[Closed] My car key fob opens the neighbours car too! Is this going to cost me?

Sounds like it's his problem not yours.

. He didn't look at me as though he thought that.

Interestingly, his fob doesn't operate mine.

When I had a golf, locking mine used to unlock the fella over the roads car. Sometimes I'd knock on the door and let him know, if I was working late and needed to lock my car I'd just do it with the key.

As hexham stu says, its his problem not yours

[i]Do you reckon this will be something vw should sort free of charge as I think responsibility for sorting rests with us as we got our car after theirs? [/i]

Eh, sorry but its his problem.

Well I had it in mind that if mine does both and his only does his, then mines faulty and giving out two codes?

It should automatically re-lock itself after 20 seconds anyway, unless someone opens a door in the mean time.

Just pinch his travel sweets and de-icer then ignore him.

Can't he arrange for his to be changed? I agree with those above, it's his problem.

Take his car tonight and torch it.
Problem solved

Why is this your responsibility ? It's not like you did it on purpose, and I take it you have promised not to steal his car. His bad luck I think. Or Skoda's poor security.

My Anglia key used to open and start my mate's Escort panel van. (can I just stress the Anglia was over 20 years old when I got it) Wwe had loads of fun stealing it and moving it when we found it parked outside at parties.

I don't understand remotes since GCSE tech in early 90's, but:

If your fob is unlocking a car in proximity of where you live, surely it will open other cars using same system in a vicinity of where you are at the time? (Chances of two car being coded the same in the same street are a fairly slight?!).

My advice; sell the key to a crime ring for a couple of hundred thousand.

You can buy an S max, and folks won't need to be burgled in order to lift car keys.

Win-win.

As above, the fault is surely with his vehicle door locks allowing another device to open them. Nothing wrong with your vehicle.

Its like the 70s through 90s all over again when anyone elses ford/rover/maestro key opened almost anyone elses.

And when you lost your key a teaspoon filed down would open and start it....

The "his problem" crowd are arse holes. I'd contact VW saying you feel the security of your vehicle is being compromised etc. and I'm sure they'll be only too keen to change it. Just the right thing to do really.

But it's a Skoda Fabia. Why bother locking it anyway?

Are you taking the mick here OP...WTF would it cost you? 😐

This reminds me of when I used to fit satellite and visiting an house where the guy had a complete entourage for company, I stupidly lock my keys in the van.

Me:"I've locked my keys in the van. Can anyon......"
*interrupted*
Mr Big:"What make"
Me:"Astramax"

Random bloke stands up; goes to kitchen, gets a metal ruler, goes outside, returns with my keys.

I didn't ask any questions.

In the pub in North Wales one rainy lunchtime. Two friends enter, soaked to the skin, having run over Cadair Idris. Roger's car is parked up at Idris Gates carpark, about 5 miles away. Drinks are drunk, time passes.

Then Barry enters, he's ridden his bike from Tywyn, about 10 miles away. Roger persuades Barry to collect his car for him, to save the walk/ run in the horrible weather. Barry agrees, takes the keys and cycles up to Idris Gates to collect the car, a White Sierra 4x4. He drives this back to the pub in Abergynolwyn, having dried himself off with the towel first and then put his bike in the boot.

Roger realises that this is not his car, it is some random stranger's car- so they all set off back to the carpark to collect the correct Sierra.

What the owner thought we never knew. Everything was left as it was found- except a warm engine and a wet towel.

The "his problem" crowd are arse holes.

Hey, I was in a 4 star hotel in Florence and, after a night out, got off the lift on the wrong floor and my key opened the room positioned the same as mine on the floor below. The gorilla in the room wasn't too pleased! 🙂

Fourbanger - its not the vw thats compromised.....its the skoda- surely the skoda wants to be phoning the dealer and getting them to change the skoda.

Did you buy the vw new or used? Dealer or private?

Suggest you both go to the Skoda / VW garage together and ask them to sort it. They make both cars and share parts. It would be much better publicity to solve it.
Those suggesting that he should sort it are the sort of people I'd not want as neighbours.

I used to work in a hotel and on a regular basis when fetching residents cars from the car park the porters would turn up with the wrong car, seem to remember no particular make jst random. This was also cause the lazy ****kers didn't check the number plates, just walked to the car park and pressed the button till they saw the lights flash.

Used from a vw dealer. I was going to ring tomorrow anyway but wondered if anyone had a similar experience.

try recoding your keys first see if it gets rid of the second car unlock, if not its all his issue to deal with.

My neighbour also used to open our VW Polo whenever he unlocked his car. More common problem than you'd think.

So it opens the car, but surely it doesn't disable the imobiliser ?

Tell him it's not the end of the world as when he locks his keys in the car you will be there to help 😀

i thought all had rolling codes for nearly 10 years?

What happens when you put your keys in the fruit bowl?

Have you tried your spare key to see if that does the same?

What happens when you put your keys in the fruit bowl?

It peels any bananas in a 10m radius.

You should get a universal TV remote too. Really mess with his mind... 😀

Those suggesting that he should sort it are the sort of people I'd not want as neighbours.

Tootall has it for me...

I'm sure we all want neighbours that pay for our problems... But it's not likely is it

What happens when you put your keys in the fruit bowl?

Depends whether it's the neighbour's fruit bowl, as apparently it becomes his problem.

trail_rat - Member

Its like the 70s through 90s all over again when anyone elses ford/rover/maestro key opened almost anyone elses.

My dad once drove off in someone else's Cavalier by mistake 😆

The "his problem" crowd are arse holes.

Why is that?

If his car is opened by the remote for another vehicle, then the problem is 100% with the ECU in that car and nothing to do with the other remote. He needs to talk to Skoda about it, although I doubt much will happen.

EDIT: Given it's opened by another remote, which should be impossible, it suggests there is a fault and I'd guess there are other remotes out there that will open it as well.

JeeZe only one thing worse than driving off your own cavvie..... Driving someone elses....

I'm quite surprised he thinks it's your problem at all, I'd be straight onto Skoda to get the central locking system changed out as it's obviously no where near as secure as it's supposed to be.

The "his problem" crowd are arse holes. I'd contact VW saying you feel the security of your vehicle is being compromised etc. and I'm sure they'll be only too keen to change it. Just the right thing to do really.

I think we've found the neighbour.

Suggest you both go to the Skoda / VW garage together and ask them to sort it. They make both cars and share parts. It would be much better publicity to solve it.

Nothing here about paying for someone elses problem...

trail_rat - Member

Fourbanger - its not the vw thats compromised.....its the skoda- surely the skoda wants to be phoning the dealer and getting them to change the skoda.
POSTED 1 HOUR AGO #

I realise the situation. It's just the tack I'd take to encourage them to get it sorted.

Some real nice people on here.... Yeah, just say **** him.... Probably the same people who complain they don't get on with their neighbours and escalate tiny arguments into neighbourly wars.

I've had no problems with my neighbours since I locked them in my cellar.

Four months ago.

😈

Why should it be the neighbours problem? If the remote is buggered then its yours. If its his car then its his. It not one or another at the moment. Just get it checked out at the car supplier. Me, I'd be worried about what else may be happening. Cloned remote? It can happen.

PMJ, round your way, aren't your neighbours also your cousins? And/or sisters/wives/aunts, etc.

If the remote is buggered then its yours

As an electronics design engineer, I'd say it's 100% the car, not the remote. If the central locking system is working as designed only the unique code from it's key fob, which changes with every key press, should open it. The fact it's key fob and another one open it, points to a fault in the car's ECU / central locking controller.

If my neighbour could open my car with his fob, I'd tell him and then get straight down the dealer. It's not my problem or my neighbours problem, it's the dealers problem but ultimately I'm the one at risk so I'm the one who will do something about it. I wouldn't expect my neighbour to do something about it. He's done nothing wrong whatsoever.

Plus, how many other remotes out there also unlock his car?

Some real nice people on here.... Yeah, just say **** him.... Probably the same people who complain they don't get on with their neighbours and escalate tiny arguments into neighbourly wars.

If you found out that say your front door key also opened your neighbours front door, would you -
A)Suggest your neighbours get a new lock, as it's clearly not secure.
B)Contact the people you bought the house from and ask them to sort you out a lock that doesn't unlock your neighbour's door?

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/241468-my-key-fob-opens-closes-another-skoda/

What happens when you put your keys in the fruit bowl?

konabunny - Member
"What happens when you put your keys in the fruit bowl?"

Is the OP sure that the carkeys were reunited with the owners properly after the last evening on which everyone threw their carkeys in the fruit bowl?

hels - Member
My Anglia key used to open and start my mate's Escort panel van

Sounds like a problem for the garage to sort out.

Although being me a spiteful little git, if it was my neighbour I'd not even bother with that as he's a nobber.

My cars secure, naaa naaa.

VW will do nothing about this as your vehicles security system is operating correctly, ie your neighbours keyfob does not open your car.

As footflaps says the issue is with the skoda central locking controller picking up your fob code and unlockingthe car which it shouldnt do. This is a relatively common fault with skodas and there are lots of complaints about this on the internet forums.

It is a shitty situation to be in with your neighbour but ultimately it is not you or your car that are at fault. I doubt this would be covered under the second hand car warranty anyway so if you decide to adapt your car to appease your neighbour it will cost you upward of a thousand pounds to change out all the central locking system.

Anyone who thinks that it's not the neighbours problem doesn't know how the security system works.

Feel free to take a trip to VW and ask them. But they will tell you it's the neighbours problem and Skoda need to sort out his car.

The VW system is working.

The Skoda system isn't.

It's not about being "neighbourly" that's just the way it is. Being nice can't really change that.

Just think - how gutted would you be - having your car ripped o bits to fit new locks and controller reprogged- just to fin his car still opens!

First i'd actually go round to the neighbours with your keys and actually see if it is really your fob that opens his car.
He could actually be mistaken, or it may have been a one off.
First things first!

PMJ, round your way, aren't your neighbours also your cousins? And/or sisters/wives/aunts, etc.

Fair point. 😆

I wouldn't be surprised if other VW key fobs also open your neighbours car.

Although I know it is a slight security risk but his car should re-lock itself within 30 seconds if a door/boot isn't opened.

Before either of you go to a dealer, it might be worth speaking to Volkswagen Customer Care (0800 0833 914 ). At least that way neither you or your neighbour will waste your time going to a dealer. Especially when they will probably want to charge for investigating.

Sit naked in his car.

If the central locking system is working as designed only the unique code from it's key fob, which changes with every key press, should open it. The fact it's key fob and another one open it, points to a fault in the car's ECU / central locking controller.

Absolutely the neighbours problem.

Yep. Why is it your problem? His coding is a whore

You could have a whole heap of fun with that.

I'd see how many of the local cats I could get into his car, or maybe something more subtle like moving his seat as far forward as it can go.

It's a shame the last post was deleted.

I need a kettle PAT testing urgently in Bedford

Some weird comments on here.

If my car could be opened with a key that wasn't mine, I'd be getting the system checked and re-coded so that it couldn't, rather than pouting at the owner of said key. Even if, for the sake of argument, the key had an inherent fault that was sending the wrong codes (or even if the neighbour had some sort of magic door-opening universal remote) ultimately there's still something inherently insecure about my car's system that I'd want it sorting. What if the OP gets his key 'fixed', what then, how many other keys are there out there that also need fixing?

Those who are saying it's the neighbour's problem aren't being un-neighbourly, they're correct (if a little blunt perhaps).

I second fill it with cats.

As with hora - sit naked in his car. Best outcome for stw. Pictures or it never happened.

It is quite clearly his problem, the people claiming otherwise lack any logical thought. It has nothing to do with being a good neighbour. Your car remains secure while his is not. His car is obviously the one with the problem. I'm not saying **** HIM LET HIM BURN, I'm just pointing out that the problem lies with his car not yours.

"Not the sort of people I'd want as neighbours" Why don't you take his car to the VW/Skoda garage for him, now there's a good neighbour. If you wouldn't do that for a neighbour then you are scum, sub human scum.