Lost car keys - UPDATE

[ericschand]

Originally Posted by bluck

I took Kunks and Ace's suggestion and just signed up for AMA. $98 for the year and they can come tow me within the hour.. village honda didn't have a service appointment until monday which is stupid so im towing it to Airdrie. AMA also said they will give me a $50 reimbursement on a set of keys so that makes it worth it right there. So total cost for my stupid mistake is $100 for AMA, + $2.10 a KM so $40.. + $150 for 2 keys.. - $50 for one.. = $240.00 for the most bonehead mistake ever. Not fun. Thanks for all the help CP

Let me add a third thumbs up for AMA/CAA.

Be very very nice to the tow truck guy. He's your friend. Actually, all the ones from AMA I've dealt with are very personable, not a grouch in the bunch.

If you're nice to them, I've noticed they will waive the $2/km charge, just because. I was towed from Shawnessy to Silver Springs, no charge. Near Bow Bottom Trail and Deerfoot to Crowfoot Honda, no charge.

They came and replaced my dead battery in my driveway for less than what a new one at Costco was. Bloody cold day, never once did they complain and were completely friendly and professional.

On another tow, the driver got annoyed because he said on the phone I should have told them I had an ice cream cake and there was a cop there ordering me to get my car out of there. He would have gotten there even faster than the 15 min he took. He was surprised the cop didn't call City-Wide and tow it himself, as 15 min was a long time for him to wait, plus then to lose an ice cream cake? C'mon!

Speaking as a member since 1984, I've never had anything bad to say about them. I've registered my cars with them, registered businesses with them (with a lot of patience and helpful tips), used them for travel and travel advice, and of course car towing/battery replacement. Awesome people, awesome service.

ers

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by ericschand

Let me add a third thumbs up for AMA/CAA.

Be very very nice to the tow truck guy. He's your friend. Actually, all the ones from AMA I've dealt with are very personable, not a grouch in the bunch.

If you're nice to them, I've noticed they will waive the $2/km charge, just because. I was towed from Shawnessy to Silver Springs, no charge. Near Bow Bottom Trail and Deerfoot to Crowfoot Honda, no charge.

They came and replaced my dead battery in my driveway for less than what a new one at Costco was. Bloody cold day, never once did they complain and were completely friendly and professional.

On another tow, the driver got annoyed because he said on the phone I should have told them I had an ice cream cake and there was a cop there ordering me to get my car out of there. He would have gotten there even faster than the 15 min he took. He was surprised the cop didn't call City-Wide and tow it himself, as 15 min was a long time for him to wait, plus then to lose an ice cream cake? C'mon!

Speaking as a member since 1984, I've never had anything bad to say about them. I've registered my cars with them, registered businesses with them (with a lot of patience and helpful tips), used them for travel and travel advice, and of course car towing/battery replacement. Awesome people, awesome service.

ers

Are you a hot chick?

Sounds like Paige from American Guns talking up her 'negotiating' ability.

[Zevo]

Going by username sounds like it's Erics girlfriend.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by bluck

This is probably the most annoying thing to deal with ever! Lost my keys and cant find my second set... I drive a 2001 Honda civic with one of those stupid chip keys. I called the dealership and they said my only option is to tow the car to the dealership so they can replace the key that way using their computer to program me a new one. Is this my only option?


Well folks I've been through hell and back the tow truck came to my house only an hour later then when he said he'd be there forcing me to call the dealership and say I was gonna be there at 4:00 instead of 3:30 for my appointment which is already cutting it close. He then proceeds to try and unlock my car to put it in neutral however he couldn't figure out how to jimmy the lock for at least 20 minutes. Finally switches to the driver side and gets it to open. Now the car is in the garage which I was praying to god wouldn't cause an issue but of course it did. We had the car in neutral but the steering wheel was locked and as we reversed the car out it became apparent that there was no way it wasn't going to hit the edge of the garage. So now I have to call a locksmith to make a copy of my key to unlock the wheel. Which estimated to cost upwards of $165 and then call the tow truck again and then go to the dealership and blow another $200 this has been an absolute god damn ####ing nightmare.

Why didn't the tow operator just put the car us on wheelies and roll it out of the way of the garage?

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Ace

BTW...AMA Plus includes up to 160KM of towing, and includes up to $100 of locksmith charges. (I think it's only about $40 more)

I looked at that a while ago- they won't let you use the 160 km tow right away; there is a grace period.

[bluck]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Why didn't the tow operator just put the car us on wheelies and roll it out of the way of the garage?

He tried but since the wheel was locked all the way to the left when he backed up the car kept turning as well. There is less then a foot of space on either side its a tiny garage.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by bluck

There is less then a foot of space on either side its a tiny garage.

WTF? do you crawl out the window or are you a Russian gymnast?

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Most manufacturer's keys can be bought online for a fraction of the stealership cost and programmed yourself.

My wife lost a key fob a couple weeks ago. We still had a spare, but the (Dodge) dealer wants $230 for a new one + $70 to program it. Couldn't believe it.

Anyhow, I see a few online for a quarter of the stealers price. Does anyone know how to program them though? Does anyone other than a dealer do it? I'd hate to have to give them anything, let alone $70 to do it.

[zamler]

If you do a search on how to program your specific vehicle, usually you can find the info you need.