Got locked out with engine running - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

SSdude · 03-03-2018, 06:50 PM

Been a while since I've been on the forums. So we got hit with a major storm this weekend when I was at a friends house and just before it hit us I had the misfortune of getting locked out of my car with the engine running. Since the storm did some pretty massive damage (no power since Friday) none of the emergency services were operational in a 20 mile radius of us and I didn't have the heart to break open the window and kill the engine in the middle of the storm. In the morning once the storm cleared I got a duplicate key from home and was surprised that the engine was still going strong. So the question I have is what do I need to look at for wear other than doing an oil change and some fuel injector cleaners perhaps. Thoughts?

hou30guy · 03-03-2018, 06:55 PM

I love onstar app just press the unlock botton

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SSdude · 03-03-2018, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hou30guy

I love onstar app just press the unlock botton

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

No cell service or power in a 15 mile radius . All cell towers knocked out. I like onstar too when it works .

CamaroFred · 03-03-2018, 07:09 PM

Why do you imagine you would need an oil change and injector cleaner?
These cars know how to idle.

These cars are pretty hard to get locked out of. How did you do that?

fhrex · 03-03-2018, 07:09 PM

Our cars and engines are so well built that the powertrain control systems would have kept any engine damage from occurring. Engine oil change wouldn't hurt to give you peace of mind.

SSdude · 03-03-2018, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroFred

Why do you imagine you would need an oil change and injector cleaner?
These cars know how to idle.

These cars are pretty hard to get locked out of. How did you do that?

Dumb move on my part. I was loading stuff in the trunk and door was open when I hit lock and remote start (while the door was still open) . After loading the trunk I put the key in the ignition and realized i forgot something so went back indoors to get some stuff and closed the door by mistake Arghhhh

JOURDAN · 03-03-2018, 08:11 PM

Some Police cars pull double duty and idle 24/7 day after day...

Windycity · 03-03-2018, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSdude

Dumb move on my part. I was loading stuff in the trunk and door was open when I hit lock and remote start (while the door was still open) . After loading the trunk I put the key in the ignition and realized i forgot something so went back indoors to get some stuff and closed the door by mistake Arghhhh

That is the reason I always crack open my window when a car is running and I “step out” for a second

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ron123 · 03-03-2018, 10:04 PM

Running 500 rpms at idle is about 1/4 what it would be on the highway. Idling 24 hours maybe about equal to 6 hours highway driving ... except no wear-and-tear on tires and brakes. lol
Many Police cruisers, as mentioned earlier, are rarely ever shut off. Some Police departments have even had Camaros in their motor pool, they easily handle long term idling.

Hide-a-key or coat hanger may work in a pinch. I've used coat hanger to fairly quickly open many different make car doors ... but have never tried it on the Gen5.

Moto-Mojo · 03-04-2018, 09:55 AM

I agree that idling for 24 hrs will do little, if any, harm. If it had an external fuel source it might run for years with minimal damage / wear and tear. It's a mechanical device built for longevity. Now, if you put a brick on the gas pedal, that's different!

Yellow 1 · 03-04-2018, 11:17 AM

I had to cough up £45 here in the UK for the pleasure of not having the key fob recall mod so I stuck one of the horrible recut plain keys in a plastic usb case and cable tied it to the underside in a dark corner just in case....

Juiced1 · 03-04-2018, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOURDAN

Some Police cars pull double duty and idle 24/7 day after day...

+1. As long as you care doesn't have oil pressure issues you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

I always leave the door open a crack or the window down just in case

OHIOSS · 03-05-2018, 04:37 PM

Do you have a 2nd key/fob? Was your trunk still open?

There is nothing you need to do to the car. The only thing I could think of that would have been a problem is if it overheated. I have had older cars that would overheat when idling to long, I don't think that is an issue now days.

Rainbow1616 · 03-06-2018, 04:46 AM

The metal around a wiper blade makes a good slim Jim.(as long as yours aren't all plastic) I learned that years ago in the middle of no where.

03-03-2018, 06:50 PM	#1
SSdude Drives: Super Sport Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 495	Got locked out with engine running Been a while since I've been on the forums. So we got hit with a major storm this weekend when I was at a friends house and just before it hit us I had the misfortune of getting locked out of my car with the engine running. Since the storm did some pretty massive damage (no power since Friday) none of the emergency services were operational in a 20 mile radius of us and I didn't have the heart to break open the window and kill the engine in the middle of the storm. In the morning once the storm cleared I got a duplicate key from home and was surprised that the engine was still going strong. So the question I have is what do I need to look at for wear other than doing an oil change and some fuel injector cleaners perhaps. Thoughts? __________________ Last edited by SSdude; 06-28-2018 at 11:36 AM.

03-03-2018, 07:09 PM	#4
CamaroFred Drives: Miss Con Ception Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 2,998	Why do you imagine you would need an oil change and injector cleaner? These cars know how to idle. These cars are pretty hard to get locked out of. How did you do that? __________________ 2011 1SS/RS LS3 CGM

03-03-2018, 07:09 PM	#5
fhrex Drives: 2011 Camaro 2LT/RS Join Date: May 2015 Location: Farmville, Virginia Posts: 1,022 View My Garage	Our cars and engines are so well built that the powertrain control systems would have kept any engine damage from occurring. Engine oil change wouldn't hurt to give you peace of mind. __________________

03-03-2018, 10:04 PM	#9
ron123 Drives: 2014 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,053	Running 500 rpms at idle is about 1/4 what it would be on the highway. Idling 24 hours maybe about equal to 6 hours highway driving ... except no wear-and-tear on tires and brakes. lol Many Police cruisers, as mentioned earlier, are rarely ever shut off. Some Police departments have even had Camaros in their motor pool, they easily handle long term idling. Hide-a-key or coat hanger may work in a pinch. I've used coat hanger to fairly quickly open many different make car doors ... but have never tried it on the Gen5. __________________ 2014 2SS/RS, Z28 CAI and High Wing Spoiler, ZL1 5.1:1 Ratio Short-Throw Shifter, ZL1 Pedals, ZL1 splash guards, NPP Dual-mode quad tip exhaust, Z28 strut tower brace, Camaro LED Cup-holders with footwell Lighting option, Leather visors, and Leather E-brake boot. Chevy dealer sponsored 67 retro SS nose stripe package.

03-04-2018, 09:55 AM	#10
Moto-Mojo Fast Cars and Old Guitars Drives: 2015 2SS RS (L99, baby!) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: N. CA Posts: 3,973	I agree that idling for 24 hrs will do little, if any, harm. If it had an external fuel source it might run for years with minimal damage / wear and tear. It's a mechanical device built for longevity. Now, if you put a brick on the gas pedal, that's different! __________________ “I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member.” - Groucho Marx

03-03-2018, 06:55 PM	#2
hou30guy Drives: 2011 convertible 2ss/rs Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Houston Posts: 971	I love onstar app just press the unlock botton Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

03-03-2018, 08:11 PM	#7
JOURDAN Drives: 2010 Camaro SS 2SS Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Oregon Posts: 145	Some Police cars pull double duty and idle 24/7 day after day...

03-04-2018, 11:17 AM	#11
Yellow 1 Grumpy Grey-haired Guy Drives: Camaro, Corvette & Merc C300(daily) Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: South Warwickshire, UK. Posts: 806 View My Garage	I had to cough up £45 here in the UK for the pleasure of not having the key fob recall mod so I stuck one of the horrible recut plain keys in a plastic usb case and cable tied it to the underside in a dark corner just in case.... __________________ ---------------------------------------------------------

03-05-2018, 04:37 PM	#13
OHIOSS Russ Drives: Yukon Denali, Charger, CamaroSS Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,811	Do you have a 2nd key/fob? Was your trunk still open? There is nothing you need to do to the car. The only thing I could think of that would have been a problem is if it overheated. I have had older cars that would overheat when idling to long, I don't think that is an issue now days.

03-06-2018, 04:46 AM	#14
Rainbow1616 Drives: 2011 Inferno Orange Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,368	The metal around a wiper blade makes a good slim Jim.(as long as yours aren't all plastic) I learned that years ago in the middle of no where.