I may loose my heart in San Francisco, but I lost my car keys somewhere else by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady When I travel, I sometimes worry about loosing my room key. I rarely think about loosing my regular keys. But on one of the rare times when I was home, I lost my keys somewhere in my loft building. I am sure of that because you can't get into my loft without a key. I opened the door. But by the time I was ready to go out, the keys hid somewhere. I spent an entire weekend looking for them. Actually I lost five hundred dollars There is only one thing you need to save five hundred dollars. And you probably already carry it with you everyday. You need a car key. Sounds simple, but if you have a car that is more than 10 years old, you may not be able to get a replacement key. I recently lost the key to my 1997 Ford Escort. So I called a dealer. Unfortunately, I could not call the dealer that sold me the car. They had changed hands once and then gone out of business since 1997. The dealer I tried asked how old my car was. He said they only kept records needed to code in a car key for ten years. I wish someone had told me that sooner. If only I had lost my car key last year, it would not have been a problem. I could not believe that it was impossible. I called Ford Motors in Detroit. They were extremely helpful and referred me to a nearby dealer. Park Cities Ford was a total hero--even if it was an expensive lesson. They confirmed that it was not possible to make the key without the code. They told me they tell their customers that they should put the key code number in a safe place like a safety deposit box. I got divorced seven years ago and my husband took custody of the safe deposit box. They suggested I call a locksmith, or have the car towed in. The first option would be a little over a hundred dollars. The second option would be several hundred dollars. Ever frugal (and wishing desperately that I had sprung for an extra car key) I asked all my friends if they knew a good locksmith. I sent an email out to my 41 best friends in Dallas. No one responded. Then I called the one person I know who has incredible resources. If I needed a heart transplant, I would ask her who to call. When she called me back she said she did not know of anyone but to please let her know if I found a good one. I was reluctant to just pick a locksmith without ANYONE recommending them. I guess all of my friends are responsible people who never lose their keys. So since I love my car and was anxious about a stranger removing the door to make a key impression, I decided to bite the bullet and go for the dealer. The Dealer does it Best Park Cities Ford Motor company recommended Express Towing. Within about ten minutes, a bright red shiny new tow truck was in front of my loft. It was a Ford and it looked like it was a virgin--not that the driver was inexperienced--but the car looked like it was brand new. I felt like a limo had come to get me--not a rusty, old dirty tow truck. I wasn't the only one who was impressed. When the tow truck drove around back to get my car, several other residents came out to watch. I suddenly realized I had never had a car towed. Instead of a hassle, it was becoming an adventure. The tow truck driver, Kenneth Abron, was as skilled as a brain surgeon and had almost as many tools. He gently opened the car door, got under the hood and then did some more towing stuff while I got out my camera to take pictures. This was a performance as acrobatic as Cirque de Soleil. He explained what he was doing and carefully cushioned the wheels with soft blocks so he could raise them up and the oil pan would not be hurt (just listen to how much I learned) Soon my car was loaded up and ready to go. Since it was going to the dealer, I asked Kenneth how long it would take and if I could ride with him. He agreed. I called Park Cities Ford to see how long it would take. The service technician asked what model car I had and the year. When I said 1997, he politely told me that they did not stock parts more than 10 years old, but could easily get replacement parts. Too old, again. When I told my friend Rochelle about the car adventure, she said, "there is a great locksmith on Inwood, it is called Bee's Keys". But it was too late again. I vowed to keep the number of a locksmith handy, too. Late next morning, I got an email and a call from Bill, the Ford Park Cities service team all-star. He said they could not get the part quickly and were going to call a locksmith. They arranged for me to use a Ford from Enterprise leasing next door to them. So for a day or so I got to drive a spiffy new Ford Edge ( a car with 212 miles is new to me--but then I keep my cars for twelve years) This wasn't too bad. Park City Ford sent Willy to pick me up and bring me to Enterprise. He called me twice--but both numbers he had were wrong. Actually, they weren't wrong, they were just old. They were my home and office numbers from when I bought the Escort. Later I asked Bill where they got those numbers--they were as old as my car. He explained he had gone through old records they had purchased when the dealership closed. He tracked me down by emailing me. (since my website is also twelve years old and was listed in the record.) The next day, my car (washed and looking a lot better than when it was picked up) and I were reunited. Bill said they did not have blanks to make duplicate keys (just guess why--my car was more than ten years old) but suggested I go to the Lowe's down the block to have some made. I really liked it when someone at a dealership is offering me such a cost-effective alternative. I went to Loews. They did not have the blank. They said I would have a hard time getting a blank for a car that old. They suggested a locksmith named "Bees Keys" I called Bill back to see if he had any other suggestions. He graciously told me that I might want to use their locksmith--"Bees Keys" It was three for one. WHAT I LEARNED 1. If you drive an older car, make multiple car keys. Getting replacements and even duplicates gets REALLY expensive 2. Save the code to your key 3. If you are going to lose your key, do it during the first ten years you own it. WHAT I AM GOING TO DO 1. Make a dozen duplicate keys and give one to each of my friends 2. Put a duplicate of every key I need in a plastic Easter egg in my freezer. 3. consider tatooing the car key code on the palm of my hand. 4. have a key party for my birthday. (no, not that kind). Take all my girlfriends to lunch. Ask them to hand me their key. Then I will have someone take them all to a keymaker and give them each a duplicate for themselves and for me. That way maybe I can save someone else from this disaster. WHAT I SUGGEST YOU DO 1. The minute you stop reading this, go directly to your car key. Hold it tight in your hand. Go to your car. Drive to a place where you can get duplicate keys made. MY HEROES LIST Park Cities Ford Motor
214-358-8800
Inwood Road
Dallas, TX ask for Bill Fisher (but I think everyone I spoke to there was helpful, considerate and sympathetic). Bill even emailed me the next day to make sure I had gotten extra keys. I thought that was really above and beyond--but then that seems to be his style. Express Towing, Inc
972-790-3800
ask for Kenneth Abron
Garland, TX Bees Keys
214-351-4752
7711 Inwood Road
Dallas, Tx Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who vows never to loose her keys again. As a proud member of TAWA, the Texas Auto Writers Association, she has a mission to make sure everyone has a duplicate key. She will probably ask you where your duplicate key is when she meets you. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateatas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com | 