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Original poster

I took my car key swimming

16 replies

Willowkins · 01/11/2020 01:10

Okay so I know this is really dumb.

I tucked the spare car key into my swimming cozzie so I wouldn't drop it and then completely forgot and went swimming. I was in the pool for 15 minutes Hmm
When I got the key open, it didn't look soaking wet so I dried it as best as I could and put it in the airing cupboard overnight.
I'll try it in the morning. What do you think - will it be alright?

OP posts:
Bargebill19 · 01/11/2020 01:14

Try the rice trick - you may also need a new battery in the fob.
I have managed to pull mine apart and dropped key in the canal - still worked!

safariboot · 01/11/2020 01:17

Assuming it has a physical key I expect that will work fine. The immobiliser uses a passive chip. The transmitter for pushing the button to open the doors uses the battery and might get damaged.

(The transmitter in my car key fob hasn't worked for months, I just have to open the door the old fashioned way with the key in the lock.)

If it's a fancy "keyless" system you might have more trouble.

GlummyMcglummerson · 01/11/2020 01:22

I've put my Ford car key in the washing machine OP twice and it's been fine! Stick it in rice to be on the safe side

Original poster
Willowkins · 01/11/2020 01:49

Love you guys for making me feel better.
I heard on the telly once that you have to be careful with rice as it might contaminate the electronics. Hence the airing cupboard. l have been out to buy a new battery just in case though.
safariboot of course that makes perfect sense - it's been so long since I actually used the key in the lock. However my DS just said it might set off the car alarm. I'm not sure I believe that but I won't try it until morning either.

OP posts:
Bargebill19 · 01/11/2020 02:14

I think rice is the least of your worries once the keys have been immersed. - that was they way I looked at it.

Anordinarymum · 01/11/2020 02:26

I went to a car boot sale and afterwards we put all the stuff in the shed. Later iIcould not find the car keys and had to use a spare which was just a key and not the fob. After a while the car would not respond to the spare and it cost me something really ridiculous to get a new key. it had to be reconfigured. It cost hundreds.

About six months afterwards I found the key.

Original poster
Willowkins · 01/11/2020 02:42

That's what I am worried about. But I got the battery out and there was no water I could see on the circuit board so I haven't given up hope yet. I guess we'll find out in the morning. If not, then you're right and my absent-mindedness will be expensive. I so nearly didn't go swimming - I think maybe my subconscious was saying Nooooo.

OP posts:
Pickypolly · 01/11/2020 05:36

Oh by accident!!
I thought from your title that you were lonely due to lock down and took it as a companion on a wee trip out Grin

Otherwise...airing cupboard..good. Hope it works for you.
Wonder what fellow swimmers thought seeing a long thing tucked in your cozzy!! Mine is a kinda large square thing key, would have looked like I was smuggling a gun box of maltesers under my cozzy!
I do get hungry though so not unusual for me.

Pickypolly · 01/11/2020 05:36

Fun

Quarantiming · 01/11/2020 06:24

DH did this. Put it in the pocket of his swimming trunks to walk from the car to the lake. How it didn't fall out of his pocket, I do not know!
It still worked - so we were able to drive home - but we put it in rice for 24 hours just in case. Never had any problems with it. Although I was planning to switch keys and claim it was the after effects of the swimming trip when I realised mine was going round and round in the washing machine...

BikeRunSki · 01/11/2020 06:50

Do the rice thing, but put your key in a pop sock first to stop the rice getting in (this was told to me by a man in the Apple shop as he was surgically removing rice from my charger port).

Then consider getting one of these dry cannisters+. It’s what I use for key for wild swimming.I have it round my neck, then tucked in to my costume.

Original poster
Willowkins · 01/11/2020 10:56

Pickypolly a couple of the other swimmers did ask if I was alright but I thought they were just being nice - it never occurred to me that they thought I was smuggling a snack into the swimming pool Grin
Right. I just need to sort out the cats and then I'll get to it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Willowkins · 01/11/2020 11:28

I just pointed the key at the car and ... it worked. Yay!
Thank you MN friends.

OP posts:
Biscuitsdisappear · 01/11/2020 14:13

I've been swimming with mine on more than one occasion : grin Grin and just let it dry out, no problems at all since.

Original poster
Willowkins · 01/11/2020 14:40

That's really good news Biscuits. I don't plan to do it again though no guarantees - I was rinsing out the cat's medicine syringe this morning and realised I was holding the car keys in my other hand Blush. Mindfulness here I come.

OP posts:
lljkk · 01/11/2020 17:10

Glad to hear all good :)

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