When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Some positive news. I got the door to unlock. I tried a few things. First, I tested my method on my '14 Lexus RX450h which has a very smiliar mechanical key mechanism as my RCF. It worked without any problems as mechanical key opened the door in a second, unfolded the mirrors automatically and rolled the windows down a couple of inches. Next I took my RCF key fob and pushed the unlock button near the driver's door and near the windshield to see if something happens. Nothing audible happened. Then, I took the mechanical key and then turned it counter-clockwise and clock-wise a few times like I had been doing yesterday, but somehow this time the door unlocked and it opened. Anyway, I was relieved as it meant there was no mechanical part damaged.
I then took the car out and idled it for about 25 minutes then took it around within my community to get some charge into the battery.. I got the temperature up to mid-point by the time I shut it down. The fob was able to lock the doors when I was leaving the car. I will do a bit more tonight on it (as now the battery has some charge, I will be able to unlock with the FOB tonight) and try to get some more charge in it.
I will keep this thread posted if I experience the same issues. Thanks for your input guys.
Picture of it when I pulled it out. You can see a thick layer of dust on it.
A good idea is to try opening the door with the mechanical key now that the car is running and the battery isn't dead, just to make sure the mechanical bit isn't broken. Maybe the mechanical key mechanism actually has to use electricity to do something?
A good idea is to try opening the door with the mechanical key now that the car is running and the battery isn't dead, just to make sure the mechanical bit isn't broken. Maybe the mechanical key mechanism actually has to use electricity to do something?
Yeah, I would do that. Like was the case on my RX, I had to put the FOB (with the mechanical key removed) on the hood of my RCF (30+ feet away). Otherwise, if the car detects your FOB near it, as soon as you touch the door, it will unlock automatically. The mechanical key on both of my Lexus' requires pulling the handle to access the key slot. Anyway, I will try it tonight when I go to fire it up again. Cheers!
^^^^Nah - You want to use it anyway to keep it lubricated. It's not a fixit solution, it's a preventative measure to keep the mechanism lubricated. When I lived in Northern New England and Northern Virginia, I used it regularly to keep my locks operating in the winter.
^^^^Nah - You want to use it anyway to keep it lubricated. It's not a fixit solution, it's a preventative measure to keep the mechanism lubricated. When I lived in Northern New England and Northern Virginia, I used it regularly to keep my locks operating in the winter.
Lou
The space is very tight when you lift the handle. How do you get the bottle with the long "spout" to point straight towards the key slot?
The space is very tight when you lift the handle. How do you get the bottle with the long "spout" to point straight towards the key slot?
Use a match or lighter to heat up the "long spout" and bend it any which way you like, making it super easy to get into tight spots. Put a trickle charger on that car. Lots of wonky things can happen when the battery drains, I think you may be playing with fire unnecessarily.
Use a match or lighter to heat up the "long spout" and bend it any which way you like, making it super easy to get into tight spots. Put a trickle charger on that car. Lots of wonky things can happen when the battery drains, I think you may be playing with fire unnecessarily.
Thanks. Trickle charger is the most obvious thing. I would have purchased trickle charger as soon as I got the RCF, but my underground parking garage does not have power outlets available. I tried to find rechargeable trickle chargers, but none exist. In the meanwhile, I use the portable Nicco jump starter to start the car in case I don't get a chance to start it up. The battery is now 5 years old so it lasted as long as I expected it to last.
11-28-20, 04:31 PM
