Where to put my spare key, now that the spare is electronic?

[fuzzybabybunny]

So this is my first time using this new age key stuff with the remote. Back in my day I just had a flat metal key that I could get easily duplicated at Lowes and which I could just stuff in my wallet should I lock myself out of my car. The idea is that chances are my wallet is always on me, but sometimes I get absent minded and close the door with the keys still in the ignition, or they fall out of my pockets inside the car somewhere in a hurry.

So now that I have a fat key, where do I put a spare so that I can easily get to it immediately after locking myself out? If I'm locked out 300 miles from home in a campsite my spare doesn't do me any good if it's at home.

 

[EightySix Four]

Rock meet hard place.

Putting it on the car is a bad idea. IIRC the insurance company could potentially not cover you for theft if they used a key on the vehicle, just like if you leave the car running. Usually you can use a non electronic key to open the doors, but it will set off the alarms and not start the car, maybe you can start there?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Put it in your purse? I keed, I keed!

My wife's Lexus won't let you lock the car with the key inside it. Does your car not do this?

 

[Pantoot]

My wife's Lexus won't let you lock the car with the key inside it. Does your car not do this?

Right, mine works the same way. Throw the key in the trunk with doors locked and the trunk will pop right back open.

 

[Atty]

+1 for car not locking when key is inside. Eliminates the need to have a hide-a-key.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Ooooo.... really? I'ma go and try locking the keys in my car now.

 

[Abius]

If the car "knows" the key is there or around, how could you possibly lock yourelf out. On the RX8s I know its an electronic key that it knows your close and you can press the button on the door handle and it opens. Unless you dont have a button on your door handle or one to open your trunk, then what is teh problemo.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I have now locked my keys in my car.

 

[Pariah]

I think with most cars today, it is almost impossible to lock yourself out. I know with my car, the only way the doors will lock is if I push the fob button, which means I have the key in my hand, or if the car is running, when it is put in drive it will lock the doors automatically. The fob button won't work when the doors are open, and it is impossible to manually push the door button down at any time.

Not sure about the trunk, I might be able to lock it into the trunk. I've never done it, and though I've seen lots of people lock their keys into their car, I've never seen it happen in a trunk.

 

[HannibalX]

All my cars have a keypad, pretty handy feature.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yeah, my car will not allow you to lock the fob inside it. Even if you manually press the lock button, it doesn't lock, it ignores you.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I have now locked my keys in my car.

/facepalm

 

[id09542]

If the smart key is only for the ignition, you could still put as dumb key in your wallet to unlock the door, maybe hide a smart key in the trunk.

 

[LTC8K6]

My brother keeps one of my smart keys, and I keep one of his. As long as we can contact one another, we always have a spare available.

 

[Raduque]

You should be able to copy one of those electric thingajigger keys to a normal key to unlock the physical key lock on the door.

 

[LTC8K6]

You should be able to copy one of those electric thingajigger keys to a normal key to unlock the physical key lock on the door.

That will set off the alarm, though.

The door shouldn't lock with the smartkey inside anyway, right? So why are you having to use the manual key to open the door?

 

[angry hampster]

I have now locked my keys in my car.

Oh this is funny.

 

[NutBucket]

On my car, a dummy key will unlock the door but it won't disarm the alarm. But, you can always use the real key to disarm once you get in the car. Just a thought.

 

[vshah]

my civic, and i'm assuming your fit, doesn't really have a "smart" key. its just a key with the immobilizer code programmed in it, and the remote on the key fob. i just keep a spare key in my apartment, or take it with me when i travel.

but its moot, since how are you going to lock the doors if the key isn't in your hand? there's no way. my car doesn't lock automatically ever, unless you're in it and start moving, then it locks at 15mph or something.

 

[DarkThinker]

In my 07 CTS, the key itself has an RFID in it. Ignition won't work without the key in and the RFID tag read by the reader in the key slot area. However, when alarm goes off, the only way to shut it is not through the remote, but by putting the key in the driver side door and unlocking. Much different from other cars, but makes my car a bit hard to steal.

 

[TraumaRN]

In my 07 CTS, the key itself has an RFID in it. Ignition won't work without the key in and the RFID tag read by the reader in the key slot area. However, when alarm goes off, the only way to shut it is not through the remote, but by putting the key in the driver side door and unlocking. Much different from other cars, but makes my car a bit hard to steal.

My Fusion Hybrid has something similar. If you unlock the driver's side door manually with the key you have about 10 seconds to put the key in the ignition or else the alarm will go off. I imagine my car would be pretty difficult to steal as it needs the correct RFID signal as well, on top of the fact that my car doesn't have a real 'starter' i'd probably laugh/call an ambulance if someone tried to hot wire my car...

 

[DarkThinker]

My Fusion Hybrid has something similar. If you unlock the driver's side door manually with the key you have about 10 seconds to put the key in the ignition or else the alarm will go off. I imagine my car would be pretty difficult to steal as it needs the correct RFID signal as well, on top of the fact that my car doesn't have a real 'starter' i'd probably laugh/call an ambulance if someone tried to hot wire my car...

Well this is good and bad at the same time. RFIDs are nothing but security through obscurity. I don't know if Cadillac implements some form of encryption, but I hope they have a good one, or else, anyone passing by me can clone my RFID. Still they wouldn't have a copy of my key so at least they wouldn't be able to enter nor turn on the car with the RFID alone.

 

[KentState]

I know on my Vette, it will only lock the doors once the key fob is outside of the car and trunk. When you get close enough, it allows you to open the doors.

 

[ViviTheMage]

So, FBB, did you get your car unlocked? haha

 

[Jzero]

I posted this on your other thread. Locking your keys in your Fit pretty much requires conscious effort on your part.

I also posted this on your other thread. Your dealer or a good locksmith can cut you a "dumb key" with no immobilizer chip. It will be flat and will be able to unlock the door but not start the engine.