[frccle]

Hi,

I have a mini One bought july this year, it does this weird painfully annoying thing when locking or unlocking, and I wonder if anyone else has had problems.

Right, sometimes the car will just not lock or unlock, it happens mostly at the local tesco, it drives me up the wall. It can take me 10 mins to get the car to unlock, whilst its mostly tesco where it happens it has happened at other places. I took the car to dealership, where some 18 year old lad stood and locked/unlocked repeatedly and looked at me like I was a neurotic women complaining for nothing. So I left feeling angry and stupid. However, its happened to both my husband and myself on seperate occasions, so its not how i press the key or anything.

Has anyone else had any issues with it either not locking or not unlocking etc?

I know I could just stop going to Tesco, but whilst I could do that I really do not see why I should, and it has happened at other places other than tesco. I wonder if my car just hates tesco, lol

Any help or advise greatly appreciated.

[FergusM]

The signal from the remote control can get blocked by other stronger electronic signals....and if it always happens in the same place then that is probably what is happening.

Try putting the control very close to the body work if it happens..probably best close to the drivers door. (or unlock using the key in the key fob in that situation).

I have had no issues with my car..

[iain cooper]

have you tried the spare remote ?

do you always park in the same area at Tesco ?

have you tried shopping at Asda ?

[frccle]

Tried both remotes, they both do it.

Park in different places in Tesco.

Asda is around a 20-25 mins drive from me.

If I park at the far end of car park, a fair walk then it might take only a couple or so attempts to get into the car.

It drives me nuts to be honest, ive never had a problem with any other car I have had, so find it frustrating that the mini does this.

[KenL]

Is the dealer near Tesco?

See if you can take someone down and demonstrate there.

[Lucky Dave]

I know it sounds strange but try holding your remote under your chin when pressing the button!

Its strange and can normally double the distance the remote will work!!

It may be there is a radio station, fire station or a taxi firm in the area of terscos blocking the signal.

I recal the AA reporting thousands of calls for just this thing!

[frccle]

Unfortunetely the tesco is around 12-14 miles from the dealers.

I'll try the key under my chin, and against the door, Ill try anything, I cannot look any worse then standing there for 10mins pressing the key and trying to not looking like im actually trying to steal my own car, lol.

thank you for all your replies.

[KenL]

I take it you know you can open the car with the "hidden" key within the flying saucer!

[frccle]

Yes, lol, although last time i tried that one, I locked the car with it, and couldnt get it unlocked so assumed I could just unlock the car with the 'hidden key', set the bloody alarm off, and then I stood there it go off whilst i tried to lock/unlock car to turn it off,

I think i assumed the 'hidden' key would deactivate the alarm, but it didnt on mine,

I love the car, but this 'issue' drives me up the wall, lol

[KenL]

I think you have to put the keyfob into the car within x seconds to stop the alarm being activated.

You should be able to lock the car with the mechanical key.

[frccle]

ah right, that would make sense,

I think ill try it out on the drive before doing that again in public, lol

thanks

[frccle]

Hi,
I just wanted to say thanks again for everyone's advise.

Went to Tesco, yesterday and today and parked as close to the place as could, and tried the key right next to the window, and low and behold, it worked. So thanks for that, its just nice to know it wasn't something I was doing or being neurotic about.

Again, Thanks

[FergusM]

Excellent that you found a fix !

[AMcUK]

I have to use the 'spare' key for my partners MCS. It doesn't have the button but you can lock/unlock from the physical lock and it sets the alarm. You have to put the key in the ignition to get the alarm to dearm, but you don't have to turn it at all - and as said above you only have a few seconds to do it.

On a supermarket note - came out of Sainsbury's this morning and discovered someone had parked their Astra so their wing mirror was almost touching on the driver's side.
So I had to reach down, unlock the door, run around the back and dive through the passenger door to get the key in before the alarm went off. Must have looked quite funny.
I was really proud that I managed to avoid dragging my key down the side of that pillock's Astra.