Well I did it. Car about 3 weeks old and I locke the keys in the trunk. Called Acura Roadside assistancve and they sent somebody within the hour with 3 (not one or 2 but 3) calls to tell me when hellp would be coming and to see if they arrived.

The question:

Is there a good place to hide a key? In my truck I used to hide one in a magnetic holder under the front grill.

Any advice?

 

Heres a tip: Have a spare key made (or buy one) and see if you can put it into your wallet...Like where business cards would go...Ive never seen the key for the TL so I wouldnt know how big it is but if its small enough, stick one in your wallet...cause if you got your licence, you got your key....

 

Sounds like a good idea but I usually leave my my wallet in the car.

 

A long time ago, AAA made free plastic car keys for members made specifically to put into a wallet. I'm not sure if they still do this service but it's something to look into. For me, I leave my extra set of keys with my parents just in case.

 

Won't work, need the smart chip within the key.

 

yep thats true. there are free keys all around you if u look carefully. as long as its hard and small enough to fit in your hand. just pick a window and through it at it. the alarm wont even go off as long as u dont pull the unlock button!

 

You only need the smart chip to start the car. What you need is a key to open the door so you can get to the key you locked in the car in the first place.

What I did was tape my valet key somewhere outside the car. This not only opens the door, but let's me start the car in case I actually lost my keys instead of locking them in the car.

There are lots of hiding places that you can find, and you can either use the magnetic box that sticks on a metal part, or do what I did and find a flat place and tape the key there.

True, a thief could probably find it, but how many people do this and how many thieves want to spend the time necessary to look for all the possible hiding places?

 

I was disappointed the TL didn't come with a wallet key like my previous Infiniti Qx4. It came in handy a few times.

 

Retrain yourself!
Do not ever put the key anywhere but in your pocket.

If I hid a key either it would fall and get lost or I would forget where I hid it.

 

correct me if i'm wrong, but doesn't the RL key have a chip that detects if it's in the trunk? If it's there, the trunk wont close. The TL should get that on it's key fob, so we won't have to worrry about lockin' the keys in the trunk

 

The plastic key was only designed to ppen your door in case you locked your regular keys inside. It saved me on one occasion.

 

MR1, I am with you. The first thing I always do after I get out is to put the keys in my pocket and hit the lock button at the same time. It's been a habit of mine for the last 8 years. I have yet to leave it in my car. It takes a little effort before it becomes second nature.

dsc888

 

I took my valet key and taped it to a location inside the car. Then I had a key made to open the door only (without the chip), and used a "hide-a-key" magnetic box to hide the "door only" key on the crossbar underneath the back of the car.

 

I have the key seperated from the fob/remote. The key always stays in the car (console) and the fob never leaves my pocket except to hang on the refridgerator.

Almost impossible for me to lock myself out.

 

I recently saw a very enthusiastic Acura owner (had the extreme mods, Acura apparel, etc...) wearing an Acura keyfob on a very thick chain around his neck like jewelry (no key, just the remote fob). *Bling Bling*

Now I wonder if maybe he is just prone to locking his keys in the 'Cura?

 

I've always used one of the magnetic key holders for my extra key, but I can't seem to find any metal area on the TL that's flat enough for the magnet to stick. Anyone found a good spot?? Would the crossbar in the rear be OK, or would the jolts from driving on bumpy roads knock it loose??

 

One of the main reasons I continue paying for my wifes Suburban/On-Star account... With all the times she is in and out, kids shutting doors etc., she loves it.. One short phone call and the doors are open

Of course, this doesn't help the conversation here much...

 

Can i get the address of each of you guys...home and work? lol

 

yea i bolted my spare key to the holes where the body kit is attached in the back

 

i did this after i locked my keys in my car running, at a party. just waiting for the locksmith i lost half a tank.

 

Sure it does, this is a past and perhaps future solution. GenII TL/Navi came with On-Star. Perhaps Acura should bring it back for just this reason.

 

I have a hidden key on all my cars.

1) I get a small Ziploc style bag, such as available at a jewelry store. They can be re-used many times. Usually a 2" x 3". I have tons of them for small parts when I do Corvette restoration prep. Alternately, fashion one out of a Ziploc, and then use clear silicone to seal (after doing the rest below)

2) I squirt some WD-40 (tiny shot) in the bag and let the solvent carrier evaporate. Silicone spray is OK as well. This will protect the key from corrosion should the bag somehow be compromised.

3) I put in the key, fasten the ziploc, fold it in half if possible (to reduce size). If you made your own, this would be the time to use clear silicone to seal the whole apparatus. Let it dry overnight.

4) I look for a spot that can easily be reached, but not likely to be seen by a mechanic, or a joy rider or thief. This is usually on a flat, horizontal surface on the rear bumper assembly just behind the rear license plate.

5) I clean the spot thoroughly with surfactant, let it dry, wipe it down with rubbing alcohol.

6) I apply silicone glue to the bag with the key in it, and affix it to the spot. I let it sit overnight, or if I must drive the car, I use a hunk of duct tape to secure it, then remove it the next day.

I have been doing this for 20 years, on exotic cars and highly stolen cars like Accords. In all that time, it has saved my tail about 5 times, when I lost the key, locked myself off, or whatever.

I have never had one "disappear", fall off (including a 153 mph "test" run in a 1985 Z51 Corvette), or shred.

Eventually, the plastic WILL deteriorate, so check it once a year and replace when it gets brittle.

Now, if I could just get my wife to remember that I have hidden a key before she calls her Dad or AAA....