My key fob story and why I don't like key fobs
06-26-2018, 02:48 PM
#41
It is odd that it didn't give you the "no remote detected, press brake to restart" message. You should get this when shutting off the ignition and the RKE fob doesn't respond. I have gotten this in my ATS a couple of times when I have moved it to change from summer to winter tires and set the fob away from the car before shutting it down.
My 2018 Sierra Denali still uses a key which I find annoying since I am used to both cars with keyless ignition. I often remote start its diesel engine when approaching the truck and I have to train myself not to put the fob back in my pocket since I will need it in a few seconds when I enter the truck to turn on the ignition switch.
AND while I am in rant mode: it would be nice if they had put a little padded place on the steering column of the pickup so I don't get to listen to the fob tapping it all of the time; I know this is a classic first world problem. But it fits with the noisy passenger seatbelt in most vehicles that rattles against the seat or pillar when there is no passenger.
My 2018 Sierra Denali still uses a key which I find annoying since I am used to both cars with keyless ignition. I often remote start its diesel engine when approaching the truck and I have to train myself not to put the fob back in my pocket since I will need it in a few seconds when I enter the truck to turn on the ignition switch.
AND while I am in rant mode: it would be nice if they had put a little padded place on the steering column of the pickup so I don't get to listen to the fob tapping it all of the time; I know this is a classic first world problem. But it fits with the noisy passenger seatbelt in most vehicles that rattles against the seat or pillar when there is no passenger.
Last edited by NSC5; 06-26-2018 at 02:49 PM.
06-26-2018, 03:20 PM
#42
Melting Slicks
i think the key fobs are excellent. push button start is also excellent. locked my keys inside a vehicle once. only needed one time to make sure i never do that again. hide a key solves that problem. i also do not like key rings with 10 keys on them, or fat wallets for that matter, and have 5 vehicles with fobs. the vehicle's fob that i am going to be using goes in my pocket and stays there . auto lock/ unlock, panic button why would anyone not like those features? the OP just had a brain fart....like most everyone else at one time
06-26-2018, 03:25 PM
#43
Race Director
Thread Starter
i think the key fobs are excellent. push button start is also excellent. locked my keys inside a vehicle once. only needed one time to make sure i never do that again. hide a key solves that problem. i also do not like key rings with 10 keys on them, or fat wallets for that matter, and have 5 vehicles with fobs. the vehicle's fob that i am going to be using goes in my pocket and stays there . auto lock/ unlock, panic button why would anyone not like those features? the OP just had a brain fart....like most everyone else at one time
Yes, I had a brainfart could happen to anybody though especially changing vehicles and stuff. I programmed the auto unlock and lock feature at lunch and it's cool but I still have some questions before I trust it totally. Like how close do you have to be to the vehicle for it to unlock? The reason I ask is that I my office is probably less than 10 to 12 feet from my car. Will it unlock in my office? Where some bum could steal my stuff?
Last edited by gixxerbill; 06-26-2018 at 03:26 PM.
06-26-2018, 03:31 PM
#44
Le Mans Master
What's wrong with fat wallets?
Yes, I had a brainfart could happen to anybody though especially changing vehicles and stuff. I programmed the auto unlock and lock feature at lunch and it's cool but I still have some questions before I trust it totally. Like how close do you have to be to the vehicle for it to unlock? The reason I ask is that I my office is probably less than 10 to 12 feet from my car. Will it unlock in my office? Where some bum could steal my stuff?
Yes, I had a brainfart could happen to anybody though especially changing vehicles and stuff. I programmed the auto unlock and lock feature at lunch and it's cool but I still have some questions before I trust it totally. Like how close do you have to be to the vehicle for it to unlock? The reason I ask is that I my office is probably less than 10 to 12 feet from my car. Will it unlock in my office? Where some bum could steal my stuff?
The fob buttons will absolutely work from that distance for lock/unlock/trunk, but not the automatic proximity check for the "door open from locked state".
Last edited by Kent1999; 06-26-2018 at 03:33 PM.
06-26-2018, 03:39 PM
#45
Race Director
Thread Starter
My spare key is kept about 6-8 feet from the nose of my car when parked. In that instance, I cannot open the door if its locked and I don't have the fob in hand.'
The fob buttons will absolutely work from that distance for lock/unlock/trunk, but not the automatic proximity check for the "door open from locked state".
The fob buttons will absolutely work from that distance for lock/unlock/trunk, but not the automatic proximity check for the "door open from locked state".
06-26-2018, 03:48 PM
#46
Le Mans Master
My spare key is kept about 6-8 feet from the nose of my car when parked. In that instance, I cannot open the door if its locked and I don't have the fob in hand.'
The fob buttons will absolutely work from that distance for lock/unlock/trunk, but not the automatic proximity check for the "door open from locked state".
The fob buttons will absolutely work from that distance for lock/unlock/trunk, but not the automatic proximity check for the "door open from locked state".
On my car, the magic distance seems to be about 3-4 feet.
Last edited by Kent1999; 06-26-2018 at 03:58 PM.
06-26-2018, 03:55 PM
#47
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St. Jude Donor '13
06-26-2018, 04:01 PM
#48
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What's wrong with fat wallets?
Yes, I had a brainfart could happen to anybody though especially changing vehicles and stuff. I programmed the auto unlock and lock feature at lunch and it's cool but I still have some questions before I trust it totally. Like how close do you have to be to the vehicle for it to unlock? The reason I ask is that I my office is probably less than 10 to 12 feet from my car. Will it unlock in my office? Where some bum could steal my stuff?
Yes, I had a brainfart could happen to anybody though especially changing vehicles and stuff. I programmed the auto unlock and lock feature at lunch and it's cool but I still have some questions before I trust it totally. Like how close do you have to be to the vehicle for it to unlock? The reason I ask is that I my office is probably less than 10 to 12 feet from my car. Will it unlock in my office? Where some bum could steal my stuff?
06-26-2018, 04:27 PM
#49
Race Director
Thread Starter
06-26-2018, 04:29 PM
#50
Race Director
Thread Starter
Ok, try this test -- stand with your arms outstretched, right hand near the (locked) door button, and the left hand holding the fob as far away from the car as you can. Now try to press the button on the door to open it. Your car will NOT allow you to open the door. Is your car door closer than that when you are in your office?
On my car, the magic distance seems to be about 3-4 feet.
On my car, the magic distance seems to be about 3-4 feet.
i know i know I should have read the manual
06-26-2018, 04:58 PM
#51
Instructor
I get into a car that unlocks itself and push a button to start it w/ no need to pull anything out of my pocket, line up a key and turn till cranked. Is it a major time-saver I couldn't live without? No, but still a nicety that I appreciate and enjoy having on my vehicles. I love the technology bells and whistles.
Either way...this solidly falls into the category of first world problems.
Either way...this solidly falls into the category of first world problems.
Tough to live in a first world country having problems like key fobs.
06-26-2018, 05:25 PM
#52
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Yep, I like putting the fob in my pocket and never having to worry about getting in or out all day. I have a friend with a C7 who would always unlock his car remotely with the fob because he didn't realize it could do it automatically until I told him. He was amazed how easy and convenient it was.
Last edited by FunDriver; 06-26-2018 at 05:29 PM.
06-26-2018, 06:28 PM
#53
Safety Car
They're FAT, bulge and are a PITA to sit on! I'm completely lightweight now a days. I don't even carry my wallet. What for? I leave it in the car. Don't use cash much anymore 'cept when those old foggies require cash. Even pay for most of my stuff using my phone now a days. Have loyalty cards in there, credit/debit cards/etc. I carry one actual credit card for things like bars and food places which don't take your phone to swipe it. Honestly a fat wallet with tons of credit cards, receipts, loyalty cards, DL's, Insurance card, Health insurance card, Block Buster card to me reminds me of those rare people that other grumble about when they whip out a checkbook to at the grocery line! Haven't used a check in over 30 years too. My butt thanks me everyday that I don't have a fat wallet. And when I have my wallet it's still skinny. If you think you look important by having a fat wallet.... think again.
Again the question is how did you start your car if your fob was far away?
Over time you learn to trust any new technology. The fob uses two different radio waves - shortwave for popping the trunk, which goes a long distance (like about 300 feet) and longwave which goes only a couple of feet, which is for opening the door and starting the car.
I still have times when I'm standing right next to the door and it won't open because something in my pocket (like my phone) is semi-shielding the fob from the receiver.
Yes, I had a brainfart could happen to anybody though especially changing vehicles and stuff.
I programmed the auto unlock and lock feature at lunch and it's cool but I still have some questions before I trust it totally. Like how close do you have to be to the vehicle for it to unlock? The reason I ask is that I my office is probably less than 10 to 12 feet from my car. Will it unlock in my office? Where some bum could steal my stuff?
I still have times when I'm standing right next to the door and it won't open because something in my pocket (like my phone) is semi-shielding the fob from the receiver.
06-26-2018, 09:21 PM
#54
Advanced
My wife's Ford works with her Smart Phone and No FOB. Very convenient. when she forgets FOB or FOB Battery should die.
We may option to start the car from anyplace, Check Gas level and set controls, Unlock/Lock doors.....
We may option to start the car from anyplace, Check Gas level and set controls, Unlock/Lock doors.....
Last edited by Ford John; 06-26-2018 at 09:24 PM.
06-26-2018, 09:30 PM
#55
Le Mans Master
I'm not saying that I wouldn't like my phone to be used as a fob occasionally. Just that there is no perfect, foolproof system.
06-26-2018, 09:32 PM
#56
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06-26-2018, 09:44 PM
#57
Advanced
That's cool tech. And it is all good until you get used to not carrying a fob and just using your phone... and then one day your phone unexpectedly runs out of battery for the day and you now have no phone *and* no car. (my phone runs low on battery every day if I use it heavily... my fob battery lasts a few years even with heavy daily use, and even if the fob battery unexpectedly dies, I can still use that 'dead' fob to get into the car and drive off with the fob in the steering column slot)
I'm not saying that I wouldn't like my phone to be used as a fob occasionally. Just that there is no perfect, foolproof system.
I'm not saying that I wouldn't like my phone to be used as a fob occasionally. Just that there is no perfect, foolproof system.
06-26-2018, 10:10 PM
#59
I love the fob!
I love it so much that I never have to deal with keys of any sort. After I bought my first Corvette (2005), I liked not handling keys so much that I put a touch-pad on the house, the garage, and my studio(so no door keys to deal with.
The only time I have to touch a fob during my day is when I change purses.
It's super simple if you just educate yourselves. No more likely to lock you out than a straight key, or a key and fob system, IMO.
I love it so much that I never have to deal with keys of any sort. After I bought my first Corvette (2005), I liked not handling keys so much that I put a touch-pad on the house, the garage, and my studio(so no door keys to deal with.
The only time I have to touch a fob during my day is when I change purses.
It's super simple if you just educate yourselves. No more likely to lock you out than a straight key, or a key and fob system, IMO.
06-26-2018, 10:12 PM
#60
I’m old enough to remember when you got into a car and pushed either a peddle on the floor or a button on the dash to start some cars.
so what’s new ,
oh yes the battery device in your pocket that can F up and does .
older cars have a Lever of some sort that works just about every time to open the door.
‘No taking it a part every year or so to clean it
c6/c7 have a paddle to open the door , it does not open on its own, yet
I don’t see the benefit of the fob except for mmmmmmmm! mmmmm cost more to replace than a key.
Now days when all else fails what do you do , get the key out and open the trunk, to open that car door now that’s progress.
so what’s new ,
oh yes the battery device in your pocket that can F up and does .
older cars have a Lever of some sort that works just about every time to open the door.
‘No taking it a part every year or so to clean it
c6/c7 have a paddle to open the door , it does not open on its own, yet
I don’t see the benefit of the fob except for mmmmmmmm! mmmmm cost more to replace than a key.
Now days when all else fails what do you do , get the key out and open the trunk, to open that car door now that’s progress.