Well it's happened.

[Borris]

Well it's happened and further more I knew it would sooner or later.

I woke up this morning on our lovely sunny campsite, stepped outside the van to say good morning to Mrs B who was already up and crocheting like mad for Britain. Unfortunately, the instant that I clicked the slider shut I knew that I had entered the gates of chumpdom. Yes, you've guessed it, I've locked myself out of the van.

Now here's the thing, knowing that such an occurance was likely, I had a surf key cut which I always wear around my neck on a lanyard whenever we are away in our Cali. However, at night I take it off and store it along with the main keys in the Van Essa bag next to my right ear hole. Unfortunately, being a "Bear of little brain" the plan falls down if yours truly doesn't remember to put it round his neck when he wakes up.

Now I had always imagined that this occurrence would only ever occur during the night in the pouring rain, after having just stepped outside for a tinkle. But no, here I am sitting in the sun, typing bollox to you lot whilst waiting for VW Assist to arrive. They have another two days to get here before we need to go home so "am I bovvered"? Well yes, a little. The VW Assist chap said that I'll need to sign a damage waver before they attempt to get in!!! I know that is standard procedure and there probably won't be any damage but the thought our baby being scarred is unnerving. Good job we brought the pump up awning with us this time.

When we rang VW Assist we asked if they could use their records to cut another surf key? Apparently not. Replacement keys have to be ordered from and cut in Germany. This takes about 5 days! However, the only good thing is that the roof is up so it should be theoritically possible to lift the bottom canvas seal and press the central locking button with a long stick. I'm not brave enough to attempt that. Also if anyone's going to do that I'd rather it was VW Assist so that any later problems were their fault.

So the morals of this tale of woe are:
1. Don't drink wine before beddy-byes.
2. Carry a shot gun to shoot that bloody dog that barked all night on the neighbouring farm.
What does a dog need to bark about that takes all night?

Anyway VW Assist are now on their way so rescue is at hand.

Sorry about the length of this missive but I have bugger all else to do. Can't even have a shave as......... Need I say more.

 

[Calimili]

Dog was barking because you remove the surf key off your neck.
keep us posted how VW manages to get into your van pls

 

[paul_f]

Oh no! Did you lock the van using the key when you were inside? After hearing about this I kept locking using the front door button, but it is rather awkward to get to.

 

[Ladymuck]

Oh flippinheck !
I really don't understand the auto lock thing, my van has never locked itself after I've closed any door. I hope I don't work it out the hard way.
Hope vw assist turns up sooner rather than later, at least the sun is shining ..

 

[reserves]

I think it's from locking the door using the internal lock button, and then going out via the sliding door and closing it behind

 

[AlisonF]

Sorry to hear of your tail of woe.
I am anticipating this will happen to us when I start camping with my dutch pal... hopefully we will each have a set of keys and mine will be with me in the Eriba... that’s the plan, anyway...

 

[Drpps]

Oh flippinheck !
I really don't understand the auto lock thing, my van has never locked itself after I've closed any door. I hope I don't work it out the hard way.
Hope vw assist turns up sooner rather than later, at least the sun is shining ..

It’s not the auto lock. The physical button to lock the slider is directly beneath the internal handle. If you double pull the handle to open it when it is locked and hold on slightly as you step out you can inadvertently push it down and lock yourself out if you haven’t unlocked all the others doors either with the key or using the button on the drivers door. Easily done.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Well it's happened and further more I knew it would sooner or later.

I woke up this morning on our lovely sunny campsite, stepped outside the van to say good morning to Mrs B who was already up and crocheting like mad for Britain. Unfortunately, the instant that I clicked the slider shut I knew that I had entered the gates of chumpdom. Yes, you've guessed it, I've locked myself out of the van.

Now here's the thing, knowing that such a occurance was likely, I had a surf key cut which I always wear around my neck on a lanyard whenever we are away in our Cali. However, at night I take it off and store it along with the main keys in the Van Essa bag next to my right ear hole. Unfortunately, being a "Bear of little brain" the plan falls down if yours truly doesn't remember to put it round his neck when he wakes up.

Now I had always imagined that this occurrence would only ever occur during the night in the pouring rain, after having just stepped outside for a tinkle. But no, here I am sitting in the sun, typing bollox to you lot whilst waiting for VW Assist to arrive. They have another two days to get here before we need to go home so "am I bovvered"? Well yes, a little. The VW Assist chap said that I'll need to sign a damage waver before they attempt to get in!!! I know that is standard procedure and there probably won't be any damage but the thought our baby being scarred is unnerving. Good job we brought the pump up awning with us this time.

When we rang VW Assist we asked if they could use their records to cut another surf key? Apparently not. Replacement keys have to be ordered from and cut in Germany. This takes about 5 days! However, the only good thing is that the roof is up so it should be theoritically possible to lift the bottom canvas seal and press the central locking button with a long stick. I'm not brave enough to attempt that. Also if anyone's going to do that I'd rather it was VW Assist so that any later problems were their fault.

So the morals of this tale of woe are:
1. Don't drink wine before beddy-byes.
2. Carry a shot gun to shoot that bloody dog that barked all night on the neibouring farm.
What does a dog need to bark about that takes all night?

Anyway VW Assist are now on there way so rescue is at hand.

Sorry about the length of this missive but I have bugger all else to do. Can't even have a shave as......... Need I say more.

bit late now!...but when camping, put the surf key in a key safe attached to the rear towing eye.

Surfdome - BrandAlley

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[AlisonF]

It’s not the auto lock. The physical button to lock the slider is directly beneath the internal handle. If you double pull the handle to open it when it is locked and hold on slightly as you step out you can inadvertently push it down and lock yourself out if you haven’t unlocked all the others doors either with the key or using the button on the drivers door. Easily done.

Not on a 6.1 - the button on the sliding door isn’t there any more.

 

[BrugseB]

Well, bugger, but hey, join the club .
Some years ago, with the old cali, I left the van to go play in the river with the children. The wife, being tired of the heat, would take a nap. After a while, she appears: "Looks funny over here" "Yes indeed, had a good sleep?" "Oh yes, ready for a walk!" "do I have to safeguard the keys?" "keys, I thought you had them?" - eeehh, nope.
Took the local garage owner 1 hour to get in, via the sliding window with a long piece of copper (which tip I suggested).
Will happen again. Be sure. Be prepared... In the meantime, enjoy the sun .

 

[Drpps]

Not on a 6.1 - the button on the sliding door isn’t there any more.

Ah. Ok.

 

[flying banana]

i have a 'method' of getting into mine after i did this myself. i would just need to find a knife or screwdriver from someone

 

[Jabberwocky]

Welcome to the club Boris! Happened to us just two weeks ago in the Sandringham camp site.
My post gives detail. TIP: Look away when VW person does his/her work! Eek!!

Locking issue T6 Ocean

Right… I’ve unlocked the doors using the remote T6 ocean. Sat down outside and then heard the doors lock again without pressing the remote. Tried this a couple more times and it’s done it again and again. Is this normal? Worried that if I accidentally left the keys inside it’ll lock? never...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[andyinluton]

Do you not have the panoramic front on the roof? if you do its possible to persuade the zip to open from outside to leave an opening suitable to climb through.

 

[Borris]

Oh no! Did you lock the van using the key when you were inside? After hearing about this I kept locking using the front door button, but it is rather awkward to get to.

Locked it last night using the central locking button on the driver's door.

 

[Borris]

Do you not have the panoramic front on the roof? if you do its possible to persuade the zip to open from outside to leave an opening suitable to climb through.

Alas not.

bit late now!...but when camping, put the surf key in a key safe attached to the rear towing eye.

Surfdome - BrandAlley

Daily designer sales. Up to 80% off designer clothes, designer bags, homeware and beauty brands. Register free today for exclusive sales and discounts.

www.surfdome.com

I used to keep a surf key hidden on the outside on my previous cali. I haven't on this one but only because it would invalidate the insurance if they ever found. out.

 

[WelshGas]

Alas not.

I used to keep a surf key hidden on the outside on my previous cali. I haven't on this one but only because it would invalidate the insurance if they ever found. out.

Just leave one there when camping?

 

[Chiroshi]

Locked it last night using the central locking button on the driver's door.

I'm still confused why the sliding door locked? We regularly lock the van with the switch by the driver's door, then exit during the night through the sliding door with a double pull. The sliding door has never yet re-locked itself once shut. The only door to do that on our van seems to be the boot which automatically seems to re-lock after a few minutes inactivity. Maybe there's a different setting on the auto-sliding door?

 

[Charlotterobin]

Oh maaannn... Are you in yet, Bear Of Little Brain? Hope so...
I manually press passenger lock then driver lock then slider - slider hasn't locked itself

 

[Borris]

As they say "Every cloud has a silver lining". The VW Assist man arrived after two and a quarter hours and all is now well. What I gleaned from him made getting locked out a very useful experience.

What was reassuring was that it took this fully trained VW Assist chap nearlly fifteen minutes to get in. If it had been ten seconds I would have been concerned.

The whole process was done by picking the drivers door lock using three specialist tools. What was disturbing was that apparently one of these tools which should work on it's own, can be purchased for around £50 on Ebay. However, it does take some experience to use it effectively.

I had insisted on them sending VW Assist as opposed to a local garage or the AA which were the alternatives. I didn't want some guy with a bent coat hanger or plastic wedge messing about with our van. So I can thoroughly recommend VW Assist if you ever find yourself in the same predicament.

As to the cause, I believe that I must have inadvertantly knocked the lower lock button down on the slider when alighting. We've had three Calis to date and never had this happen before.

So what else did I learn. Quite a lot but unfortunately much of it wouldn't be well received so moving on. Apparently the overfilling of the Adblue tank issue has been resolved on models from 2019. He said that whilst they had no end of issues with this on previous model years those after this date can be filled to the brim at the pump and should be, outherwise they don't reset themslves to say they have been filled up.. The question is am I brave enough to try it? Perhaps some form of third party confirmation is required first? Can anyone confirm?

 

[SusiBus]

Do you not have the panoramic front on the roof? if you do its possible to persuade the zip to open from outside to leave an opening suitable to climb through.

That's a really handy tip, that is if you're got a panoramic roof. Thanks Andy.

 

[Borris]

I'm still confused why the sliding door locked? We regularly lock the van with the switch by the driver's door, then exit during the night through the sliding door with a double pull. The sliding door has never yet re-locked itself once shut. The only door to do that on our van seems to be the boot which automatically seems to re-lock after a few minutes inactivity. Maybe there's a different setting on the auto-sliding door?

Think I must have inadvertantly pressed the lower lock button down when getting out as it's never done it before.

 

[5i1ver8ack]

I recently “locked myself out”. All doors except the sliding door had been locked using the button on the driver’s door. The sliding door was seemingly unlocked (i.e., the button was up). I had got out via the sliding door and had not subsequently locked it. But the door was actually apparently locked and would not open. Fortunately, the keys were in the driver’s door pocket and the front windows were open an inch. I used a coat hanger to hook the keys out.

 

[Velma's Dad]

How do you get a surf key made up for an older van (mine's 2015)... I assume you have to order one through a VW Commercial dealership?

 

[sidepod]

Mrs B’s response.