To be blunt, no one will tell you where they hide their keys. To be helpful, you do not need a hide a key. There are lots of plugs on the frame and open suspension parts under the van to hide the key in. (and I mean attach it to the plug not drop it in the frame/ put the key in the suspension then plug the opening) The keys will not be very easy to get to but that's what you get for loosing them. A little creative thinking is all that's needed.

 

To be blunt, no one will tell you where they hide their keys. To be helpful, you do not need a hide a key. There are lots of plugs on the frame and open suspension parts under the van to hide the key in. (and I mean attach it to the plug not drop it in the frame/ put the key in the suspension then plug the opening) The keys will not be very easy to get to but that's what you get for loosing them. A little creative thinking is all that's needed.

I was only asking for tips on where to position a hidden key that might be reasonably easy to retrieve under less than ideal conditions, i.e. weather, lighting, surroundings, etc.

"That's what you get for losing them" - What kind of comfort is that when you're stuck somewhere?

Maybe you won't tell me where your favorite place to hide your extra key, (like I'm going to come 1,000 miles to steal your car) but I'm betting someone else will offer some suggestions............

 

Sorry if I made it seem like you would steal my van but you have to understand this is an open forum. I think it is possible that out of the 20-30 other Oddy owners running around my town that someone else reads this forum. I have explained some of my wife's accidents in the past and it is easy to pick out, I refuse to repair it because every scratch is for a stupid reason and there are a few big ones.
On the loosing the keys thing, here again my wife made it a habit of locking her keys in the car. Lets just say I made it more inconvenient every time she did it.
I am not trying to be mean when I say look under the van, really, I mean just look under it, under the front bumper, near the engine, you can use a small piece of wire and put it a lot of places. A lot of it depends on where you live and how safe a place you want to put it. Mine is in a place where you probably can not see it no matter how hard you try but if you know where it is you can easily get to it. Needs a fairly hard tug to remove it. Oh I forgot before, get a piece of plastic or something to cover the key or it will be easy to see. I just spray painted mine and got it dirty for camouflage.

 

SC - my wife had three grandkids with her when she got locked out so it was pretty inconvenient, to say the least. She's never done it before so it isn't a pattern. Actually, one of the kids was playing with the key ring and dropped them without her noticing it.

I think the Honda owners manual suggests keeping the key dry whenever possible, that's why I was thinking a "traditional" key holder case. One Chrysler minivan I owned had a plastic credit-card thickness punchout key that would at least get you inside if you locked yourself out. With my Park Avenue I used to keep a spare trunk/door key in my wallet and the spare bulkier ignition key hidden inside the car in case of a lockout. The Honda keys are too fat and bulky to carry in your wallet.

If the Honda key isn't affected by dampness hanging it on a wire somewhere would be OK. Just a twist or yank would free it up if you needed it.

Take care,

Xrrman

 

We have had members hide a cut key that will open the doors but not start the van. Then you can find a good hiding place inside for the valet key or the spare you had the dealer make. I'm sorry I don't have a suggestion of where to hide a door lock only key. This has certainly been discussed before. Do a search on "spare key" or "hide a key"

 

I found a spot up under the drivers side rear bumber. I got a heavy duty case, with a couple of magnets on. Its only moved in the three years that I have had it there when I had to pull it out because of her locking her keys in the car or house.

Heck, still my Van if you can find it, I have the stop loss insurance.

 

Try the handy man's secret weapon...Duct tape! It comes in a lot of different colors too so you can match it to your color scheme. I'm sure with duct tape you can find a good spot. If you have AAA, they will cut a plastic door key free. I have them in my wallet, and my wife has a spare key in her purse because when she locks her key in the car, she usually grabs her purse, and forgets the key in the ingition.

 

I have not tried it lately, but if I remember correctly the Odyssey doors will not lock with the key in the ignition. One has to make a big error and leave the keys somewhere else in the van in order to truly get locked out. Also, an alarm sounds if the lights are left on or the key is left in the ignition.

Jerry O.

 

There is a much larger issue is at hand and that is not locking the keys in the car. What if you are on vacation and loose your keys or wifey's purse is stolen with keys in it?

A plastic key is of no value. You need a bona fide spare that will start the car which is what I keep in my magnetic holder. Imagine being 450 miles from home on Sunday having to be at work on Monday with spare keys sitting in a drawer at home.

I use a magnetic hide a key case and there are any number of places underneath to put it well away from prying eyes. It will require you to get on your knees or side but that it the cost of carelessness. I have yet to find a spot for the S430. Completely sealed bottom and the rear bumper area is aluminum. I'll get it done in the spring.

 

I have searched hopelessly all around the underbody for somewhere to place the magnetic key holder where it won't wiggle off. So I plan to fabricate a little shelf and bolt it where the trailer hitch bolts to the frame. It's just a plain key inside in case it gets wet. Once I get the door open, the valet key is hidden inside the van.

 

I have searched hopelessly all around the underbody for somewhere to place the magnetic key holder where it won't wiggle off. So I plan to fabricate a little shelf and bolt it where the trailer hitch bolts to the frame. It's just a plain key inside in case it gets wet. Once I get the door open, the valet key is hidden inside the van.

My hidden key has been underbody for 2 years. I keep it on the inside of the frame rail that runs under the driver's seat at about the level of the drivers door. All I have to do is reach under to the inside aspect of the frame rail and voila. I like the plastic key idea to unlock the door and keep the spare in the glove box or lazy susan. I do have my spare in a small zip lock to protect against wetness.

 

Use the valet key to drive the car and keep your keys in your pocket/purse. It becomes much harder to lock yourself out.

 

My hidden key has been underbody for 2 years. I keep it on the inside of the frame rail that runs under the driver's seat at about the level of the drivers door. All I have to do is reach under to the inside aspect of the frame rail and voila. I like the plastic key idea to unlock the door and keep the spare in the glove box or lazy susan. I do have my spare in a small zip lock to protect against wetness.

Thanks for the idea - I will check out the location you described.

- Dave

 

Here's how I decided to deal with the hide-a-key:

I had a plain $3 key cut at a hardware store just to open the doors. I tucked it up behind the rear wheel well opening just forward of the bumper in a magnetic case that has a small loop molded into it, and a thin cable tie to help secure it to the frame should the magnet fail to do it's job.

I hid the spare ignition key inside the van. At least if the cheapo key gets wet or worse, lost, I won't be out $30.

I didn't realize a plain blank would at least get me into the van until I searched some of the threads here. After that, possibilities for a hiding place for the ignition key were endless.

Thanks to all who helped out.

 

Here's how I decided to deal with the hide-a-key:

I had a plain $3 key cut at a hardware store just to open the doors. I tucked it up behind the rear wheel well opening just forward of the bumper in a magnetic case that has a small loop molded into it, and a thin cable tie to help secure it to the frame should the magnet fail to do it's job.

I hid the spare ignition key inside the van. At least if the cheapo key gets wet or worse, lost, I won't be out $30.

I didn't realize a plain blank would at least get me into the van until I searched some of the threads here. After that, possibilities for a hiding place for the ignition key were endless.

Thanks to all who helped out.

You got it -- that is the system I use. I keep the hardware store key in my wallet (it is relatively flat) and the Valet key inside the van.

N.B. Be careful to not ever insert the hardware store key in the ignition, because some keys have a profile on the head of the key that will block removal of the key.

 

xrrman,

If you have a hitch on the back of your odyssey you can buy a hitch safe that will hold a key. I found one at www.hitchcorner.com/hitch_safe.htm

There may be other places that sell hitches that might have something like this too. It's an idea!

Hope this helps.

DesertRock Ody

 

xrrman,

If you have a hitch on the back of your odyssey you can buy a hitch safe that will hold a key. I found one at www.hitchcorner.com/hitch_safe.htm

There may be other places that sell hitches that might have something like this too. It's an idea!

Hope this helps.

DesertRock Ody

I have a new OEM hitch that I bought on eBay early in the winter and will be installing this spring. I'll look into that option when I have it up and running.

Thanx for the tip!

RB

 

Here's what I did for my 16 year old daughter, after she locked her keys in the car... while it was running...

Had a key made and she keeps it in the bottom of her purse. She'll forget everything else, but NOT her purse.

Good luck

 

Where do you hide your spare key?
Thanx.

Duct Tape it under the rear license plate. You'll want it way up under there (scrapes up your fingers a bit).

This has saved my wife at least 3 times already.

In another thread, they suggested just hiding a metal only key (no transponder) which will only unlock the doors. Then you hide a transponder key somewhere within the vehicle.

I'll be switching to a non-transponder key under the license plate.

Regards,

Gensys

 

How about using a tie-wrap looped through the key hole, this way we can fasten the key securely in many other places under the vehicule. Need a knife or good tug to break the tie-wrap "in case of an emergency"

 

duck tpe (quacker quacker)

We use the duct tape method too. Just clean the spot off real well where you want the key and place it in the middle of the tape. Fold on corner over on the tape so you have a nice tab to hold and remove with and stick the tape on the spot. This way you can put it anywhere...even on plastic.