[Coastal_Cruiser]

A spare key is very important for my peace of mind (because of past experiences). My phone is theoretically my spare key, but I haven't been able to get the My Chevrolet app to pair to the car (Samsung J7 Skypro Tracfone ). I tried several tricks discovered in the forum, but no go. Besides, what if you lose your fob and your phone?

My old trick, pre-fobs, for having a spare key that no one will discover but is always at the ready is to tuck the spare in my wallet. To avoid the bulge effect I would simply file down the "T" part of the handle to a nub just large enough to get a grip on to turn the key in the lock. See photo.

I found that this same trick can work with the "key" inside of the Bolt fob. First I removed the key from the spare fob, turned the battery on the FOB backwards to prevent the fob from being active, and stashed the spare fob deep inside the car.

Using a vice, I then knocked the retaining pin loose that binds the key to the T handle (too bulky). Grabbing a hold of just the bare key does not give enough of a grip to turn the key in the door lock. So an aid is needed... something small, flat, and with a narrow slot that the key can fit into. I was the hardware store, so walked the isles until something caught my eye that would fill the bill. It is a small magnetic cupboard lock. The accompanying bracket was right-sized for the job and just needed one of the holes elongated. I'm sure someone could think of a much better handle.

Here is a link a video of the spare key at work: https://youtu.be/Q46CcBdkbAk

 

[GregBrew]

A spare key is very important for my peace of mind (because of past experiences). My phone is theoretically my spare key, but I haven't been able to get the My Chevrolet app to pair to the car (Samsung J7 Skypro Tracfone ). I tried several tricks discovered in the forum, but no go. Besides, what if you lose your fob and your phone?

My old trick, pre-fobs, for having a spare key that no one will discover but is always at the ready is to tuck the spare in my wallet. To avoid the bulge effect I would simply file down the "T" part of the handle to a nub just large enough to get a grip on to turn the key in the lock. See photo.

I found that this same trick can work with the "key" inside of the Bolt fob. First I removed the key from the spare fob, turned the battery on the FOB backwards to prevent the fob from being active, and stashed the spare fob deep inside the car.

Using a vice, I then knocked the retaining pin loose that binds the key to the T handle (too bulky). Grabbing a hold of just the bare key does not give enough of a grip to turn the key in the door lock. So an aid is needed... something small, flat, and with a narrow slot that the key can fit into. I was the hardware store, so walked the isles until something caught my eye that would fill the bill. It is a small magnetic cupboard lock. The accompanying bracket was right-sized for the job and just needed one of the holes elongated. I'm sure someone could think of a much better handle.

Here is a link a video of the spare key at work: https://youtu.be/Q46CcBdkbAk

Just be aware that the little cap that goes over the key slot has a *very* limited on-off cycle life. I took mine off, just to test it, and then did it again to show the wife how it's done. I examined the little friction-fit hold-down tabs on the plastic cap, and saw that there was significant deformation after only two off-on cycles. I suspect that the cap *might* tolerate ten such removals and re-installations before refusing to stay on. Being painted to match, with multiple materials, this little cap can't be cheap to replace.

 

[Nook]

Thanks for the reminder that I need to get a spare.

I used to tape the key to the vehicle somewhere, often a hose so that the black electrical tape was less obvious. Accessible from underneath, which is clearly a problem with modern cars. I figure if I've lost my keys, I could easily have been mugged or some similar trauma where I don't have my wallet (or now my phone either), so the self rescue needed to be self contained in/with the car. That was all prefob days, but the principle remains.

Anybody had luck getting extra mechanical only keys made? Particularly not from a dealer? Same question for a Volt key.

 

[RichCapeCod]

Not totally paranoid at all. Just prudent. I have a hidden key on all my vehicles. Or carry an extra in my pocket. Quick "war story."


I'm chief of police for a Cape Cod town. I have to go off-Cape to some training venue. I 'm in my Ford Explorer (this was in the 1990s). I stop for lunch. After lunch, walk back to securely locked Explorer. Note that my keys are still in the ignition switch. Brilliant.


Yawn, pull out spare key in pocket, problem solved.


Bottom line; some "emergencies" can be nullified in advance by a bit of foresight. Such as hiding a spare key somewhere on your vehicle.



Rich

 

[Sean Nelson]

Not totally paranoid at all. Just prudent. I have a hidden key on all my vehicles.

I do the same. I don't have to use it very often, but once every several years I'm so, SO glad I did.

A couple of years ago I'd driven down to California from Vancouver and had parked at Mono Lake - upon returning to my vehicle I realized I had locked the keys inside. No problem, I just fished out the spare and was delayed only a couple of minutes. Otherwise I would have had to call some pro to break into the vehicle, and who knows how long that would have taken?

And then later THE SAME DAY I couldn't find my key. I was totally beside myself for screwing up twice on the same day - I searched and searched and searched for quite a while but ended up having to dig the spare out AGAIN. It eventually turned out that the key had worked it's way through a gap at the bottom of my pocket and ended up inside the lining of my jacket. At least that relieved me of a bit of the embarrassment of screwing up twice in the same day.

 

[ai4px]

War story.... our brand new 2016 civic locked my wife out of the car at a gas station 2 years ago. The keys were in her hand and when she shut the trunk the car went nutso... So she got the clicker out of her purse, it would not work. She got the spare key out of the fob and .... the linkage that connected the lock cylinder to the lock mechanism wasn’t connected from the factory. So check that before you trust a key to work.

 

[Coastal_Cruiser]

Driving electric since 1997!

That's worthy of bragging rights. You drove an EV-1?

 

[LCTROID]

Didn't wanna start a new thread due to my Q being related:
We have a '23 Bolt... where would a recommended spot be to hide a key? There are few, if any, spots I would usually locate a spare key... up under the rear bumper or inside the front around the radiator... everything is so streamlined & buttoned up on these.
I figure it's safe to ask as none of you know me or where I'll ever park the car.