Keyless Car Systems. An Advancement No One Needed?

Omg! Your coworker was an idiot! 😆

That has to do with your coworker's carelessness, though, not with this new technology per se. Some people forget to lock their cars or turn off the lights. It's the same shit.

The bigger problem cited is that people seem more inclined to leave the keyless fob in the car, where it can then be used to easily steal the car.

But what's the point of it all? I was driving my dad's car and we stopped for gas and while I was pumping the gas he went into the rest stop to use the bathroom and brought the fob with him. I couldn't move the car until he got back!

Why is a fob better than a key? Doesn't it do the same thing?

I love it. People who keep their car running are stupid.

rotfl, I have a car from the late 90's and I visited my parents a few years ago and took their new car to a casino at midnight and got a good spot 100 feet from entrance, lost my money in an hour, and when I went back to their car the doors were unlocked, the lights were on, and it was running! I was mortified. So lucky that no one stole it. I wasn't used to having to push the button to turn it off.

A lot of you seem to be misinformed about how the keyless entry/ignition works. If I leave my Nissan's keyless device in it, it won't allow me to lock the doors. If I get out of the car and close the door while the engine is running, the car starts chirping loudly at me. I'd never had reason to experience this, since I always turn off the engine, but i wanted to see what would happen, so I just went into the garage and tried it. The system works!

Re: dad walking to the gas station restroom with the fob, the same exact thing would happen if he'd walked off with a key.

The advantage of a fob over a key is that I keep mine in this purse-like thing I carry, so I never have to go searching for keys. It's also a great reminder that I'm never going anywhere without my purse thingy. The only time there's a problem is if I have to surrender the fob at a car wash or valet car park, because I have to scrounge around to find it, since it's easily buried in the purse.

I LOVE keyless car systems!

When my mother was looking for a car, I made sure she got a keyless car. Whenever we went out to dinner using her old car, she would spend 10 minutes looking for her keys in her purse (I swear, she carries everything in that huge purse!) . She loves it and she never forgets to turn off the engine, it becomes a habit like locking your doors. People who forget to turn off their car are technologically stupid.

I've had only fobs for years. (Since 2004). I toss the fob in the cup container when I get in the car, and take it out when I leave. On my cars, you need to press a button on the fob to lock the car, so I'm not sure how having it buried in a purse is a good strategy. I own a hybrid are and pure electric vehicle. The electric vehicle (Nissan) squawks at me if I leave it running. The Prius does not. About 3 times I have left it running because I have arrived at my destination when it was in all electric mode and was being silent. Luckily, it uses very little gas even when running for an hour or so. Embarrassing when you realize you have done it. As others have said, it won't properly lock unless the car is turned off. However, if someone stole it, they could only have a good time until they turned the car off, because of course it won't start again without the fob.

New? Dear old OP. My car is 6 years old and has it. My key never leaves my pocket and has yet to engage in a runaway assault on humans a la SKYNET.

The only problem is if I have to valet park - a common problem with garages here - is if I forget to give them the key when I walk away. That ends in tears for all of us.

The only inconvenience? Going to the dealer to have the battery replaced once a year.

R11 - Here's another 'inconvenience'

Nothing new, R12. This is a variation on the CANbus attack that was demonstration at Black Hat Las Vegas in 2016. That seriously set the automative world on fire. Let me illustrate how serious this is: CANbus controllers have been used in vehicles since *1987. This attack demonstrated how cars could be remotely hijacked, taken over and controlled while being driven.

Subsequent papers and tests demonstrated the hijack method can be extended to many miles in range.

Can't police remotely stop OnStar cars now?

I used to lock my keys in the car all the time. Like maxed out roadside assistance calls under my plan on unlocks (which they treat as low priority so sometimes took two hours).

I'm an absent-minded fool and these things will never let you lock your car without it. Hasn't been a problem since.

If your friend left the car running, he didn't remember to lock the car, which is a problem key or keyless.

The Government doesn't want people to have the autonomy of a vehicle. They want to be able to remote control your car if they feel like it.

Be careful of this fob thingy! One time a friend of mine got into her car and started it. She put the key fob in the pocket of the jacket she was wearing. She then decided to go back in the house and change jackets while leaving the car running. She got back into the car and drove to work. When she wanted to start the car to drive home she realized she didn’t have the key fob so she couldn’t start the car again! That was embarrassing.

The other problem is that (with our car), you have to press the button and walk away quickly. If you press the “lock car” button to lock the doors and stand near the car with the fob for too long, it automatically unlocks the car again (without you pressing the button)!

I like to check the doors to make sure they are locked. On several occasions, I have heard the lock engage, I try the handle and it’s locked. Then I hear the lock disengage and I try the handle and the door opens. Then I have to hit the lock button again.

I think you can turn off the automatic door lock feature R18.

R19 - Many car owners need to read their owners manuals - new cars have many features most people are unaware off, or adjustments to be made that would benefit them. Many fobs can open/close all the windows/sunroof at once as an example.

Take your owners manual, and a highlighter, and read a chapter once a week. It can be overwhelming to read the whole book in one sitting.

I have a Prius and one time I could not remove the key fob from its slot. I had to leave my car on while went inside a store.

Shopped, came out, drove home and somehow the problem corrected itself because I could remove the fob and turn off my car with the button when I parked in my garage.

Odd.

R11, what car do you have that only a dealer can change a fob battery?

[quote][R11], what car do you have that only a dealer can change a fob battery?

I'm not R11, but can answer the question. I always take my fob to the Nissan dealership to have the fob battery changed because the battery costs less than $10 and they install it for free. For me, it's a bitch to disassemble the tiny housing to get to the battery, so hey, let them have at it. Also, R11 didn't say s/he HAD to specifically go to the dealer, as opposed to a locksmith or someplace.

Also if you lose that fob it’s like hundreds of dollars to replace! I remember when you could just get the key copied for like two bucks! I think the old way was just fine.

[quote]Also if you lose that fob it’s like hundreds of dollars to replace! I remember when you could just get the key copied for like two bucks! I think the old way was just fine.

Have you priced duplicate keys for some of the more sophisticated cars? I had to repave the electronic ignition key for my Volkswagen Passat a couple of years ago. The Volkswagen people make sure you HAVE to go to a dealership for a key replacement, and the cost was well over $100, and might have even been more. I think this is called, "welcome to the 21st Century."

^^ Repave = replace ^^

After reading this thread I still don't get the idea that there is any real, substantial benefit to the switch.

[quote] After reading this thread I still don't get the idea that there is any real, substantial benefit to the switch.

Sounds like the only benefit is not having to root through your fanny pack for the keys.

This thread is reeking of old people.

An old couple left one of these cars running and got carbon monoxide poisoning and died

Fobs stress me out. Especially when I have to use unfamiliar rentals for work. I am always glancing down to see where I placed the thing. With a key, it's always in the same place.

I’ve had this on my cars since 2010, and I will never buy a car without it now.

It’s so convenient to never have to fumble with keys. My fob is always in my pocket, and I just have to touch the exterior door handle to lock or unlock it, and just press the button on the dash to start the engine. I can also open the trunk hands-free which is very convenient when you’re carrying items.

People who have problems with these types of systems are generally too stupid to be driving in the first place.

R22. It’s a goddamn BMW

With my new car, when I leave the fob inside the car and close it, it will not allow me to lock the car (a good thing). When I had my older car, I would sometimes forget the keys inside the car and would have to call a locksmith.

[quote]you need to press a button on the fob to lock the car, so I'm not sure how having it buried in a purse is a good strategy.

I keep fob in my pocket. The doors unlock and the alarm system disarms when I touch the door handle. The process is reversed by touching the handle after parking and exiting the vehicle. I can also open the tailgate by swiping my foot under the bumper. No need to press buttons on the fob.

OP, does your friend also flutter out of the house without unplugging the crimping iron?

[quote]Fobs stress me out. Especially when I have to use unfamiliar rentals for work. I am always glancing down to see where I placed the thing. With a key, it's always in the same place.

Keep it in your pocket or in your bag, Mary.

The whole point of the fob is that you never have to touch it. Just leave it in your pocket or purse and forget about it. Very convenient.

People are so concerned about climate change. Yet so many on this thread admit they’ve left their cars running for hours because they forgot to turn them off. Think of all the pollution you caused.