I have enjoyed driving my 05 RL for a couple of years now and I thought, subsequently proven on occasion, that you can't lock your keys in the car. However, recently I have noticed some locking issues and have twice now locked my keys in the car while the car is running. I make sure to note that difference because I am not sure if that is possible or if I am headed for a service call at the dealer.

I also found instructions on here to disconnect the battery, bridge the positive and negative cables to "drain the capacitors" and reset all things electronic. Does this work?

Any and all advice is appreciated! This board has saved me quite a few times already and I am looking for another one!

 

What exactly happens? You get out, leave the keys in, close the door, and then randomly the car locks? Every time you drive off and the doors lock, you are in a way locking your keys in the car while it's running so this isn't an impossible scenario. The car assumes when it is running that someone is in it. It is only programmed to not lock when the car isn't running, you are trying to lock it from the outside, and the keys are in the car. If you leave one fob in the car and have the other on your person, the car will lock the other fob inside b/c it knows you have another key. (This will not work in the trunk.) If your car is randomly locking when you get out, that is a malfunctioning unit that needs to be fixed.

As for the battery, that is a way to remove all of the power in the wires. You don't have to touch the two cables together as the capacitors will slowly discharge on their own, but touching them will do it almost instantaneously.

 

It is randomly locking when I get out. I think it is malfunctioning based on what I can find. It is something to do with the park sensor too. I have the setting engaged to lock when it shifts out of park. I need to change to speed I guess.

 

That's real shitty man. Sorry to hear about it. Add it to the list of '05 prone illnesses. One work around would be to keep the keys in your pocket when you get out.

 

UPDATE - I replaced the batteries in my fob and no problems at all now... this car is sure finicky with the electronics