Hi guys, newbie here.

This morning it was -3C so I thought I'd run the engine (and heaters) for a few minutes to defrost the car. With the engine running, I was unable to lock the car with a spare key.

Is there a way around this?

Cheers

Brabant

Welcome to Freel2 Brabant, I don't think there is a way, someone will no doubt have one but don't forget it is an offence to leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running.
Get one of those coffee flasks, sit there for a couple of mins and away you go, the FL2 warms up very quickly

taztastic wrote:

but don't forget it is an offence to leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running.

Only on a Public Road

I don't think it is an offence, police cars leave there engines running all the time at scenes of incidents with run lock feature engaged.

And even if it is an offence big whoop, no copper is ever gonna give you a ticket for that

I'd be more concerned about the actors who comes up, smashes your window and drives off! Insurance will laugh at you before putting the phone down!!

Haven't you got a heated screen? Mine: 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35
Family's: 2009 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Auto, Stornoway

Yorkshire - God's County

Install a Fuel Fired Booster Heater with a remote control and you can remote heat your car....
Some have done it (user Atrix): http://www.freel2.com/forum/post86844.html#86844

Quote "I don't think it is an offence, police cars leave there engines running all the time at scenes of incidents with run lock feature engaged."
Emergency services have an exemption under the highways (or some such) act.
Not many others, stop signs and red lights can be treated as give ways (except temporary traffic lights) and speed limits can be broken "if safe to do so." Maybe one or two more.

just get in it! what are you a man or a mouse it'll warm up in no time  When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car

Better still, get the wife to do it.

 When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car

It is an offence called quitting. The run lock on a police vehicle cuts the engine if it goes no gear. The idea behind the offence is to prevent the vehicle jumping into gear without a driver, unlikely but I believe possible. However the offence is not committed as long as someone is in the vehicle who has a full drivers licence, no matter where they are sat. Only applies on public highway or places where access to public is permitted ie car parks etc... On your driveway your safe.

So, for the avoidance of doubt, if I'm packing in smoking, i.e. quitting, I'm OK on my own drive, but as soon as i go onto a public highway I'm committing an offence? That's me back on the fags, I'm not risking that