Bloody Keyless Go!

Bloody Keyless Go!

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Discussion

Godzilla

Original Poster:

2,033 posts

255 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
quotequote all
Some of you were there at Trax 2007 when my Z06 decided to not acknowledge my fob was in the centre console and locked me out making me miss my two track sessions in the morning.

The ever resourceful RAC man managed to hook my keys from the centre console, pull them to the window and pull the mechanical key off the keyring and get it past the window! Must have been a gynaecologist previously...

Later that same day, Dieter managed to lock his keys in the boot of his C6 and again the car refused to acknowledge the fob until a cunning ploy from JimexPL encouraged it to do so (which I won't repeat on a public forum).

Anyway, last night I went out for a lovely meal in Mayfair, decided to put my smart jacket complete with car keys in the boot, shut the lid and guess what? Bloody doors wouldn't open despite the fob being actually in the car! mad

After my earlier problems with Keyless Go, I had switched the auto-lock feature off, but left auto-unlock on, so there is no way the car should have been locked. We tried the JimexPL technique, but it failed to work this time, so I then had to go on a 50 mile round trip to retrieve my spare key, finally getting home with Vette at about 1am...

Could the batteries in my fob need replacing? They are the original August 2006 ones.

From now on, I am keeping a spare metal key on my house key set just in case...

mitch_

1,282 posts

230 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
quotequote all
David, it doesn't sound like there is anything wrong with your keyless go. The car has 3 sensors, one for each door and one in the centre-console. The door sensors only allow for the door to be opened, however you cannot start the car unless the sensor in the console can also detect the fob. The centre-console sensor however is not permitted to allow the doors to be opened and the same goes for when you leave your fob in the boot. It must be on your person, not in the car. Hope this helps.

Edited by mitch_ on Sunday 4th January 15:35

Godzilla

Original Poster:

2,033 posts

255 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
quotequote all
But surely the car should have unlocked as soon as I approached it?

Or are you saying that because I did not open the door handle first and effectively put the fob within range of the centre console sensor first, it would never have unlocked the doors?

JimexPL

1,446 posts

218 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
quotequote all
Mitch, when you walk up to the boot you can open it with the rubber switch near the number plate if the key is on you. I can't remember the specifics of the Corvette system but on the Jaguars quite a specific field/range was sent out by the sensors. Perhaps the signal is only sent 'out' of the car, rather than in towards the boot.
I remember locking the keys in the boot of a C6, but fortunately the spares were only 4 miles away...

Jaguars sense that you have put the keys in the boot, and open it immediately after you shut the lid.

David, you should know netter by now!

cheeky

2,102 posts

270 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
quotequote all
Maybe irrelevant David, but was there a mobile phone close to the key fob? I find that if I have both in the same pocket, the car will sometimes refuse to acknowledge the key fob.

songman3

152 posts

208 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
quotequote all
Comiserations Godzilla, I have had exactly the same thing happen with regard to leaving the key fob on the centre console.

I only had a 15 mile journey back to the house to pick up the spare key for the boot lock - very very irritating, and lucky I was quite near home - Lord knows what would have happened if I had been on holiday in Europe!!!

I now have devised a discrete local 'fall back' system with regard to the second key which whilst a little inconvenient to access when necessary - is a lot more convenient than a journey back to my house.

I believe I heard mention on th US forum of GM softare updates available from dealers which improve the functioning of the locking system.

Vet Guru

2,182 posts

246 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
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I did get my software updated this year.

mitch_

1,282 posts

230 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
quotequote all
JimexPL said:
Mitch, when you walk up to the boot you can open it with the rubber switch near the number plate if the key is on you. I can't remember the specifics of the Corvette system but on the Jaguars quite a specific field/range was sent out by the sensors. Perhaps the signal is only sent 'out' of the car, rather than in towards the boot.
I remember locking the keys in the boot of a C6, but fortunately the spares were only 4 miles away...

Jaguars sense that you have put the keys in the boot, and open it immediately after you shut the lid.

David, you should know netter by now!
The sensors only work out, not in, just as you suggested. Once the fob is inside the car, you are outside the car and the doors are 'locked' you've had it.

Tom74

658 posts

236 months

Sunday 4th January 2009
quotequote all
Er..not wanting to be stupid here, but if you leave the fob in the car couldn't anyone just get in and drive away? Seems to be a safety feature if it locks you out!

I never leave mine in, damn thing beeps at me if I do!

car95

413 posts

198 months

Monday 5th January 2009
quotequote all
Always trouser pocket, never jacket!

Godzilla

Original Poster:

2,033 posts

255 months

Monday 5th January 2009
quotequote all
car95 said:
Always trouser pocket, never jacket!
That was always the case when I used to carry just the fob, but after one occasion where the car wouldn't recognise the fob due to RF interference, I attached the key too and it is a bit sharp and uncomfortable (and ruinous to pockets) to carry all the time in the trousers...

mitch_

1,282 posts

230 months

Monday 5th January 2009
quotequote all
That's another reason to buy an '08 then.........

vetteheadracer

8,271 posts

259 months

Monday 5th January 2009
quotequote all
mitch_ said:
That's another reason to buy an '08 then.........
Agree that key in fob is good on 2008, however the locking the keys/fob in the car is still possible!

At NEC in November got called into Top Gear Live by very sheepish race driver (who shall remain nameless for fear of embarrassing him further) to help retrieve key fob from cupholder on centre console of JSB 2008 C6 Z06. Got into the car eventually but won't discuss how on a public forum. Driver had left keys in same place I.e. Cupholder for 2 weeks of shows without problem until this occassion.

mitch_

1,282 posts

230 months

Monday 5th January 2009
quotequote all
The '08 fob is something you'd be much happier just leaving in your pocket and forgetting. It also fits really neatly into the small pocket with pockets you find on jeans....... This is getting a bit sad now.

Tom74

658 posts

236 months

Monday 5th January 2009
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Corvette ownership - pockets matter smile

zapbrannigan

260 posts

190 months

Monday 5th January 2009
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All this talk of 'keyless' and 'fob model year' is making me glad I've got a good old-fashioned key! smile

Godzilla

Original Poster:

2,033 posts

255 months

Monday 5th January 2009
quotequote all
I see Clarkson had a similar issue with their test ZR1, although at least it didn't lock him out, it just refused to start (no doubt due to the RF interference from all the radios at the salt flats).

Technology's great when it works, but if it's not 100% reliable...

car95

413 posts

198 months

Monday 5th January 2009
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Does it work on the GTR? lol

GW65

623 posts

212 months

Tuesday 6th January 2009
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Godzilla said:
I see Clarkson had a similar issue with their test ZR1, although at least it didn't lock him out, it just refused to start (no doubt due to the RF interference from all the radios at the salt flats).

Technology's great when it works, but if it's not 100% reliable...
Sadly no technology is 100% reliable, even the good old-fashioned key... I was having my C5 cleaned at work a few years back, when the guy called to say there was a problem. Basically, he'd put the key in the centre console lock (why, I have no idea) then decided to move the seat to clean behind it...and snapped the key in half! Cue an 80 mile round trip to my house (driven by him) to pick up the spare key.

JenkinsComp

918 posts

253 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
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Godzilla said:
Could the batteries in my fob need replacing? They are the original August 2006 ones.
I had the battery changed in my main keyfob about a month ago because it had gone flat, so about the same duration as yours lasted.
I always keep the metal key with me too, just in case like!