Modern MG Forum

Hi
We have excelled ourselves today!
Managed to lock the keys in the boot on our MGF '97.

Apart from removing the engine cover (have access inside the car) and then the boot hinges is there another way (not smash the right light set) to access them that is not destructive?

Any help appreciated
Kev

Aside from grabbing your spare set, or pushing the remote boot release button, I have no idea how to get into the boot.

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MOWOG Garage serving the needs of all Post Abingdon MG owners in Lambton Co. since 2011.

I was thinking the same thing but assumed Kevin has eliminated those two options. I'm also assuming the boot release requires the key in the "on" position to operate as well. Kind of defeats the purpose of a secure place if it was hot-wired to the battery.

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"Speed costs........how fast you want to spend?"

Hi Simon and Mark
Thanks for the replies.

One way is to remove the rear hood and push it forward
Take out the engine cover
then you get access to to the boot hinges
remove the bolts holding those.

Couple of hours work or more and lots of agro.

I have a snake inspection camera and I think I can get it past the hinges and into the boot area to look see them maybe I can use one of those tool retrieval tools, conveniently made by Fucom, (type that has thin grabber comes out the end..)

Going out to the Workshop Unit to see if I can find it...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-12-19 02:54 PM by Remobilise Ltd.

Yeah, my comment was a bit tongue in cheek. A previous owner of my F had installed an aftermarket boot release, which is always hot. I decided to move the button from the dash to a much more hidden location.

I do find it a bit funny how many threads I see in the course of a year about keys locked in the boot. We have all become too accustom to remote boot releases. It wasn't that long ago that on many cars the only way into the boot was with the use of a key.

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MOWOG Garage serving the needs of all Post Abingdon MG owners in Lambton Co. since 2011.

To be honest - I ALWAYS used to have a secret laugh at how can anybody do that!

But I can understand now as I was distracted by the phone.

As you say, Ideally, remote release - will sort that in the new year - and its also convenient.

Spare key is the main thing as we only had one for the boot...stupid I know.

Too busy with other things to get that right, but its focused my mind on it now.

Silly season coming up and I have a head start on all of you!

Those would have been my two suggested ways of getting in.
I don't have the option of a remote release either as mine is still in the "projects to get around to someday" bin in the den.
Working as a locksmith I am very paranoid with my keys. Trust me, you only have to lock your keys in your work truck once
and all of the women in your wife's office will never let you forget that she had to come and rescue you!

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Modern MGs aren't just Transportation, They're a Hobby!

I have locked the keys in the boot before. It was before I was driving and the car was at home and I was in the trunk of Dad's for some reason and close the trunk with the keys inside. I have been paranoid ever since...about leaving keys in the trunk/boot of course.

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MOWOG Garage serving the needs of all Post Abingdon MG owners in Lambton Co. since 2011.

If you get distracted it is easy to do for sure.

Well its sorted now -
Researched 4 options
A: Entry trough engine cover hatch and remove hinges
B: Pick lock with kit...
C: Drill Lock Out
D: Right rear light cluster

Have had success before with B: on other cars but the earliest I could get the kit was next Tuesday so ordered one anyway. (£18)
Without giving too much info this is the best option if you have the kit on hand - easy to do and plenty of howto info about.

Entry through Engine cover hatch is a lot of aggravation and damage is easily caused not just to you! Time consuming and very awkward.

The right rear Light Cluster option is destructive and quiet expensive and its always difficult to get an exact match.

So C: it was as I had a new lock and key for £16 of eBay. delivery Monday or Tuesday. Still a bit of a job, always second best to Option B: but it done the job with minimal damage. You do need a selection of HSS bits of good quality and some patience. 1Hr later we had it open.

Lesson we learnt is do not rush which ever option you take - think it through - research and then have a plan B: ready to go.

Thanks for the help and suggestions...will order two new keys from our usual supplier to make sure this nightmare does not come our way again.

Old enough to know better - still young enough to be stupid.

How about just going to a locksmith. I've locked keys in cars before and they've always got me inside in a minute or so. Even emergency roadside assistance should be able to do it.

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The first rule of MG is never ever ask why - there usually is no good reason, accept it and try and work out how to mend it

It is always worth fasting a spare key in an only just accessible place on a subframe or chassis member
I have zip tied them on in the past and fortunately never needed them. There is the magnetic keybox as another option for storing a key hidden somehere on the car
Another option is to tape one to the topside of the glovebox. you then only need a phillips screwdriver to retrieve it.

Where's the fun in that?

In my MGB days I would tie a piece of twine to a spare key and hang it in the washer fluid bottle.
Of course with the MGF you would have to get the boot open to access the front boot latch to get at the washer bottle.

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Modern MGs aren't just Transportation, They're a Hobby!

Richard, we can do it if we had the picks, ordered them. (take to long to arrive)...locksmiths (very expensive)
if you have the access to spare lock just drill it much cheaper.
But will cut two of everything keywise and store one away from the vehicle now and also put in remote access (electric actuator via hidden button) in the front.

Lesson learnt.


As Mich & Rich said a hidden key is an option worth considering.

We had to access the boot as we also had stuff in there we needed plus the keyring had other keys on we needed so time was not on our side here.
We can get good after market blank keys for £2 - so will order those and cut those...

Problem with this is it hurts when you do it, even more when you admit, and I should know better..



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-12-21 06:18 AM by Remobilise Ltd.

Actually there was an article in one of the UK MG magazines a short while ago, but apart from that the "cheapest" way is to "offer" and break one of the rear lights, but its a tough
plastic double construction and will take a lot of time breaking, sawing etc to get into the boot.

But replacing a rear light is cheaper as folding the metal of the bootlid, seen it done by someone.

I do own a F since 1999 and still did not install a back up switch .......... some people hide a key under their car in black ducktape, especially the F key is rather possible to hide
when the foldable side are off, just a small key remains.