Locked out of my 1997 R129 SL 500

[Roger Jones]

Not sure whether this belongs in electronics . . .

I was locked out of my newly arrived 1997 SL 500 on Friday. I heard a knocking sound from the offside, so drew into a lay-by, left the engine running, got out and shut the door (the knocking came from a loose jacking-point cover). Within seconds it had locked itself. I can only conclude that this is because Automatic Locking When Driving was switched on. Can anyone confirm this? Too much clever dicky, eh? A response on another forum suggests that this may not be uncommon.

I had to wait two hours for the breakdown service (under my insurance) to arrive, but within about 15 minutes he had got in using the traditional hook-through-window-gap technique. Fortunately, the door plunger was protruding half way up, so he managed to get purchase on it, but only just. It's the first time in 30 years I've had to call out a breakdown service.

The only relevant thing in the manual is:

"There is a risk of being locked out when pushing the vehicle, changing wheels, or on a dynamometer. The vehicle will lock when the electronic key is in position 2 in the ignition lock and the front left-hand wheel is turned."

None of that applied, although I had taken all the wheels off to change the centre caps a few hours earlier. The manual does recommend always having the spare remote control with you, this being a credit-card shape/size device; perhaps MB know something. I've never carried two keys before.

It hasn't spoiled my immense enjoyment of a great car. Better than keeping the money in a 0.5% savings account, for sure. Automatic Locking When Driving has been switched off and will stay that way unless someone diagnoses differently. I've never locked doors while driving, as it made me feel less secure, perverse though that may seem.

 

[Nibbo]

Mine wont lock until I reach 5 mph and I think that can be switched off in the cluster option.
Can't imagine why someone would program a car to lock itself when standing still with the engine running? Seems a bit odd to me.

 

[Roger Jones]

Thanks, Nibbo. Yes, that's how mine was behaving and I've switched it off.

My car arrived with only one key, so I'm ordering another one. If you have two, you could test the system by switching the autolocking on and doing as I did, while keeping the second key in your pocket or outside the car.

RJ
(from Stroud, originally)

 

[Ronnie]

It should no be able to do that, as this would be a major safety issue if small children were inside the car when you vacated it....

 

[Smiley]

Crikey; never had that happen to me when I had my SL500, maybe mine was switched off - but there were times that it was left running with the door closed. Maybe just to be 100% sure for the future the answer is to lower the drivers window.
It was a good check of your car's cooling system just after you bought it.

 

[Roger Jones]

"It was a good check of your car's cooling system just after you bought it"

I had popped out for a quick spin and wasn't clothed for the chilly evening outdoors, so was glad of the heat as I waited for the breakdown service. There was no sign of overheating, but I wonder how much petrol was guzzled.

On the safety issue, I guess people would say never leave children in the car with the engine running.

Don't worry, I shan't do it again.

I'm hoping that someone with two keys can replicate the problem.

 

[renault12ts]

It should no be able to do that, as this would be a major safety issue if small children were inside the car when you vacated it....

Indeed. Very dangerous to leave small kids in a car with the keys in the ignition!

Does the car lock itself if you just close the door and turn on the engine(without moving the car )?

 

[Roger Jones]

With the autolocking on, it doesn't come into effect until you get moving, but I think that may be at 10 mph or even less.

 

[renault12ts]

Roger, I know how its supposed to work because I have it. But try recreating what you did at the road side ( but with window open ).

 

[Roger Jones]

Sorry, I misread your question. The answer is no.

 

[renault12ts]

BTW I think ( though no doubt someone will correct me ) that in the event of an accident the doors will be unlocked automatically.

 

[Roger Jones]

You are right: "The doors unlock automatically at a precisely defined impact force".

 

[Nibbo]

RJ (from Stroud, originally)

Ha Ha... I am Stroud born and bred.

 

[Smiley]

so you could have asked someone to ram your car to check it worked.....

 

[Rory]

Fortunately, the door plunger was protruding half way up, so he managed to get purchase on it, but only just.

You couldn't have nudged the button as you got out, could you?

Have you checked to see if its repeatable? I was going to suggest opening the drivers wndow first but it would be annoying if it auto-closed, so make sure the spare mechanical key works - it's possible the remote might not work with the engine running.


Don't mean this to sound smart alec, but I don't think I'd ever get out of my car and leave the keys in it, much less the engine running, for fear of someone jumping and making off.

 

[BTB 500]

My '97 SL500 doesn't have auto locking

The Vito does, activated via the cluster menus as mentioned.

 

[SLKrazy]

Another option given the correct circumstances....
If this situation arises and you have your mobile phone then call home and ask someone to press the unlock on the spare key whilst you hold the phone at the drivers door. This WILL open the door!!!!!!
I tried it and it worked, however no good if your phone is in the locked car

 

[renault12ts]

^ Seriously??

 

[BTB 500]

It's mentioned in one of those emails that go around, been discussed here before.

Apparently it does work on some cars, but definitely not all.

Can't see how it would work with an infra-red only key.