Security / Smart Key /Anti-theft

[GT2inSeattle]

Hello everyone,

If I get into my car.. start the car.. and then leave the car still running (and take my key with me) can someone else still drive away with NO key in the car? I'm guessing the answer is 'yes' they just won't be able to restart the car if they turn it off.

Is my presumption accurate? If so is there anything I can buy to install that will shut the car down if someone tries to drive away without the key?

Thanks in advance.

 

[bumble bee]

GT2, exactly, your car is started to warm up (just say) someone takes it that will not last long.....like car will die.

Never did it, give it a try.

 

[Waynerm002]

They should give it a remote start option, where the car shuts down if the door is opened or it is put in gear without the key being detected.

 

[Wan El Guapo]

I don't think the car will just shut off if driven away from the key, sudden engine shutoff could cause accidents and litigation. Sounds like we need a volunteer to be the beta tester.

 

[Waynerm002]

It won’t, it will run until turned off.

 

[mldavis2]

Most remote start add-ons will not work unless the doors are locked. Why would you leave a car running and unlocked?

 

[BlaydeX15]

Hello everyone,

If I get into my car.. start the car.. and then leave the car still running (and take my key with me) can someone else still drive away with NO key in the car? I'm guessing the answer is 'yes' they just won't be able to restart the car if they turn it off.

Is my presumption accurate? If so is there anything I can buy to install that will shut the car down if someone tries to drive away without the key?

Thanks in advance.

Yeah, it can be done, but you'll get a really annoying beeping and a warning that the key is not in the car, until you put it in gear. I can't even get out of the running car to open the passenger door for my wife without it screaming at me.

It's done on purpose that way. If the key dies while you're on the freeway, for example, last thing you want is for the car to shut down. Same thing even if you program it to only kill the car at low speeds. Stop light? Instant traffic jam.

I'm not seeing anywhere that you can buy an engine kill switch though (except for bikes), and there's likely a legal reason that nobody sells them.

 

[GT2inSeattle]

It's done on purpose that way. If the key dies while you're on the freeway, for example, last thing you want is for the car to shut down. Same thing even if you program it to only kill the car at low speeds. Stop light? Instant traffic jam.

Forgive my being obtuse.. I feel stupid now.. I hadn't thought of that.. there's a very clear safety reason for that of course! Perhaps a good compromise on the Drive by Wire systems should be 'if the key isn't in the car or the signal isn't being seen you can't put it in drive'. That would stop the driveway theft anyway.

Thanks for your perspectives everyone. I appreciate that.

 

[OliverNuther]

Why would you leave a car running and unlocked?

Because you might be driving your new Stinger for only the second time and it might be your first push button start car. And you might hop out of the car with the keys in your pocket which in your mind equates to turning the car off. And you might go shopping for 20 minutes or so, come back, hop in the car and think why is the radio still playing and slowly realise that you’ve left your car running and unlocked in a very dodgy part of town.

Ummhhh, I mean that’s what might happen. I mean, it happened to a friend of mine. Truly.

 

[NS_Stinger]

I'm almost positive that the car can't be put in drive when the key isn't present.

 

[GT2inSeattle]

I'm almost positive that the car can't be put in drive when the key isn't present.

It can. In fact I tried it. Started the car.. handed the key to my wife standing outside of the car, put the car in gear and drove away... it doesn't even continue to annoyingly beep.. it does say on the display that the key isn't in the car, but that's about it.

 

[NS_Stinger]

It can. In fact I tried it. Started the car.. handed the key to my wife standing outside of the car, put the car in gear and drove away... it doesn't even continue to annoyingly beep.. it does say on the display that the key isn't in the car, but that's about it.

That's odd, it would be funny once you got where you're going and realise you cant restart the car to get home.

 

[GT2inSeattle]

That's odd, it would be funny once you got where you're going and realise you cant restart the car to get home.

Oh I'm pretty sure OTHER people would think it was funny.. but me being stuck wherever I was.. not so much..