HELP!! Lost Fuel Door Key - 308

I imagine you are going to have to pick the lock (not hard) then remove the cylinder and have a new key made for it. You need a small thin piece of flat tin metal with "teeth" on it (use a pair of tin snips). "Rake" it back and forth, while turning gently with a small flat bladed screwdriver. Basic "lock picking 101"...

Fortunately the lock for the vent/fuel door is not very sophisticated, and easily defeated.

 

It is really quite easy on such a simple lock...you may want to try a "google" search on lock picking...I'm sure there are some good DIY websites that teach the basics, and build your confidence in trying it. This stuff happens to people all the time....losing a key to a gym locker, suitcase, storage shed, etc.

 

Just drive it to a good locksmith and he can have it open in less than 2 minutes.

By the way, my 308QV's louvers are keyed the same as the doors... you might want to have him do yours that way also. One less key to keep track of.

 

Dear Ferraristi,

Just walk into any Ferrari Dealer, hand them your vin number, proof of ownership (title) and they can order a new set of keys for you. Central Florida Ferrari ordered a new set for my 308 and my Testarossa with no trouble.....my wallet had trouble though

 

Curious... how much trouble?

 

I had a similar situation with a fuel lock on an old muscle car. If you drive it to a locksmith they will pick the lock and make a new key for you. I had to do it twice. They do it by the method described earlier and are very good. Took a total of a couple of minutes.

 

On the 308 here the doors and gas/passenger louvers are the same key.

 

Chances are the previous owner had one changed out for some reason. Have them re-keyed to match your door key for convenience (as well as originality...). It will probably cost you only $5 per lock to have them redone to match your door key.

 

Excellent! So if I have this right....you had three of the smaller keys? One for the doors, and one for each window louver? Holy cow...never seen that before....definitely one (or both) of the louver locks must have been replaced.
Strange.

 

One time, when I first bought my 328 I was driving around with the spare set of keys (no louver key) and needed gas. I was able to gently force (by wiggling around) the louver door open with only my bare hands.

 

At a past F-club event, one of the members had a door key get stuck in the door, and had no way to enter the car. Someone pointed out that Ferrari only made a small number of keys for any given model. Sure enough - someone elses key opened the other door. Might check your local Ferrari owners and check their keys. Long shot but I saw it work once.

 

The same holds true for Cessna! My 172 key could open about any plane on the ramp!

 

Dear Ferraristi,

I think it was about 150.00 per 2 key set per car. It's only expensive after you get the key...the door opens and the problem is solved.

 

There should be the same key for all doors and louvres.

It's very easy and causes no damage to simply gently twist the louvre to unhook the lock tab. It's no big deal at all.

Should definately get matching keys all round the car though.

One possibility is that you car was in a paintshop at the same time as another GTS, and the louvres got swapped between cars by accident.