Started without recognizing the key?

[BourbonRunner]

First off, this is the first vehicle I've owned with a key that didn't go into the column or dash. Not a fan of start buttons at all. What happened couldn't have possibly occurred with a physical key.

This is also kind of embarrassing but I'm looking for input before I make a service appointment.

Yesterday I was running errands. On my second stop I got the notice that the "key was not detected." But the car was running and I'd just driven about 3 miles from my previous stop. I looked all around, wasn't in my pockets or under the seats that I could tell. When I got out of the car with it running it beeped at me as though I'd gotten out with the key in my pocket.

I could not then get the car out of park. Obviously I'd had the key to start and drive there.

I kicked around the idea and then turned it off and back on. Started right back up, allowed me to put into gear and drive. Still gave me the "key not detected" notice in the dash. I tested this several times- as I drove and came to a stop and put it in park, it would have to be turned off again and then back on. No issue coming to a stop in gear at a light.

Drove back to Stop #1 and looked around, didn't find it in the parking lot, inside the store, nada.

Tearing through I discovered the key had fallen down perfectly between the passenger seat and the sill, and the back carpet shifting around obscured it.

Crisis averted.

But here's the thing: My key was in the vehicle at all times, just on the floor under the passenger seat.

I'm seriously wondering if I have an electrical gremlin because I'd have thought inside the cabin of the vehicle would have been close enough to make connection. And more so because the vehicle didn't detect the key but let me start and drive-- repeatedly.


BTW: My 2013 Mercedes had the most secure smart key possible- it had an IR emitter in the key and receiver in the dash. You could clone the key but the only way the car would start was if the IR code matched. Made the keys about $500 each but that's the price for absolute security.

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[Alfa 2407]

Definitely a malfunction, I spent one day testing the range of the key detection, I'm not entirely sure how they pulled it off, but if the key is on the hood it won't detect, but if it's in the trunk it will, on the hood is closer buy outside the car, in the trunk is further, but inside the car, I truly have no understanding of how these keys work but that's what I found with my 22 big bend

 

[davidg4781]

I wonder if it was in a certain spot with certain conditions that caused the car to not receive the fob’s transmissions?

 

[Alfa 2407]

I wonder if it was in a certain spot with certain conditions that caused the car to not receive the fob’s transmissions?

Maybe, could be something with the seats interfering with the transmitter

 

[Bronclahoma]

Key in your pocket, no problem. Are you making a big to do over nothing?

 

[Elegance]

Being under the seat probably diluted the signal just like wifi going through walls in your home. Metal (like all the stuff under your seat) and wireless signals generally do not mix.

Funny story, I drove mine over to our motor pool at work. I then grabbed a gov truck and drove that back to my office. Threw my purse down on my desk before leaving for the field, took only the essentials to keep my backpack as light as possible, had a nice day hiking, then went back to the motor pool to return the truck and get back into my Sport. My Sport would not start. I panicked for 15 minutes, unlocking and starting it with the app and questioning why I couldn't shift into gear since I obviously drove it there. Like you, I thoroughly searched the interior looking for my keys. It took me a bit to actually use my brain and realize my keys were in my purse in my office. I did the walk of shame from the motor pool to my office and back to the car and then finally drove back to the office. It was 101 degrees and I'll never make that mistake again.

 

[Flash]

They work off of Bluetooth which can have a range of up to 30 feet with nothing between the transmitter and receiver and assuming the transmitter is putting out the maximum allowable power (probably not).

 

[thomasm23]

They work off of Bluetooth which can have a range of up to 30 feet with nothing between the transmitter and receiver and assuming the transmitter is putting out the maximum allowable power (probably not).

The system does not operate using Bluetooth. The system uses a low frequency RF signal.

 

[Flash]

You're right. They use 315 Mhz, and Bluetooth is around 2.5 Ghz.

 

[Barry S.]

Being under the seat probably diluted the signal just like wifi going through walls in your home. Metal (like all the stuff under your seat) and wireless signals generally do not mix.

Funny story, I drove mine over to our motor pool at work. I then grabbed a gov truck and drove that back to my office. Threw my purse down on my desk before leaving for the field, took only the essentials to keep my backpack as light as possible, had a nice day hiking, then went back to the motor pool to return the truck and get back into my Sport. My Sport would not start. I panicked for 15 minutes, unlocking and starting it with the app and questioning why I couldn't shift into gear since I obviously drove it there. Like you, I thoroughly searched the interior looking for my keys. It took me a bit to actually use my brain and realize my keys were in my purse in my office. I did the walk of shame from the motor pool to my office and back to the car and then finally drove back to the office. It was 101 degrees and I'll never make that mistake again.

This has been a tough summer in NC. Not over yet. Heading for the mountains next week for some cool weather and a little off roading.

 

[Alfa 2407]

Key in your pocket, no problem. Are you making a big to do over nothing?

The big issue is the car started and drove with no key detected, this could result in a vehicle getting stolen

 

[Bronclahoma]

You don't know that. The key could have shifted postions after starting and driving. I suspect this whole incident is a non-issue. The OP could leave his fob away from the car and see if it starts again. With apologies to Bourbon, this seems to be more of a brain fart (we all have them) than a mechanical issue.

 

[BravoAlpha]

First off, this is the first vehicle I've owned with a key that didn't go into the column or dash. Not a fan of start buttons at all. What happened couldn't have possibly occurred with a physical key.

This is also kind of embarrassing but I'm looking for input before I make a service appointment.

Yesterday I was running errands. On my second stop I got the notice that the "key was not detected." But the car was running and I'd just driven about 3 miles from my previous stop. I looked all around, wasn't in my pockets or under the seats that I could tell. When I got out of the car with it running it beeped at me as though I'd gotten out with the key in my pocket.

I could not then get the car out of park. Obviously I'd had the key to start and drive there.

I kicked around the idea and then turned it off and back on. Started right back up, allowed me to put into gear and drive. Still gave me the "key not detected" notice in the dash. I tested this several times- as I drove and came to a stop and put it in park, it would have to be turned off again and then back on. No issue coming to a stop in gear at a light.

Drove back to Stop #1 and looked around, didn't find it in the parking lot, inside the store, nada.

Tearing through I discovered the key had fallen down perfectly between the passenger seat and the sill, and the back carpet shifting around obscured it.

Crisis averted.

But here's the thing: My key was in the vehicle at all times, just on the floor under the passenger seat.

I'm seriously wondering if I have an electrical gremlin because I'd have thought inside the cabin of the vehicle would have been close enough to make connection. And more so because the vehicle didn't detect the key but let me start and drive-- repeatedly.


BTW: My 2013 Mercedes had the most secure smart key possible- it had an IR emitter in the key and receiver in the dash. You could clone the key but the only way the car would start was if the IR code matched. Made the keys about $500 each but that's the price for absolute security.

quite the write up. I don’t think there is a problem here. Aren’t you glad it let you drive it…because the key was actually in the vehicle?

machines and electronics are calibrated. I got the same message last year when the key fob was in my backpack in the cargo area. the signal was likely weak or the Bronco was able to detect that its wasn’t in the expected area. You can only program so many messages .

perhaps it should have said “key fob signal weak” or “key FOB not in expected area”

But then could you imagine the write ups we’d see on this forum?

did you leave the key outside of the vehicle and attempt to drive it? There’s the real test.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Might have been a momentary moment of cranial flatulence but it was still concerning.

I just got back from vacation with a 400 mile round trip road trip and it performed flawlessly. I'm going to give it another try maybe this weekend and see what comes of it.

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