Keys - 1995 Ford Duetto

Someone tried to steal our Duetto on Friday night. It was parked outside the house, on the road. They broke a quarter light, got in, and tried to hot wire it, destroying the ignition lock while doing so.

When they found they couldn't start it (and presumably realised it wasn't the ideal getaway vehicle anyway) they legged it, taking my Leatherman, and the only keys we have to the water filler cap, to the toilet cassette compartment door, and to the safe under the passenger seat.

And a spare ignition key.

Of course I realise now that keeping a spare ignition key in the vehicle was at best naive, and at worst, well, I know, I know....

We've got an automotive locksmith coming to sort out the ignition lock, and he can open the other three locks. I understand he can reprogram the ignition keys we have left, so they will work the ignition and central locking, and the stolen key will be rendered useless.

We're also going to get a wheel clamp.

My question is, where is the best place to source a new water filler cap, and a lock for the toilet cassette door?

There were two or three other incidents down our (quiet, suburban, reasonably affluent) road, including the theft of a bike, and an oldish Nissan Almera was also broken into and hot wiring was attempted. All the smarter, newer cars were ignored. I can only assume they were hoping for a joyride, or transport home with their swag.

Barstards.

Sorry to hear of your troubles. eBay for both. Just search 'thetford cassette door lock' and 'water filler cap'. There are a couple of different types of caps so beware.

I have a couple of redundant keys from old water filler caps - would you like me to send them to you to see if they fit?

Achilles heel wrote:and the stolen key will be rendered useless.

Except that if it's a standard Transit key it will still open any of the doors, and the fuel cap?

Paulmold, Thanks for your reply, I'll have a look at Ebay.

Betty's mum, I have sent you a Private Message, and many thanks for the offer.

Mojo, I'm hoping that the central locking can be reprogrammed. The locksmith will be here tomorrow, and I'll know more then.

Many thanks to you all.

Rod

Achilles heel wrote:Mojo, I'm hoping that the central locking can be reprogrammed. The locksmith will be here tomorrow, and I'll know more then.

If it is like my 2005 Transit you could get in with the mechanical lock and then reprogram the central locking to the key in your hand. It involves pressing a button and turning the key a certain number of times. That might then render the stolen key the master again and your new one useless.

Achilles heel wrote:I'm hoping that the central locking can be reprogrammed. The locksmith will be here tomorrow, and I'll know more then.

Unless it's very different from my '99 Mk5 Transit, it's just a physical lock! The central locking knows nothing more about the key other than it will physically turn the lock. The immobiliser is a different matter - you can take it out of the immobiliser's key list, but you can't stop them opening the doors or the fuel cap with it.

I think you have no choice but to change the locks. Last time I looked (when my fuel cap seized solid and I had to use a sliding hammer to get it off) it was not hugely expensive to do that, as there was a company in Poland making copies of the complete lock, with keys, but that was probably 5 years ago and I'm not sure if they still do.

Betty's Mum, PM sent.