOG behind it where it goes. At least, it is one step up from a horsedrawn carriage, comfortwise....

It is currently outside my bedroom window. I am hiding it from my neighbours.

[Ripeberry]

What happened??

[QuintessentialShadows]

The doors malfunctioned.
I dropped off my 6 year old to school first. He couldnt get out. Neither could I. I killed the engine, clicked the "open" button on the car key. Nada. I rolled down my window and tried to open my door manually with the key. Nada.

Suddenly there was a clicking sound, and I could open my door, but not the kids. Not from the inside and not from the outside. The boys had to crawl out and leave through my door.

I took the car straight back to the dealership. It is there. They have ordered new locking mechanisms. NOt sure when I get the car back.

They have lent me a car from their stock, that they possibly cant imagine they will ever sell.... But at least I have transport. And it is still under warranty.

[suedonim]

Crikey, that must have been exciting for your dc! We once had kind of the opposite problem. Dh started the car, came back into the house for something, went back out and found the central locking had triggered and he couldn't open any of the doors. By the time Ford had been contacted and sent a technician to sort it out, the car had been sitting on our drive, idling, for five hours!

[QuintessentialShadows]

So, you couldnt get in and we couldnt get out. Am I alone in thinking there is too much technology in cars these days??

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

Deffo too much technology! Which is why I secretly love my ancient Landrover over and above my main car. It may be rusty and held together with horseshit, but it doesn't beep at me, it doesn't lock me out and it doesn't need to be plugged into the dealers computer at £100 a time to be 're-booted' (before they even start trying to fix it).

And sympathies to QS, when my car is being fixed, my mechanic lends me whatever he happens to have around. There have been some real shockers!

[suedonim]

Too right, Duchesse! My previous car didn't even have central locking. When dh sometimes gently mocked me about it I said it was a special security device as only one door at a time could be opened.

QS, that car had given us warning, I suppose, in that it had occasionally locked while we were in it but we'd never considered the scenario of the engine being on with no one inside. The windscreen wipers used to sometimes spring into life unbidden, as well. Luckily it was a company car so they sorted out the glitches.

[coolkat]

My friends mum some how managed to lock her granddaughter in the car the other day with the keys thanks to the joy of central locking! Luckily her DH was working near by!

[QuintessentialShadows]

My central locking had been disabled on this car. So it shouldnt really happen! The thought that all the doors can simply lock when you are driving, and leave you all STUCK on the inside is really just silly. Could be dangerous too.

[QuintessentialShadows]

Wuhei! I am going to get my car back! weekend is saved...