Was very surprised when I tried to open my safe yesterday, with no previous problems. It is a Remington-branded Liberty safe, with a LaGard Basic electronic lock.
First, no response from the keypad. I changed the battery about a month ago, so didn't think that could be the problem, but changed it again anyway. No luck, at first, but after hitting a couple of keys, they did start working. However, it would not accept my PIN. Found the original documentation with the original PIN number - dunno if it would have reverted back to that, but no dice either.
Continued to try my PIN, kept going into lockout mode (5 minute wait after a couple of bad combos). However, after the 5 minute wait, the keypad always stops responding. If I remove and reattach the battery, it will usually start responding immediately, but sometimes not.
After about the third or forth lockout period, it actually did accept my PIN. Of course, I was bit stupid, and closed it thereafter. Haven't been able to get it open since. This morning when I tried it, was getting similar behavior, except one time when I tried the code and only got a very faint beeping and LED lighting when pressing the keys.
So... at the least, it looks like the keypad went tits up. Found a replacement keypad online for pretty cheap - about $30. Assuming I can get it open again, is this something a reasonably handy person can replace themselves, or will a locksmith need to do it? Are LaGard locks just junk, and should I replace it with something else (S&G seems to be a big name...)?
On hold w/Liberty right now, for the past 30 minutes, but there is only a 2 year warranty on the lock, and I've had it about 4 years, so I don't expect much help, beyond perhaps advice, from them...
Thanks.