We had a car stolen a few years ago, they broke the steering column.
We had to have it towed and repaired.
Also, because it had been reported stolen, the title had to be modified as "stolen/recovered."

Good luck!

gee that's a good question...she might have to have it re-keyed...I don't think they do the wires like in tv, but just stick a scr*w driver or something? so glad she got it back!

My DH who is quite savvy on things like that said her key will not work if it was hot wired. Too hot wire you have to cut a wire or two and that has to be fixed in order for the key to work. I don't know what make and year it is though maybe that would help him more.

Why is there a need to speculate? Insert the key, either the ignition switch works or it doesn't.

I've never seen anyone screen the word "screwdriver" before, it took me a second to figure it out. Ha, why would that need to be screened any more than "hammer" or "nail"?

Earlier this year I donated a car to a charity that gives cars to people in need. For the life of me, I could not find the keys to the car (I had two sets -- there's a "master" key as well as a key that operates the ignition but won't open the trunk). So, I called a dealership. I didn't have the "key ID number" but I did have the VIN for the car, and with that the Parts Department was able to look up what key I would need. I was told it would be $75 for one key. So, I called a dealership in another nearby city, and the guy in the Parts Dept said that they'd give me the key for no charge. To top it off, the guy even delivered the key to my house! (I'd had the car serviced there many times, so they had my car/info on record).

So, what does this have to do with your daughter's car? "My daughter's car was stolen (and recovered, thankfully!) but she had possession of the only key. That leads us to believe the car would have to have been hot wired." There are other ways to get a key to a car. That can be good, or bad.

snidely, I assume they wanted to know before the car came back to them. Probably just worried as to what will have to be done and getting prepared. Try to ask things a little nicer? Please? Did the preview option of your post not like screwdriver? That would be strange!

I would change the keys too if I could, just seems like a good idea. I'd at least ask if insurance would cover it? Just a thought. I've not been there.

So, what does this have to do with your daughter's car? "My daughter's car was stolen (and recovered, thankfully!) but she had possession of the only key. That leads us to believe the car would have to have been hot wired." There are other ways to get a key to a car. That can be good, or bad.

Thanks, Lindsey_CA. The car DID start with her key...we're suspecting foul play from an acquaintance of hers. I knew the key worked (we already drove it from the impound lot), but someone speculated the key would not work if it had been hot wired...I could not confirm that online so I asked here. Now we have to re-evaluate things.

Why is there a need to speculate? Insert the key, either the ignition switch works or it doesn't. Snidely - I have NEVER pointed out someone's lack of tact in the past. Please try to use a bit more kindness when posting in the future. You come off abrasive, and I'd imagine that's not how you want to be portrayed.

On the contrary, Houstonmom, ANY post that Snidely has written has been abrasive, curt, insulting and rude.

For the life of me, I can't imagine why anyone would want to join a forum, and the only time they write is to shoot someone down. If you read any of his posts, that is the only input he shows here at the Table.

He, and I'm only assuming Snidely is a he, as I have no idea, never comments on the daily picture thread, congratulates someone, contributes anything positive.

That's the way I see it, anyway. Why join, just to be a troll?

I'm batting a big ZERO the last few days insofar as my tone is concerned. I guess what I intend to say and how it sounds don't line up, sorry.

It seemed (and still seems) odd to be thinking about solutions for an imagined problem, only a guess at that point.

Rekeying a car can cost several hundred dollars, depending on the car and type of key system it has.

Aw snidely! I think houston probably just posted to vent a bit. And get a bit of reassurance. At least, if it was me, that's what I would've been after. If you're male, most of the time, unless we say, "I'm just venting", you'll probably want to fix the problem. With what you saw as no problem, it made it hard for you to fix. I hope that makes sense. Just try to hear/listen more and you're likely to bat better. We women like to talk and be heard.

I nominate rob for Village Wizard. Gender differences are real and maybe I saw the question and not the venting part. Even on reread it's not apparent to me.

You know, I could be wrong. I am looking with my own eyes and ears. I could be putting my spin on it.

To clarify...I was not venting! I did not want to be too detailed, but now I will share additional information.

We only have 1 key to the daughter's car. Her car was stolen. We assumed it had to be hot-wired. When we got the car out of impound, we started it using her key. Someone mentioned if a car had been hot wired, the key would not work. I came here (after using her key to start her car) to ask if that is true. We see no proof of hot-wiring, so we are quite perplexed how the perpetrator started her car.

We have a gut feeling a "friend" of our daughter is somehow involved. No proof, just lots of holes in some stories recently.

Thanks for all the input, comments and suggestions!

Some more yakkin' on carpet going on around here, today, maybe?

o j

Please cut Snidely a little slack. I think he was just stating a fact and not trying to be mean. (I do have to admit that I was wondering the same thing as he was.)

Apologies!

You know.... I was wondering the same thing as 'snidley', but perhaps many 'experienced' members kind of allow for peculiar seeming posts and (as women often do) intuitively make guesses as to the meat of the question or stroll on by. I do much of the time, and eventually the real question becomes clear. No need for hurt feelings.

This thread came to mind today when I read a story in the Chicago Tribune by a columnist, Eric Zorn. He wrote that car manufacturers are gouging people as much as $500 for a replacement key. A consumer group complained, and as a result, in some states a licensed keymaker can obtain the key code from the manufacturer and create a new key for about half that amount.

A side element in the story was a report from AAA that said they 'rescued' about four million people nationwide who were locked out of their cars in 2012. They said the number has been constant over the last five years. Considering that I can't lock my car without the key fob...doesn't that seem like a lot of 'lost' keys? I wonder just how AAA 'rescues' these folks?

The FBI reported a 43% drop in auto thefts between 2003 and 2012, which they credited to the 'smart keys'.

Can a car that responds to an electronic signal even BE 'hot-wired'? Houstonmom...I think you have a problem.

Which is why I suggested getting a new key. I totally agree with you chi.

Houston -- has your daughter ever let friends borrow the car? There are plenty of places that'll copy a car key (well, if the car isn't a newer model with special keys), so I can imagine some foolishness going on by a suspect party. Was there any damage to the car?

pammyfay: We have a gut feeling a "friend" of hers took her key and had a copy made. Don't know how to prove that, but that's why I asked if the car key would start the vehicle IF it had been hot-wired. We see no evidence of hot-wiring, so that leads us to believe someone "borrowed" her key, copied it and took her car. There was some damage to the passenger side hubcaps, and the windshield now has several large cracks. Insurance is looking at the car in the morning.

BTW - the car is a 2006 Hyundai Elantra...why would someone steal an '06?

chisue...I agree, which is why I posted this. "We have a gut feeling a "friend" of our daughter is somehow involved. No proof, just lots of holes in some stories recently."

We just don't know how to proceed. We have no proof of any of the accusations.

Why would someone steal an '06? Because they didn't want to walk, or liked it, or because it was there or a hundred other nonsensical/sensible answers. You want a real reason? Those are the real reasons people steal.

The top 10 most stolen vehicles:

1990-1997 Honda Accord
1990-2000 Honda Civic
1997-2008 (minus the 1998 version) Ford Truck
1992-2007 off and on, Chevy Truck
1989-1991! Toyota Camry (I remember this one from a study. Why was it stolen so often? Its lock could be popped with simple dental tool)
1997-2003 Dodge Caravan
2001-2005 Dodge Pickup
1994-1996 Acura Integra
1997 Nissan Altima
1996 Nissan Maxima

You'll notice, none of these cars are "premium" cars. And not all that current. This study was done last year.

I'd talk to the police about what can and can't be done here. Car theft is no minor matter. Leave this person alone and watch the behavior continue...even escalate. Are there a lot of places nearby that this person could have had a key made?

I hate to bring this up, but a few years ago we had a KT member posting that her daughter's *friend* had evidently stolen some valuable coins from their home. Eventually...the poster discovered her daughter was party to the thefts. She was using drugs.

rob -- No need to be so formal. You can call me Sue! LOL