Fiat Ducato base m home door auto-locking.

Exactly the same on our 2022 Swift Escape with Series 8 cab. A real gotcha, luckily we found out whilst my wife was still inside and could open the door. I’m paranoid about leaving without a key, or forgetting to briefly open a cab door once outside. I have tried all sorts of combinations but it auto-locks every time. I am told auto lock an be turned off in the radio menu on the latest series 8 cab, so will try that next trip. However, as ours does not auto lock once it hits 15 mph, I am not convinced it is switched on anyway.    Probably going to have a further key cut and placed in a secure place on the chassis, but having had a brand new caravan stolen, I’m not too keen to do that - thieves are up to date with these things and will look for it first.

The series 8 cab has different controls. I’m told the auto lock system is controlled through the radio menu, and looking at the new handbook, it seems that’s how it is bizarrly

Swift have taken this problem to Fiat and they have responded. I think I’m beginning to understand it a bit more now.  Fiat say if the keys are left inside the habitation area, the security antennae are too far away and will not be able to read that they are still in the motorhome and disable the self locking. The keys must be left in the cab area and everything will then be OK.  Great I thought, an answer, so I put the keys in the cab area and waited. Sure enough, it self locked again😤 So, I moved them onto the dash board…..same outcome. Finally I put the key in the ignition, but same result.  It is evident, the antennae in the cab are not talking to the keys, and therefore not recognising they are still in the van, so self locking continues. I thought we had cracked it, but obviously not.  I have a friend who is an electronics engineer, who insists this is a software problem.  I do know the new Series 8 Ducato cab had to have it’s software reprogrammed because it failed to recognise the Alko software, so possibly this has interfered with the auto lock system as well.  Meantime, the only way is to remember to keep the keys with you at all times, always remember to briefly open a cab door (which cures the problem), or stash a spare unchipped key somewhere on the vans chassis, something I’m not too happy about.  Could the OP perhaps try putting the keys in the cab area to see if that cures it - could just be a problem with our van.

I don’t think hiding a hab door key under the chassis is a problem. I defy anyone to find mine. There are so many nooks and crannies under there to choose from. Thing is remembering where it is, hence I took a photo of the location on my phone but since doing this I seem to have instant recall! Must be something to do with how I learn. I check regularly that it’s still there, never budges. Would not recommend hiding an ignition key even though I still would wager anyone to find it!

So, what I’m still unclear about is can you disable auto lock (as opposed to auto close) via the new integrated radio/media system or is all the faffing about and key hiding described above strictly necessary?

The procedure I described earlier in the thread works for my van. The secreted hab key is just belt and braces, there if auto lock should kick in or I loose my keys whilst out, on the hill or about from the van. Faffing about?  If locked out, for what ever reason, this can be a real nightmare. When I worked in the motor trade rescuing folk with locked vehicles was not an infrequent exercise.  Once bitten twice shy and all that. Just gives me that extra bit of confidence that maybe my advancing years demand.

Yes, whatever floats your boat, but what you describe is a work around. What I’m interested in knowing is can the default be changed, so you only have to worry about locking it, not being locked out?

I’m afraid it’s a boat that many unfortunately have to sail in even without that auto lock issue. How many have said ‘never thought it would happen to me’. As for changing the default let us know when you’ve found out. I failed but came up with that simple workaround.

I always check I have my keys before I finally push the hab door shut. Having said that, as we all know, there's that one time when you are caught out.

I’ve had the problem on a 2022 Ducato based Pilote where if the key fob is used to unlock (and disable the alarm) the doors would all re lock after a couple of minutes if only the hab door was opened. I checked that this happened regardless of self locking options. My understanding is the way the hab door needs to be wired has changed in the new Ducato and that Pilote hadn’t realised this. My dealer changed the wiring and the problem has “more or less” gone away. I say “more or less” as very occasionally the doors still re-lock which is a little bizarre as it’s inconsistent. More investigation needed but until then I now always open a cab door.