[dbarrans]

I discovered a new "feature" a few days ago in my passion. I was installing my new clock/tach pods, and I happened to stumble across a way to turn on the radio without the key on.

1) Before you shut down, make sure your wiper control is set to the "auto" position, and the radio is on.
2) Shut down the car and take out the key.
3) Open the door.
4) Bump the wiper control to the off position.
5) The radio comes on.

I don't know if it's supposed to do this, but I tried again the next day and it did the same thing. Yes, I'm certain I didn't mess up the wiring while installing the pods. The first time it happened was before I touched any of the wiring.

- dan

 

[JPaul]

As far as I know, one can turn on the radio without a key anytime. It should stay on for about 15 minutes only though... Just hit the on/off.
That's what must have happened to you.

 

[rbtgold]

I discovered a new "feature" a few days ago in my passion. I was installing my new clock/tach pods, and I happened to stumble across a way to turn on the radio without the key on.

1) Before you shut down, make sure your wiper control is set to the "auto" position, and the radio is on.
2) Shut down the car and take out the key.
3) Open the door.
4) Bump the wiper control to the off position.
5) The radio comes on.

I don't know if it's supposed to do this, but I tried again the next day and it did the same thing. Yes, I'm certain I didn't mess up the wiring while installing the pods. The first time it happened was before I touched any of the wiring.

- dan

hmmmmm...all i have to do is push the on/off button and the radio pops to life (w/o key in ignition). BTW... im not sure if it makes a difference but this is the "upgrade" option radio/cd)
rbt in mke!
yellow/silver cab

 

[Karl Roth]

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f4/radio-9-supposed-turn-when-no-key-car-6236/
We don't get the parking lights on the US spec cars but the radio will turn on without the key if you look there is no acc position. Works with all of the cars with the stock radios can't say with the aftermarket ones but they are probably connected to the same feed as the stock ones.
karl

 

[dbarrans]

... the radio will turn on without the key...
karl

Hmmm. I guess I never tried that. It turns off with the key so I figured it wasn't powered in the off position.

I'm still a bit baffled that it turns on when I turn the wiper control to the off position.

- dan

 

[wdw412]

As far as I know, one can turn on the radio without a key anytime. It should stay on for about 15 minutes only though... Just hit the on/off.
That's what must have happened to you.

Agree!

 

[SmartyPants25]

I was told about this feature when I picked up the car as part the grand tour of the vehicle. Its supposed to be turned on just by pressing the on button, no need to mess with the wipers. I have factory radio 9.

 

[Razorback]

Press radio PWR button radio comes on for 30 minutes then auto shuts off. radio 10.

 

[dbarrans]

Well, OK, just pressing the power button works for me too. After three months, I'm still learning stuff about this thing.

- dan

 

[2442]

After three months, I'm still learning stuff about this thing.

- dan

After 13 (Thirteen) months, I'm still discovering new things about this car.

Donald LaFavor

 

[john&becky]

Does anyone know a way to activate the European Parking Lights features?

 

[smart fortimo]

How timely!

I just came in from unloading the car after the PNW Prosser weekend. The key was out and I was grabbing an FRS radio off the lower lip of the dash area. I was slightly freaked that the radio came on, by what I thought was me opening the glovebox.

So in and out went the key in combo with on and off with the power button. All is well, good to hear from others that this is "normal". BTW, I have radio 10.

Cheers,
Timo

 

[JPaul]

[...]
So in and out went the key in combo with on and off with the power button. [...]

Timo, I don't think you need to use the key at all, just on/off the radio at will.

The only reason to use the key is to set the radio for when you start your car next. Radio off first, car off and key out second: the radio will stay off next time. Radio on when you shut down, radio on when you start next time.

 

[smart fortimo]

Timo, I don't think you need to use the key at all, just on/off the radio at will.

The only reason to use the key is to set the radio for when you start your car next. Radio off first, car off and key out second: the radio will stay off next time. Radio on when you shut down, radio on when you start next time.

Yep, got that all figured out by the time I was done with all the in'n and out'n

Thanks JPaul.

Timo

 

[saronian]

...I'm still learning stuff about this thing.
- dan

It's never ending...but that's an interesting bug, I'll have to give it a try.

 

[YellowSmartofBoston]

You can do that in any smart. When I went to see them in person for the first time at the dealer. I touched the radio knob on one in the show room floor and the radio came on. I brought it to the attention of the manager, who didn't know that was possible.

 

[TRobinson6]

i tried what smart fortimo suggested to make the radio go off when the car is turned off and make the radio come on when car started.

he said radio off then car off and take key out.....has no affect on my radio as it can still be turned on at anytime

 

[jimvw57]

if the radio is off when you shut off the key, next time you turn the key on, radio will be off.

if the radio is on when you shut off the key, next time you turn on the key, the radio will be on.

on my 2008 and 2009, the radio played when you hit the on button even without the key in the ignition. haven't tried it on my latest 2008 with an aftermarket radio...

 

[Pete000]

Reviving an old thread. Aftermarket radios wont wok like this, at least my Kenwood DNX won't. Annoying not to have an accessory position !

 

[smark]

My 7 year old Fiat 500, and 2015 Honda Fit, does the same thing. You don’t need a key, to play the radio. A after market sound system, not going to have that feature.

Wow, this tread is very old.