I feel stupid because I had to Google it...

akugami

Diamond Member
Feb 14, 2005
6,210
2,548
136
I had to Google how to start the car...

The other day, my car keyfob ran out of battery. Now, there's a key that you can pull out of the keyfob to open the car door so I can get inside.Now comes the problem, how the friggin hell do you start the car? There's no key hole in the car to start the engine since it uses a power button.

Thanks to the power of Google, apparently there's an RFID chip or something in there so if you hold the keyfob to the car power button (Toyota & Lexus) and then press the power button, it'll still be able to start the car. :thumbsup:
 

DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
126
thanks, for letting us know, I didn't know either. But then what happens when you move it away from the button? it shows key not found? do you have to tape it to the button?
 

akugami

Diamond Member
Feb 14, 2005
6,210
2,548
136
It gives you a warning that key is not found, but you can still drive the car. Also should be a warning to power down your car when you leave it, such as to run in quickly and grab a coffee. Because it might not be there when you come back. :D
 

DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
126
It gives you a warning that key is not found, but you can still drive the car. Also should be a warning to power down your car when you leave it, such as to run in quickly and grab a coffee. Because it might not be there when you come back. :D

But if the key is not found, doesn't the car stalls after a certain period? the fuel pump does not work so it goes as far as it can with the fuel in the pipes or something like that?
 

smackababy

Lifer
Oct 30, 2008
27,024
79
86
I'd have to google that as well. I know in some keyless / push to start cars, the button actually pops open and reveals a place to insert the fob. It will then function similar to a normal key.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
I had to Google how to start the car...

The other day, my car keyfob ran out of battery. Now, there's a key that you can pull out of the keyfob to open the car door so I can get inside.Now comes the problem, how the friggin hell do you start the car? There's no key hole in the car to start the engine since it uses a power button.

Thanks to the power of Google, apparently there's an RFID chip or something in there so if you hold the keyfob to the car power button (Toyota & Lexus) and then press the power button, it'll still be able to start the car. :thumbsup:

I was wondering what someone would do if the keyfob battery died.
 

ra1nman

Senior member
Dec 9, 2007
333
4
81
When I originally picked up my G35x, wondered what that slot was until I asked the great Google machine what is was. On a side note, I also found out if you leave your car running and someone takes off with it without the fob, the car won't shut off unless you press the start button multiple times
 

imagoon

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
5,199
0
0
But if the key is not found, doesn't the car stalls after a certain period? the fuel pump does not work so it goes as far as it can with the fuel in the pipes or something like that?

Not on any known vehicle that I am aware of. It is a safety thing. They don't want to be sued because the car shutdown in an intersection or something of that nature.

Mine beeps and says "Key" in red at me if the key signal is lost but runs until I turn if off. I have never had to use the backup though as mine has a battery life indicator / signal is weak light in the dash for the fob. When I turn it off, if the "Key" is blinking green for a couple of minutes -> battery is low and should be replaced. Blinking red "Key" -> too late, use the back up.

Friends Caddy has a slot inside the center console that the fob fits in to do the same thing.
 

techs

Lifer
Sep 26, 2000
28,559
4
0
The next generation will grow up knowing you google any question you might have. The internet became popular when I was already approaching middle age and often it takes a while before I think of googling some thing.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
69,230
13,005
126
www.anyf.ca
I think we're at a point now where cars have way too much tech for nothing. Then when something as simple as a keyfob fails you're nearly dead in the water. Well at least they provide a backup, but they don't have to. Not to mention these things are probably really easy to hack.

I have a 2004 car so I don't really have to worry about those things. :p
 

imagoon

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
5,199
0
0
I find it more interesting that google was the first choice of the car manual in the glove box.
 

imagoon

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
5,199
0
0
I think we're at a point now where cars have way too much tech for nothing. Then when something as simple as a keyfob fails you're nearly dead in the water. Well at least they provide a backup, but they don't have to. Not to mention these things are probably really easy to hack.

I have a 2004 car so I don't really have to worry about those things. :p

A lot of assumptions and opinions there. We can just hack your car with a coat hanger.
 

techs

Lifer
Sep 26, 2000
28,559
4
0
I find it more interesting that google was the first choice of the car manual in the glove box.

Heck, they put most of the documentation on new computers on the hard drive instead of giving you a user manual.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,344
6,165
126
I had to Google how to start the car...

The other day, my car keyfob ran out of battery. Now, there's a key that you can pull out of the keyfob to open the car door so I can get inside.Now comes the problem, how the friggin hell do you start the car? There's no key hole in the car to start the engine since it uses a power button.

Thanks to the power of Google, apparently there's an RFID chip or something in there so if you hold the keyfob to the car power button (Toyota & Lexus) and then press the power button, it'll still be able to start the car. :thumbsup:

lol i had to do the same thing about a year ago. turns out, there is a slot down below the bottom left of my steering wheel where you plug the whole fob into and it acts as though it's a normal key.

not my car, but it's in the same place on my g37s.

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/FI/FixUrNissan/2013-07-15_141413_m35_fob_slot.jpg
 
Last edited:

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,080
136
If you dont have your user manual, download that fucker and print it.
Keep the bastard in your car at all times.

Also, find the maintenance manual. Print that beautiful being out. Keep it in a 3 ring binder. Use a highlighter on the important stuff.
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,344
6,165
126
If you dont have your user manual, download that fucker and print it.
Keep the bastard in your car at all times.

Also, find the maintenance manual. Print that beautiful being out. Keep it in a 3 ring binder. Use a highlighter on the important stuff.

much quicker to pull out my phone and google than searching through a big ass manual.

plus, my manual is in my trunk and would have required me to get out of my car. fuck that.
 

Midwayman

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2000
5,723
325
126
Mine the button pops off and there is a slot for the key behind it. I tend to read the manuals for new cars cover to cover though.
 

HamburgerBoy

Lifer
Apr 12, 2004
27,111
318
126
I did this just last week for the family Altima. I found the port and it looked like it would fit the fob, but I wasn't confident and the manual was not much help so we had to Google it.
 

imagoon

Diamond Member
Feb 19, 2003
5,199
0
0
much quicker to pull out my phone and google than searching through a big ass manual.

plus, my manual is in my trunk and would have required me to get out of my car. fuck that.

I don't know about Toyota but Mazda puts a small section in the front that contains like "Key fob won't start the car." In that case the manual is likely faster than looking it up on the net. This reminds me a conversation I had with the service tech. They had a car there that morning that was towed in and left in the night box. First thing they did was grab the keys from the box and noted the light on the fob didn't light. While I was there they popped in a new button cell and started it right up. Rather expensive battery cell since they wouldn't pay for tow under warranty for that. We joked that the manual shows you how to deal with that issue. They even pulled the cell out and verified the failed battery method worked.
 
Mar 10, 2005
14,647
2
0
depend on the manual google may have more answers.

a car's owner's manual contains everything the owner/driver needs to know to operate the car, like how to start it. google contains everything, and the less informed the writer is the more likely it is to be prominently featured.

most owner's manuals are in new/like new condition, because people do not RTFM.