Locked out 2 times now...

[doogster]

Well... I guess I learn the hard way. My smart is parked in a garage at night... so my keys are always in the car - usually in the ignition. About a month ago I went to leave for work in the morning and the Smart doors were locked! Now, not really a big deal because the spare key was right inside the house... I retrieved it and unlocked it and went on my way. Didn't really think too much of it... now, this morning... same thing! Keys in the ignition... doors locked.... LED on the dashboard flashing next to the LOCK button. Anyone else have this phantom locking problem?

[JPaul]

First and formost, when you leave the key in the car, the fob "talks" with the ignition unit and your key's battery will drain faster than in normal use. (The owner's manual states in several location to "not leave the key in the car".)
Also, in some instances, because of the way one leaves the vehicle (what is done and in what order, i.e. open the door BEFORE turning the ignition off), the security system will lock within a minute (I have to do more experiments on how this actually happens).

Another issue is where the key is stored: in one's pocket, its button(s) may be pressed unknowingly, causing the transmitter to lock the car even through walls.

It is a good idea to always take the key out of the car (if just to save on its battery life).
Another suggestion is to switch key now and then, to keep both fobs in regular contact with the ignition (to allow them to refresh their common code memory), and to even out battery usage.

Note: a kid playing with the key when it's out of range of the ignition may also result in the fob to lose track of its codes (is it 256 hits, and the codes are lost?). Re-programming the ignition system is a costly proposition, requiring a Dealership's intervention, with a connection to Smartville.

[doogster]

Well, I know for a fact it couldn't have been locked by an accidental pressing of the lock button because the one key was in the ignition and the other hanging on a hook on the wall... well out of reach of anyone...

[forestacademy]

HMMMmm
My Smart center specificly told me not to leave the keys in the car because the car will lock itself Unless you leave them in the ignition.

She told me it would not lock itself if the keys were in the ignition.

Go fig, Guess the lesson here is take the keys with you, even if you are just filling up with gas.

[msjohnson1974]

A man goes to the doctor and says "Doc, it hurts when I do this". The doctor replies "Well, don't do that." Best not to leave keys in the car, it ends up becoming an automatic habit and you could end up locked out somewhere you don't have a spare key.

[JPaul]

It is also important to note that, if the "lock" dashboard button is pressed, the car will lock itself automatically up to a couple of minutes, no matter if the key is inside or not, in the ignition or not, the door(s) opened-and-closed or not.

It has happened to some, even Dealers, that they have inadvertently locked the car with the key inside!

(Remember the Dealer who had the car on a lift, locked with the key within, and had to wait for the owner to show up the next day with the second key/fob to remove the vehicle from the bay... )

See more at:
Locking without the three beeps

[bob44044]

Why would anyone leave their keys in their car ???

[NCC1701]

Originally Posted by bob44044

Why would anyone leave their keys in their car ???

I was wondering the same thing. Why??

[doogster]

well... in a garage... why NOT leave the keys in? (other than the, now obvious, auto-locking "feature" problem.

[JanetMermaid]

I live on a very rural ranch -- I ALWAYS leave my keys in the car. There's no reason not to. I don't even lock my doors most of the time. I'm interested in this thread because I'd likely leave my Smart keys in the car, too, although not actually in the ignition.