Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: berserkerboy on 15 October 2007, 21:45:52

Title: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: berserkerboy on 15 October 2007, 21:45:52
I'm sure I read a thread about this but can't find it.

I'm unable to manually unlock/lock my omega. The key just wont turn in the lock, almost like it's not the correct key. I think that the solution was a squirt of wd40 directly into the lock and then continually turn the key until the lock frees off.

Can anyone confirm this to be the best method?
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: TheBoy on 15 October 2007, 21:56:30
Is it the correct key?
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: berserkerboy on 15 October 2007, 22:06:54
Well, I assume that it is.

The car can be opened automatically with the fob and started with the key.

Car was bought secondhand off ebay and only one key was available. Just concerned that if one day the fob doesn't open the car I can at least do it manually.
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: Entwood on 15 October 2007, 22:08:55
AFAIK if you try to unlock the car with the key, after it has been "deadlocked" electronically it is a VERY stiff turn as you overcome the system...  
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: TheBoy on 15 October 2007, 22:12:48
Does the key open the boot, or the glovebox?
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: Danny on 15 October 2007, 22:21:29
has it always been like this?

if it has, then possibly previous owner fitted a new door lock?
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: hotel21 on 15 October 2007, 23:37:18
Quote
Does the key open the boot, or the glovebox?

This is the major test,...

Ignition, pass door, glovebox and boot as well as drivers door should (obviously....) be on the same key, irrespective of fob to lock/unlock.

as Entwood says, door should unlock, albeit reluctantly, on the key without the fob....
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: Andy B on 15 October 2007, 23:49:36
Quote
......
This is the major test,...

Ignition, pass door, glovebox and boot as well as drivers door should (obviously....) be on the same key, irrespective of fob to lock/unlock. ....

Obviously depends on age of car ;) Later cars don't have passenger door lock, and no boot lock on Face Lifts  ;)   :y  :y

My boot lock wouldn't look at the key when I first tried it, but lubrication did the trick.  ::)  ::)
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: berserkerboy on 16 October 2007, 08:39:01
Car is 1999 TD Estate. There is no key operation available on the passenger door. Key opens glove box and starts car but will not work on the tailgate or drivers door. I'm sure I'll break the key if I try to turn it any harder. Car only owned since March 2007 and problem apparent on aquisition.

I'll stick some WD40 in both non-working locks today, if I can find the little red tube! (Who nicks all of those?!!)

Oh, and which way should key be turned in drivers door to open from deadlocked?

Thanks all.
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: Andy B on 16 October 2007, 09:11:25
Quote
Car is 1999 TD Estate. There is no key operation available on the passenger door. Key opens glove box and starts car but will not work on the tailgate or drivers door. I'm sure I'll break the key if I try to turn it any harder. Car only owned since March 2007 and problem apparent on aquisition.

I'll stick some WD40 in both non-working locks today, if I can find the little red tube! (Who nicks all of those?!!)

Oh, and which way should key be turned in drivers door to open from deadlocked?

Thanks all.

Clockwise should unlock. If you key fits neither the boot nor door I would suspect that the ignition has at some stage been changed. I don't think the glove box lock is as fussy about the 'correct' key as the other proper locks.
New lock set from Vauxhall?  :-/  :-/   :-/
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: TheBoy on 16 October 2007, 09:13:33
Quote
Car is 1999 TD Estate. There is no key operation available on the passenger door. Key opens glove box and starts car but will not work on the tailgate or drivers door. I'm sure I'll break the key if I try to turn it any harder. Car only owned since March 2007 and problem apparent on aquisition.

I'll stick some WD40 in both non-working locks today, if I can find the little red tube! (Who nicks all of those?!!)

Oh, and which way should key be turned in drivers door to open from deadlocked?

Thanks all.
Even if deadlocked, if the battery is not flat, should be easy to open door with key (its only hard if battery is flat).

I suspect some locks have been changed.  Try a lube by all means, but I reckon you may want to contact one of the breakers on here for a lock set (if you use your transponder chip, and your remote fob, just swapping the 'mechanical' key/lock, you won't have to get keys reprogrammed).

Of course, it makes sense to have a spare set of keys, both Marks_DTM in Nottingham and me in Brackley have the ability to reprogram Omega keys.
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: ians on 16 October 2007, 11:56:23
My Elite is like this too.

Key operates ignition (obviously),  boot is ok, not sure about glovebox, but drivers door won't turn at all.  I haven't tried with or without deadlock on.    So suggests that the drivers door/lock has been changed..?  (my instinct is that this is not the case, but can't explain otherwise, unless its just jammed)

But if the remote locking in the drivers door had had to be replaced, would that necessitate a new barrel?
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: Andy B on 16 October 2007, 12:01:20
Quote
......So suggests that the drivers door/lock has been changed..?  (my instinct is that this is not the case, but can't explain otherwise, unless its just jammed) .....

Could be jammed. Probably due to lack of use, why would you want to put a key in the door to unlock when a button will do it a lot easier?!  :y
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: davlad22 on 16 October 2007, 14:47:35
Quote
concerned that if one day the fob doesn't open the car I can at least do it manually.
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: Danny on 16 October 2007, 16:12:06
Quote
Quote
......So suggests that the drivers door/lock has been changed..?  (my instinct is that this is not the case, but can't explain otherwise, unless its just jammed) .....

Could be jammed. Probably due to lack of use, why would you want to put a key in the door to unlock when a button will do it a lot easier?!  :y

I quite often use my key to open the door on mine, just to make sure it stays "free"
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: TheBoy on 16 October 2007, 17:12:33
I tend to use the key if I need to use total closure, as it kills the fob batteries via remote...
Title: Re: Problem opening the car with the key manually
Post by: sounds2k on 16 October 2007, 20:52:03
Quote
I tend to use the key if I need to use total closure, as it kills the fob batteries via remote...
... not if you've fitted a total closure kit  ;)

the boot lock on my first omega (pre-facelift) wouldn't turn at all using the key ... I ended up removing the lock assembly and giving it a good few squirts of white lithium grease, then wiggled the key in the lock a bit and it worked fine after that - must have seized through lack of use.

Give that a go first before swapping locks ...