Keyless Ignition!

[Big Boy]

Hmmmm......... how many electric windows have I had the motors burn out on? When I had manual windows, it was just a quick trip down to the scrappy to pick up a new winder if the old one broke - cost <£1.

[STEVE G]

So, what are the advantages? Is it more secure?

For years now, most vehicles have had a security feature whereby you can't start the engine unless the car detects an electronic device in the key, you can't start it by just breaking the lock. My pickup is 10 years old and has it.
That being the case, I suppose it was a logical step to do away with the actual key itself.

[J.J.B.]

I suppose it was a logical step to do away with the actual key itself.

Both of the keyless entry "fobs" I have still contain a physical key but you have to disassemble the fob in order to get at it. I believe this is intended to allow access to the vehicle in the event that the battry of the transmitter in the key fob fails and it can't send a signal to unlock the car. You can remove a plastic cap from the door handle to reveal a standard keyhole and unlock the car manually. Once in the car, you need to locate the key in a specific position so that the car's ignition system can activate the transponder in the key that, as Steve G points out, has been around for some time.

They are not totally reliable. My experience with a similar system on a motorbike (Kawasaki GTR 1400 or 'Councours') led to my wife and me being stranded in Reims on the first day of our 10 day European tour. We were at the local dealership for around four hours as they stripped down the ignition. It turned out to be a faulty solenoid that wouldn't spring back once activated and so the "key" couldn't be turned once the electronics were activated. We thought it might have been energised by a nearby transmitter tower at the hotel we had stayed at but never really found a reason. It happened a couple of times afterwards during my ownership of the bike and a firm tap to the ignition barrel was all that was needed to free it up. Not ideal but not disastrous either.

[Khundon1975]

Got it on our 7 seater. Handy as you don't have to fumble for keys to get in, just grab door handle and you are in and just have to touch handle to deadlock it when leaving car.
Also have stop/start that will only work if battery is in good condition and has required charge in it.
The car has an electric transmission gear change so don't know if possible to bump start it as the "handbrake" is electrically controlled and comes on when stopped and released when you move off.

With most of these keyless entry systems, it is impossible to lock keys in car because the fob signal is detected as being inside the car, when you try to lock car using touch button on door handle.

The new BMW has a key fob that you can actually park the car with when not even in the car.

[migrant]

Had it on my Toyota in the states, as well as the one here. As mentioned there is a plastic key that you can get access to the vehicle but the problem I had was ridiculous. My keyless fob battery died, luckily while at my office parking lot and I could not get the car to start. Looked through the manual, nothing. Finally I called toyota, Their answer, hold the fob very close to the ignition button. I tried, and nothing. I said I had the little plastic key, but they told me that was only for access, not to start the car and I was basically screwed. Luckily, at the office, I had someone take me to the dealer and replace the battery, but if I was at a distant place I would have been a much unhappier fellow

[Nereus]

The new BMW has a key fob that you can actually park the car with when not even in the car.

I have one of those, its called "Noi".

My other car is that old it has a crank handle, but I am too old to swing the thing!

[Terry]

.............I have one of those, its called "Noi". .............

The battery in the key-less fob remote on my Accord went about 2 months ago. However it had previously warned me by a pop-up message on the dash that the battery was low. So a replacement battery was bought at 7-11 and problem went.

[Bristolian]

The new BMW has a key fob that you can actually park the car with when not even in the car.

My Fortuna has a far more sophisticated system. Most cars have ABS, TC etc, but mine has LHG++

LHG++is a sophisticated system that can advise on every road condition, situation, possible occurrence in forward, reverse and sometimes vertical trajectory Although this system has never been proven by any authority except UTT (Under The Thumb) it is always correct and can not be overridden except by the wide inter-functional experience (WIFE)

[Khundon1975]

Just looked at my key fob up close, found a metal key hidden under a flap in the top.
Tried it, turns out that it opens doors, turns off the alarm system and then you use button to start car.
You learn something every day.

Not yet found the button that turns the wife off, but I live in hope.

[J.J.B.]

Of course, if you don't like keyless ignition and think that electric windows are even a fad too far, the latest report from Thomson Reuters on driverless cars and an analysis of where the automotive industry is going will cause you to spit out your dentures:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech- ... UD20160105

[STEVE G]

Of course, if you don't like keyless ignition and think that electric windows are even a fad too far, the latest report from Thomson Reuters on driverless cars and an analysis of where the automotive industry is going will cause you to spit out your dentures:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech- ... UD20160105

I'd love a driverless car, in fact since I bought my partner a car, I think I've only driven twice!
If you don't like all this technology, you could always buy a horse.

[PeteC]

hp.jpg (10.46 KiB) Viewed 556 times

[Dannie Boy]

I was reading on BBC Autos about a new electric car being developed that has a 1000 hp - you'd need a thousand of those Pete for the same output!!