Flushing your only key... down a gas station toile

DrDubzz · 01-03-2009, 08:41 PM

Tuesday evening, my wife and I left our home in Amarillo, TX to visit her family for belated Christmas in New Years. Her family lives in NW Arkansas (Centerton to be exact). Well, to jazz things up this year, her parents took us, her brother and sister in law, and themselves to Branson, MO for a couple days. All expenses paid (hotel, meals, etc). And her aunt and uncle and two cousins surprised us and went up for one of the nights. The plan was to hang out, shop (outlet mall), eat, etc. Just have a general good time and not have to clean up after ourselves.

Well, it's about a 2 hour drive from Centerton to Branson (the way we went anyway). And on this drive there is a small, tiny, no stoplight, town called Alpena. I was relegated to the back seat (I normally drive 100% of the time, but for some reason I did not this time, bad omen) while my wife and her mom were up front. Dad was still at work and the brother and sister in law were coming from Little Rock.

So we stop at the gas station to use the facilities and for my wife to fix her contact. I'm waiting for them to finish up in the potty, and my wife comes out and informs me that she has flushed our only key to our car down the toilet.

She was not joking

The bathrooms were tiny, about 4x6 feet. and one of her pockets was messed up (the one with the key) and she pulled the key out to fix it, but it got caught and fell out of her hand into the flushing toilet. And disappeared.

So she's freaking out, I'm... upset, but don't want to make her feel worse so I stay mostly quiet. We tell the staff (friendliest people ever thankfully), and they inform of that there is a cleanout area for the septic tank, and they're probably caught up in there (apparently this has happened before at that station). So we dig around for a while (ok like 2 hours) trying to find this cover as it was buried a while back before having success. (Note: all cell phones are locked in the car).

So we are using people's phones, calling her dad who is back in NWA getting a key made (not cheap, and he paid for it), and we're running around trying to figure out what to do.

At this point, everyone in Alpena is aware of the situation and is ready to offer their opinion. Thankfully, one guy, knew a guy who works on GM cars. This was good because the Key (for an 08 G6) has a chip in it, that must be programmed to the individual car. He informs me of the manual way to program the key (so we don't have to wait 2 days to use a dealer's computer as it was NYE and everyone was closed).

So to keep this from being several pages, we spent 5 hours at this shell station, had to get a new key, got towed to the nearest deal (Harrison, AR) incase the programming of the key didn't work, my back was sore from digging, etc.

Quite a beginning to the trip. Thankfully, the trick worked and the key was "learned" to the car, and her parents paid for the towing and key (probably 300 bucks total I would guess) and the rest of the trip was a lot of fun and we're now home safely.

So, if you buy a gently used car, and they only have one key for you, make a copy, don't wait until you've flushed the good one.

I will be making SEVERAL copies come monday.

thanks for listening

gettysburgfreak · 01-03-2009, 08:45 PM

that sucks man, at least everything worked out and at least it was a car key and not a wedding ring.

hotreds · 01-03-2009, 08:47 PM

What a feeling of helplessness! Indeed, I have an extra car and house key in my wallet.

chippewastud79 · 01-03-2009, 08:47 PM

Wow, thanks for reminding me I need another copy, or 20, for my car keys. Sounds like a hell of a start to the family get together. Hope the rest of the trip was better then the first 10 hours or so.

DrDubzz · 01-03-2009, 08:50 PM

the trip on the whole was great, but it had quite an interesting start

01-03-2009, 08:58 PM

Boy that brings back memories,,,not to tell my own tale of woe it was very nearly the same story. Lesson learned, I now have 3 copies of my car keys just in case and so far I have had to use "emergency" keys now about a half dozen times.

SmokeyJoe · 01-03-2009, 09:01 PM

Really glad it turned out OK... what a story!

lightning9191 · 01-03-2009, 09:01 PM

Sorry to hear of the key...but it makes for a good story. I keep a spare in my wallet for those just in case happenings.

icehog3 · 01-03-2009, 09:09 PM

Glad all turned out well....sounds like a $hitty situation.

DrDubzz · 01-03-2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

Glad all turned out well....sounds like a $hitty situation.

just a pissy one

01-03-2009, 09:37 PM

you can buy the keys online that have the chips already embedded in them, then have them cut by a locksmith, explain that you know it will need programed. and do the reprogramming yourself. (you just stick the original key in a couple times and do some specific turns) i did it for my mazda, to get a key made at the dealer and programmed they wanted like 100 bucks, i bought the key online for 20 bucks i think and i knew a guy that was a locksmith and i had him cut it for me.

Starscream · 01-03-2009, 09:41 PM

I guess you could say your day "went down the toilet".

kayak_rat · 01-03-2009, 10:15 PM

I tell you what......in a fellow BOTL's back yard and not even a cigar......

Hate to hear about the trouble. Funny thing is I know the gas station, the GM guy, and the owner of the dealership you went to. I grew up in Harrison and have been through Alpena many many times(beerruns). On top of that, I work in Bentonville and live about 20 minutes away. I talked to a buddy and he mentioned hearing about some poor guy who lost his keys down the toilet.....small small world. Glad it turned out well.

Starscream · 01-03-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayak_rat

I tell you what......in a fellow BOTL's back yard and not even a cigar......

Hate to hear about the trouble. Funny thing is I know the gas station, the GM guy, and the owner of the dealership you went to. I grew up in Harrison and have been through Alpena many many times(beerruns). On top of that, I work in Bentonville and live about 20 minutes away. I talked to a buddy and he mentioned hearing about some poor guy who lost his keys down the toilet.....small small world. Glad it turned out well.

Close but no cigar.

Sauer Grapes · 01-03-2009, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayak_rat

I tell you what......in a fellow BOTL's back yard and not even a cigar......

Hate to hear about the trouble. Funny thing is I know the gas station, the GM guy, and the owner of the dealership you went to. I grew up in Harrison and have been through Alpena many many times(beerruns). On top of that, I work in Bentonville and live about 20 minutes away. I talked to a buddy and he mentioned hearing about some poor guy who lost his keys down the toilet.....small small world. Glad it turned out well.

My family is from Harrison. Me, I've never been there.

BigFrank · 01-03-2009, 10:22 PM

Glad to hear it all worked out for ya.
Made the same 1 key mistake before, pricey.

DrDubzz · 01-03-2009, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayak_rat

I tell you what......in a fellow BOTL's back yard and not even a cigar......

Hate to hear about the trouble. Funny thing is I know the gas station, the GM guy, and the owner of the dealership you went to. I grew up in Harrison and have been through Alpena many many times(beerruns). On top of that, I work in Bentonville and live about 20 minutes away. I talked to a buddy and he mentioned hearing about some poor guy who lost his keys down the toilet.....small small world. Glad it turned out well.

no kidding?! yeah, the guy's name was Ron M (I'll spare putting his whole name up) heck of a nice guy

I went to college at JBU in Siloam, so I spent a lot of time in the area, and my wife's whole family, save her brother live in Bentonville or Centerton. If I could ever escape family obligations while visiting I'd love to get together with some of you guys

kayak_rat · 01-03-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RX2010

no kidding?! yeah, the guy's name was Ron M (I'll spare putting his whole name up) heck of a nice guy

I went to college at JBU in Siloam, so I spent a lot of time in the area, and my wife's whole family, save her brother live in Bentonville or Centerton. If I could ever escape family obligations while visiting I'd love to get together with some of you guys

Any time man. We have about 10 local guys who meet in Fayetteville. I live up in Pea Ridge. There is also a new cigar/pipe shop opened up in Rogers. You should stop in next time your around.

Sailchaser · 01-03-2009, 10:43 PM

I can relate I lost more darn sets of keys in the lake and and around the marina I used to work at. The rule at the marina was that you owed all the people that worked with a case of beer if you fell in the water or dropped your keys in the drink
Glad you did not have to pay that piper and all worked out well

DrDubzz · 01-03-2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayak_rat

Any time man. We have about 10 local guys who meet in Fayetteville. I live up in Pea Ridge. There is also a new cigar/pipe shop opened up in Rogers. You should stop in next time your around.

definitely, I actually lived a summer in rogers (2005) to work between my jr and sr years of undergrad. they key is keeping my inlaws in the dark, they don't look kindly on tobacco hobbies

where is the new shop exactly?

01-03-2009, 08:41 PM	#1
DrDubzz Formerly RX2010 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tim Location: Virginia Posts: 2,201 Trading: (34)	Flushing your only key... down a gas station toile Tuesday evening, my wife and I left our home in Amarillo, TX to visit her family for belated Christmas in New Years. Her family lives in NW Arkansas (Centerton to be exact). Well, to jazz things up this year, her parents took us, her brother and sister in law, and themselves to Branson, MO for a couple days. All expenses paid (hotel, meals, etc). And her aunt and uncle and two cousins surprised us and went up for one of the nights. The plan was to hang out, shop (outlet mall), eat, etc. Just have a general good time and not have to clean up after ourselves. Well, it's about a 2 hour drive from Centerton to Branson (the way we went anyway). And on this drive there is a small, tiny, no stoplight, town called Alpena. I was relegated to the back seat (I normally drive 100% of the time, but for some reason I did not this time, bad omen) while my wife and her mom were up front. Dad was still at work and the brother and sister in law were coming from Little Rock. So we stop at the gas station to use the facilities and for my wife to fix her contact. I'm waiting for them to finish up in the potty, and my wife comes out and informs me that she has flushed our only key to our car down the toilet. She was not joking The bathrooms were tiny, about 4x6 feet. and one of her pockets was messed up (the one with the key) and she pulled the key out to fix it, but it got caught and fell out of her hand into the flushing toilet. And disappeared. So she's freaking out, I'm... upset, but don't want to make her feel worse so I stay mostly quiet. We tell the staff (friendliest people ever thankfully), and they inform of that there is a cleanout area for the septic tank, and they're probably caught up in there (apparently this has happened before at that station). So we dig around for a while (ok like 2 hours) trying to find this cover as it was buried a while back before having success. (Note: all cell phones are locked in the car). So we are using people's phones, calling her dad who is back in NWA getting a key made (not cheap, and he paid for it), and we're running around trying to figure out what to do. At this point, everyone in Alpena is aware of the situation and is ready to offer their opinion. Thankfully, one guy, knew a guy who works on GM cars. This was good because the Key (for an 08 G6) has a chip in it, that must be programmed to the individual car. He informs me of the manual way to program the key (so we don't have to wait 2 days to use a dealer's computer as it was NYE and everyone was closed). So to keep this from being several pages, we spent 5 hours at this shell station, had to get a new key, got towed to the nearest deal (Harrison, AR) incase the programming of the key didn't work, my back was sore from digging, etc. Quite a beginning to the trip. Thankfully, the trick worked and the key was "learned" to the car, and her parents paid for the towing and key (probably 300 bucks total I would guess) and the rest of the trip was a lot of fun and we're now home safely. So, if you buy a gently used car, and they only have one key for you, make a copy, don't wait until you've flushed the good one. I will be making SEVERAL copies come monday. thanks for listening

01-03-2009, 08:45 PM	#2
gettysburgfreak Patriot Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Mitten Posts: 1,442 Trading: (2)	Re: Flushing your only key... down a gas station t that sucks man, at least everything worked out and at least it was a car key and not a wedding ring. __________________ Author ofeath, Disease, and Life at War: The Civil War Letters of Surgeon James D. Benton, 111th and 98th New York Infantry Regiments, 1862-1865.

01-03-2009, 08:47 PM	#3
hotreds Ephesians 2:8 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5 miles past "Resume Speed" Posts: 11,665 Trading: (63)	Re: Flushing your only key... down a gas station t What a feeling of helplessness! Indeed, I have an extra car and house key in my wallet. __________________ God loves you so much, that he made you read this, just to let you know.

01-03-2009, 08:47 PM	#4
chippewastud79 Fatter than you! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Larry Location: A little place called home. Posts: 5,397 Trading: (44)	Re: Flushing your only key... down a gas station t Wow, thanks for reminding me I need another copy, or 20, for my car keys. Sounds like a hell of a start to the family get together. Hope the rest of the trip was better then the first 10 hours or so. __________________ If we weren't supposed to eat animals, then how come they're made of meat? You can never have too many cigars, they are like an investment in good times.

01-03-2009, 08:50 PM	#5
DrDubzz Formerly RX2010 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tim Location: Virginia Posts: 2,201 Trading: (34)	Re: Flushing your only key... down a gas station t the trip on the whole was great, but it had quite an interesting start

01-03-2009, 08:58 PM	#6
Cigary Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Flushing your only key... down a gas station t Boy that brings back memories,,,not to tell my own tale of woe it was very nearly the same story. Lesson learned, I now have 3 copies of my car keys just in case and so far I have had to use "emergency" keys now about a half dozen times.

01-03-2009, 09:01 PM	#7
SmokeyJoe Chief Wannastogie Lounge Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Joe Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 3,163 Trading: (28)	Re: Flushing your only key... down a gas station t Really glad it turned out OK... what a story! __________________ "I intend to smoke a good cigar to the glory of God..." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon, British Baptist preacher

01-03-2009, 09:01 PM	#8
lightning9191 I think I'm normal... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Kevin Posts: 1,007 Trading: (8)	Re: Flushing your only key... down a gas station t Sorry to hear of the key...but it makes for a good story. I keep a spare in my wallet for those just in case happenings. __________________ I eat gummy bears by tearing them limb from limb and eating their heads last.

01-03-2009, 09:09 PM	#9
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,440 Trading: (60)	Re: Flushing your only key... down a gas station t Glad all turned out well....sounds like a $hitty situation. __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

01-03-2009, 09:37 PM	#11
j-easy Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Flushing your only key... down a gas station t you can buy the keys online that have the chips already embedded in them, then have them cut by a locksmith, explain that you know it will need programed. and do the reprogramming yourself. (you just stick the original key in a couple times and do some specific turns) i did it for my mazda, to get a key made at the dealer and programmed they wanted like 100 bucks, i bought the key online for 20 bucks i think and i knew a guy that was a locksmith and i had him cut it for me.

01-03-2009, 09:41 PM	#12
Starscream Knowhutimean, Vern? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Andy Location: In a little town somewhere in the USA Posts: 10,237 Trading: (4)	Re: Flushing your only key... down a gas station t I guess you could say your day "went down the toilet". __________________ Insert quote here.

01-03-2009, 10:15 PM	#13
kayak_rat Cyclonic Bastard Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Zack Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 322 Trading: (0)	Re: Flushing your only key... down a gas station t I tell you what......in a fellow BOTL's back yard and not even a cigar...... Hate to hear about the trouble. Funny thing is I know the gas station, the GM guy, and the owner of the dealership you went to. I grew up in Harrison and have been through Alpena many many times(beerruns). On top of that, I work in Bentonville and live about 20 minutes away. I talked to a buddy and he mentioned hearing about some poor guy who lost his keys down the toilet.....small small world. Glad it turned out well. __________________ Flies, Lies, and Other Diversions

01-03-2009, 10:22 PM	#16
BigFrank 5 3 1 Join Date: Nov 2008 First Name: Frank Location: Gym or Sofa. Posts: 1,896 Trading: (25)	Re: Flushing your only key... down a gas station t Glad to hear it all worked out for ya. Made the same 1 key mistake before, pricey.

01-03-2009, 10:43 PM	#19
Sailchaser Black Ops-SOB Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Chris Location: SCS,MI(Somewere Cigar Smoking) Posts: 1,735 Trading: (7)	Re: Flushing your only key... down a gas station t I can relate I lost more darn sets of keys in the lake and and around the marina I used to work at. The rule at the marina was that you owed all the people that worked with a case of beer if you fell in the water or dropped your keys in the drink Glad you did not have to pay that piper and all worked out well __________________ "Sail Fast, Shoot Straight, Fish Hard and Save Time For The Important Things In Life"