One day, my friend left the keys in the ignition, got out of the car, slammed the door - and the alarm went off, blocking access to the salon. It happened on the highway, it was snowing, and nothing more pressing than breaking the back door glass came to his mind. After this story, I decided, so to speak, just in case, to “spread straws” and make a secret hiding place on the body of my car with a spare key.
What is needed for work
- Metallized mounting tape for construction work;
- Metal brush, degreaser;
- Polymer-bitumen mastic in an aerosol can;
- Scissors;
- Spare duplicate key.
Choosing a place for a hiding place
The place for placing the cache must be located on the load-bearing elements of the body with a flat surface, which under no circumstances can come into contact with the road (that is, in natural niches or near the bottom stiffener) and be easily accessible. In my case, the hiding place will be placed on the supporting beam of the body, directly under the driver's door door lock.I chose this position taking into account the fact that this bookmark may be unclaimed for a long time and at the moment when I need the key, I may forget where I made the hiding place. Therefore, be sure to choose some landmark.
Surface preparation and key laying
The surface must be smooth, clean and free of flaking rust. After preparation, do not forget to degrease this area.
Next, cut a piece of metallized tape so that its length is 4-5 cm longer than the key, and place it in the middle on the side with the adhesive layer.
If the key is wider than the strip, you can take two pieces and overlap them (at least 1.5-2 cm). After this, you should stick the tape onto the prepared area of the body and smooth it thoroughly so that there are no air bubbles.
Disguising a bookmark
We spray mastic onto the area with the glued key, also covering the untreated surfaces of the bottom. Afterwards, you can drive along a dusty road (dirt road) and repeat the procedure again. After the second treatment, the outlines of the key will become barely noticeable, and the dust (dirt) that subsequently settles will completely veil the secret hiding place. Waterproof tape and a layer of mastic will seal the key securely and protect it from the elements, so when you need it, it'll be as good as new.
When performing this type of work, be careful when handling scissors, and also do not spray mastic towards yourself or towards other people. And, of course, neighbors or friends should not be witnesses to this procedure - only the closest person whom you trust as yourself can know about the hiding place.
Results
Of course, such a backup option may never be needed, but, as practice shows, the most unexpected things happen in life, and if you are prepared for them in advance, they will only amuse you and will not cause any harm.
Original article in English
