Locking car with engine running 1999 210
 

I have a 1999 E300TD. I was wondering if it is possible to lock the car with the engine running. I want to do this when I run in the store really quick and in situations like that. I have tried removing the metal key from my electronic key, but I cannot get the doors to lock. I have tried mashing the lock button, and I have tried turning the metal key in the door, but it refuses to lock with the engine running. It sure would be nice if I could just get the car to lock so I could keep the engine running and not have to worry about it getting stolen, especially since I have a diesel its probally a lot cheaper to keep the car running for a minute rather than shutting it down and then cranking it back up in such a short amount of time. Any ideas/tricks would be appreciated.

I don't think it can be done for obvious reasons. Just out of curiosity, I tried using my second Smartkey from the outside and that doesn't work either.

Sadly, some years back many auto manufacturers concluded that we could not be trusted to know when to lock our cars and they took over the job autocratically. They could make these things programmable for about 10 cents a car but they don't trust us with that either.

Your post on the Diesel forum suggests you want to idle while you fill up; you cant check the oil if you do that which is much more important than saving a half a cent of fuel in the long run.

I guess by not shutting it down you ARE saving one of your 200K starts before having to replace keys, ign, door locks and re-programming DAS, but as most never get to that point, I fail to see the reason.

It's possible but it's a pain. With the doors locked, you have to get out, reach in and unlock the rear driver's side door by pulling up on the knob manually, close the driver's door then reach through the back door and lock both front and rear doors manually and finally shut the back door. That said, I would test this with someone in the car to make sure you could open the door back up. I'm pretty sure the manual key will work.

You should look into a remote start system. My buddy had one on his '97. It worked great, he'd start the car when he was standing in the check out line at a store and it would be cool/warm by the time he got there and finished loading up. I don't know if that's your concern or the economy. I think the break point for letting it idle versus a re-start is about 30 seconds.

It's probably better to just make sure you have nothing too valuable in the car and leave it unlocked. Pick up your insurance check the second it gets stolen, before they have time to recover the car.