STUCK! Lift Stops Seconds After Departure! | 1999 KONE MonoSpace MRL @ Auckland Airport (Lift 31)

You know, the sad thing is, I was really looking forward to riding this elevator when I revisited Auckland Airport, as I missed it and couldn’t find it last time in 2019. And yet, I don’t know if I can trust it anymore… 😅 So this is a first-generation KONE MonoSpace MRL from 1999. It uses what looks like K-Delta fixtures, but I recently learned that this is just a more vandal-resistant version of regular Delta that so happens to be square-shaped. Being 24 years old and exposed to the elements quite a bit, you would reasonably expect some wear and tear from this lift — the indicators don’t even work, and probably haven’t worked for years! However, I didn’t expect what ended up happening… (the following will be a long read; feel free to skip 'cos most of it is in the video already lol)

The first up trip was perfectly fine. However, when I wanted to go back down, the first warning signs were the lift suddenly making these big banging noises. Out of nowhere, the G button goes out, and I’m not feeling any movement. After pushing several buttons, I realise I’m properly stuck. The elevator must’ve started up wrongly or whatnot, and I got trapped inside. I would’ve rung the alarm more times than I did, but there was a security guard not far from the lift patrolling the traffic, and if he heard the alarm and came to ask me what I was doing… Game over 😬 Nevertheless, it all ended up okay; 5 minutes after I ended the clip, the lift opened its doors to let me out. Something tells me that this incident is akin to how I got stuck in the big elevator at Queensgate Shopping Centre 4 years ago — the elevator started up badly and was travelling ever so slowly to the nearest floor to reset.

Right outside the elevator when I got out was a family who ended up using the stairs when they figured the lift wasn’t working. They were a bit perplexed and annoyed that the elevator had opened its doors, so I told them what had happened, and how I got stuck. Afterwards, I wasn’t going to take it for any down rides again, but I figured it was cool enough to chance another up ride. Once I got out at level 1, I sent it down to G while staying outside to see if it could make it. Surprisingly, there weren’t any problems after that, but… suffice to say this elevator is 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙙𝙪𝙚 for a modernisation or replacement some time soon… 😅


Video 62/64 from Auckland (03/1/23 – 07/1/23).

This video is © T3224 Elevators 2023. Reuse of any part of this video is prohibited, unless permission has been granted by the owner.

Manufacturer: KONE
Model/Controller: MonoSpace / LCE (?)
Year: 1999
Fixtures: Delta VR (K-Delta call button on G?)
Type: MRL Traction
No. of elevators in set: 1
Floors served: ★G, 1
Capacity: 17 persons / 1275 kg
Film date: 07/1/2023

Elevator rating: 89/100
DT rating: 42/100
Total: 47/100