Something scarey happened to me today....
 

I got in my car to go to a dr.visit. I got in, closed the door, put key in starter and turned it. nothing happened except that my electronic door locks locked. The car wouldn't start. Had a dead battery. The locks work off the battery. I was locked in my car and it was about 100 degrees outside. I called the auto parts store that is close to my house and they sent a guy with a battery booster to help me. As soon as the car started I was able to unlock the doors. The car also has electric windows that work off the battery. I was only in the car for about 10 minutes but it was long enough for the heat to make me dizzy. The only thing I could think of to prevent this from happening again is to start the car before shutting the door. I will have to try to remember to always do this. Next time I may be someplace where I can get no help. Just another reason to always make sure you have a charged cell phone with you.

glad you were okay and that you had your cell phone to call for help

Oh MY!! What you described certainly is scarey. I am glad you are ok. Might suggest a towel on your seat embroidered with "Start Engine Before Closing Door". More people need to know about this. Can you please mention the car model and year?

Even with power locks, mine still has manual door locks, next to the window, so you can still open the door, in case of power failure.

I would have thought that all cars have those ... does yours not?

Glad that you are OK

I thought it did but it would not budge so I just thought that that was not what that little tab lever was after all. So just goes to show that you need to be more vigilant about things. Know about all the stuff inside your car and how it works.

I would have thought that all cars have those ... does yours not?

My Prius has auto and manual locks from the inside. Awful experience for you!

On my truck you can roll down the windows as long as the door has not been opened after you turn it off, but don't think the doors lock automatically until after it is moving. I usually hear the click about the end of the driveway.

That is scarey. I am glad I have an older model car that does not have this feature of locking the doors automatically. I hate it when I ride in my neighbors car and when we get to where we are going I can never open my door until she unlocks it. Why do the manufacturers think this is a necessary "safety" feature. It would have proven just the opposite if you weren't able to get help.

With that line of thinking it is a miracle any of us reached adulthood when nothing had auto lock, auto seat belt, mandatory helmet laws for bicycles, etc. etc.

Mine does too, a GMC model - what kind of car do you have Drgranny?

Also, mine does not lock until you shift out of park - you can adjust what it does, read your owner's manual. Don't want it to happen again.

My car locks itself, dont ever get out and leave the car running and slam the door. But yours with the battery going dead is even worse I am curious to see if I could lift the little knobs since they would be on the automatic system also. Thank goodness your OK although I cant believe he didnt offer you water quicker In 5 minutes that temp can really climb. - Nancy

Check your manual. I bought a new car a few months ago and did not like my doors locking when the engine started. The manual showed me how to disengage that feature.

Definitely scary. I'm glad you got thru it OK.

OMG! Glad to know you are safe!

I'm so glad all ended well! You need to keep something in your car, with which you can break the window, if needed.

wow..another reason to have good old hand crank windows....glad you are ok though!

Glad that you are okay, but that is to scary. I agree about having something to break the window, so I would be putting a hammer under the seat. LOL. I would have had a major panic attack from that. Take care.

Cars use to be so simple to operate. Now, there is so much about them that look innocent, but can turn deadly in a second. God has His angels looking out for you.

We just picked up a new car today and the one thing I made sure of was cancelling the automatic door locks as soon as you turn the car on. It never occurred to me I could get stuck in the car under the circumstances you described; now I'm double glad I had this taken care of. Thanks for sharing this awful experience, it will help someone else down the road, and glad you're okay.

I am glad you were able to get out of your car safely. Never realized you could be locked in your car due to a dead battery.

I have a tool in my door pouch that you can break a window with or cut a seat belt off in case of accident. I also carry water in my car in the summer time for emergences I love automatic lock doors, someone jumped into my car at a stop light once he only demanded a ride to work but from then on I make sure doors are locked it could of been so much worse if he would of intended to do me harm

Did you try to pull the latch on the door with your hand???

Most cars are fitted with an emergency boot opener at least. It would be tricky, but you would just need to climb into the back and pull the wire.

WOW, that could have been disastrous !!! I never take our cell phone with me so that could have been the end for me. This is important information that needs to be passed on so that the same thing does not happen to others.

wow I am sorry you had to go through that but that is a good idea to start your car with the door ajar. just be careful in a parking lot. thx for sharing

My 2012 truck does not lock the doors until I shift it to drive. 2003 I had before didn't lock the doors until I drove several minutes. No thanks, on the roll up/down windows. My cell phone is usually dead. My Husband is usually with me.

What car is it?
Sounds like a lawsuit to me. Someone could die.
Seems like carmakers dont know what they are doing anymore. Recall after recall.
I will keep my simple little Honda Civic and even that has a recall for the airbag.

My car (Pacifica) doesn't lock until I drive over 12 MPH. So I usually manually lock my doors. Put a note or something on the steering wheel to remind you to leave the door open when you start. Or open your window before you start your car.

So sorry to hear this happened to you. I am glad you are OK. My DH has an older truck that has locks like that but atleast the windows are just regular roll down. If I were you I would also cary something to break the window if necessary. This sounds like a major sefety issue.

Glad you made out OK. This is something you only find out about after someone has a problem, not something I would ever prepare for. You knowthat from now on I won't close my doors until the cars is turned on, make sure my cell is charged and put an old hammer in the glove compartment.

A long, heavy flashlight would serve double duty, in a car. It would knock out a window and/or provide light.

There are tools we should have with us--a rescue hammer or a little one you can carry on your keychain to break safety glass called Res-Q-Me. I'm sure there are more. I'd have been inclined to break a window in that kind of heat--it's deadly. Thank you for calling our attention to this problem. I think my car locks as soon as I take it out of park but I'm not sure about the rest......I bet we'll all be checking.

WOW!! that heat could of got you! They make a little tool that you should have in your glove box. It has a pointed pc that hits the window, as they are hard to break. They also are designed to minimize the glass from going all over. We had an old car, years back, that the doors would freeze and not want to open. I got in the car one day and got to the end of the driveway and decided the road was impassable, so I backed up, parked and went to get out. Couldn't. Electric windos were also frozen. The car was running, and I knew it would eventually thaw out, but I am a little claustraphobic and I was VERY uncomfortable. No cell phones back then! I can't imagine how terrified you must have been. Glad you had the cell phone and got someone to come. I think you need to report this incident to someone. If it is a defect in that model car or something, they need to fix it before the outcome is not so good.

Even though my car has these flat mini "panels" by everything electronic that can be removed with the key to give access to manual overrides, I doubt I would have thought about them if I found myself in your situation.

Sometimes auto door locks can be useful, though. Not too long ago, a guy nearby was charging the battery on his Corvette. He had started the car and was putting things away when a man came running up, jumped in the Corvette and slammed the door. But - he stalled the car when trying to reverse out of the driveway. With the battery not yet fully charged, the car would not re-start but the auto door locks had the would-be thief stuck in the car. Luckily for him, it wasn't hot like your situation because he had to just sit there until the police arrived. He tried breaking out the windows, but couldn't; it isn't as easy as it seems.

glad your alright. that is scary.

Yes, that was scary and this happened to friends of mine that are also elderly. Think that car manufacturers should put a button or switch some place that is not depended on batteries to open doors.

i have to say, my battery died and i called for help. I didn't want to get out of the car because if i locked the door, how would I get back in if the locks didn't work?? duh!!! I have a key and the door has a lock on the outside to slip the key in!!! i was so used to punching my automatic key that I didn't remember that. I felt so dumb.
i worry about leaving the door open to start first if you are out somewhere. too many idiots out there waiting to steal your car or purse. just be watchful!

When we bought our new car a year ago, the salesman asked us if we wanted this disengaged for us before we left the lot. Of course we said yes! Our previous van automatically locked and we never thought to disengage the mechanism. Just hated having the knob automatically go down when my DH would put the van in gear. I had a habit of putting my arm up on the 'ledge' by the window and that dang knob squeeeezes and pinches your upper arm 'flab'. The bruises I used to have were very suspicious. Looked like fingerprints dug into my upper arm. The ledge was so much more comfortable resting my arm than using the arm rest low on the door. Slow learner I guess.

OMG! I'da done passed out by then! I'm bout to pass out from the heat, and I'm inside in the AC! lol! Glad you're OK!

Wow! Talk about scary. Who would have thought that such a thing could or would happen? Not me. I will be out there checking mine out, as I have only had it for a month now and still have problems with wipers and such.