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Getting into an Astravan
Richard Quinn - 15/12/10 at 03:17 PM

We have a year 2000 Astravan at work that someone managed to destroy the engine of. It has sat in the yard for quite some time now and we have just come to move it and no one can find the keys so we can't even open the doors.
We don't know whether the van has deadlocks or, if it has, whether the button on the key was pressed twice prior to losing the key.
Obviously we have grinders, reciprocating saws, sledge hammers etc but is there anything more sympathetic / less damaging that we can try first? Any sensible practical advice will be welcomed (U2U me if you would prefer for your particular skill set to remain under the radar!)
Thanks in advance
Richard

loggyboy - 15/12/10 at 03:21 PM

Smash the window, climb in, pull off the door card (will obviously get damaged) then disable the dead lock from inside the door.

[Edited on 15/12/10 by loggyboy]

BenB - 15/12/10 at 03:29 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Smash the window, climb in, pull off the door card (will obviously get damaged) then disable the dead lock from inside the door.

[Edited on 15/12/10 by loggyboy]


That's kind of what I was thinking

rallyingden - 15/12/10 at 03:29 PM

Get the ferry over the river. I'm sure you'll find help

MikeR - 15/12/10 at 03:41 PM

I believe companies like the AA are experienced in the art of sympathetic breaking into vehicles. How much do you want to spend to get in? (or should that be how much do you want to spend repairing the damage of getting in?)

Jasper - 15/12/10 at 03:50 PM

Last time I locked my keys in the nice AA man used a wedge in the top corner of the door, then put a little airbag in which he blew up, then a coat ahnger type wire to flick the lock.

Davegtst - 15/12/10 at 03:53 PM

Astras are quite easy. Lever out the top of the door about 10mm and pull up the lock plunger. The easiest way to pull it up is create a lasso by threading a piece of wire down a length of brake pipe. Tape the end of the wire back on itself to the brake pipe and as you pull the other end the wire will tighten allowing you to grip the lock plunger.

loggyboy - 15/12/10 at 03:59 PM

Neither of the above options will work if the deadlocks are on.

Richard Quinn - 15/12/10 at 04:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Neither of the above options will work if the deadlocks are on.

Agreed, but on the basis that the people involved weren't bright enough to put the keys in a safe place, hopefully pressing a button twice might have proved a bit too much of a challenge too! It's got to be worth a go before inflicting damage.

MakeEverything - 15/12/10 at 04:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Neither of the above options will work if the deadlocks are on.


Yes they will. You can still open the locks of the door from the inside when the deadlock is on.

Davegtst - 15/12/10 at 05:04 PM

Sorry mate but you can't, thats the idea of them.

thunderace - 15/12/10 at 08:17 PM

quote:
Originally posted by MakeEverything
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Neither of the above options will work if the deadlocks are on.


Yes they will. You can still open the locks of the door from the inside when the deadlock is on.



yes you can i have done it ,i used a air bag to open the top of the door
T672200 TRIDENT AIR WEDGE HAND PUMPED LOCKOUT TOOL on eBay (end time 17-Dec-10 15:28:02 GMT)

you can always open any deadlock from inside the car its a safty thing.

britishtrident - 15/12/10 at 08:32 PM

You need "the right stuff " to get into an Astravan :-)

[Edited on 15/12/10 by britishtrident]

McLannahan - 15/12/10 at 09:25 PM

eBay Item

may help?

omega0684 - 15/12/10 at 09:44 PM

quote:
Originally posted by McLannahan
eBay Item

may help?


no wonder car crime is on the way up, every tom, dick and harry can get hold of a kit to help break into cars! even the feckin criminals!

zetec mike - 16/12/10 at 12:49 AM

Is it electric or manual windows ? If its manual, wedge / airbag the door and use stiff wire to wind down. If its electric you can backfeed the ignition circuit and operate the window switch with a stiff piece of wire.

loggyboy - 16/12/10 at 10:57 AM

quote:
Originally posted by MakeEverything
quote:
Originally posted by loggyboy
Neither of the above options will work if the deadlocks are on.


Yes they will. You can still open the locks of the door from the inside when the deadlock is on.


lol - Would you like to explain what a dead lock is for then? lol

I think you'l find the whole idea of dead locks is to stop the simple method of bending the door or smashing the window to allow a simple pull the door catch to open the door.

Some cars deadlock automatically, and the 2nd press diactivates the dead locks (i know citroen is one such manufacturer) not sure about Vaux though.

Either way, without calling out and paying for the AA, the simplest method would be to smash the window and try from there. A 2nd hand window glass for a 10+yr old car would be minimal. The wedging of the door is likely to damage the B pillar and mean a new door, a lot dearer and harder to replace than a window.


[Edited on 16/12/10 by loggyboy]

Davegtst - 16/12/10 at 11:03 AM

I've bent hundreds of door frames back by about 10mm and every single one has been fine and gone back to shape.

zetec mike - 16/12/10 at 11:34 PM

Wedging the top of the door with plastic lockout wedges and airbag is standard practice by AA / RAC patrols, doesnt damage doors, cheaper than a new window, vehicle can still be secured after, and is generally the quickest way in. I too have done many and never damaged one yet. There are an increasing number of electrical methods but can be fiddly, time consuming, intrusive to wiring looms and potential for electrical damage by sticking earth / +12v up the wrong wires.

Richard Quinn - 16/12/10 at 11:46 PM

Sorted! Thanks gents.
5 minutes of the guy from the garage/MOT place across the way from our yard's time, a plastic wedge, some semi-rigid tape and £5 for a pint and the van was open.