Neither of my vehicles use them so no experience , but just wondering if there’s any diy’er safety issues when working on key-fob equipped cars? For example whenever I’m working in the engine compartment I always put the car’s key in my pocket, to prevent inadvertent cranking. Is that same technique possible on a key-fob vehicle?
If you’re that worried, disconnect the negative terminal of the battery.
4 Likes
We’ll keep it out of your pocket. Activity can push the button. Like I found out working on my garage door and the car parked outside when it started to snow. All the windows and sun roof were open.
If you have remote start, you could start the car with the fob in your pocket but usually need to lock the doors first. If push button, the fob needs to be in proximity and push the button.
I don’t know how you sleep at night with all the worry. Now think about all the microscopic bugs crawling around.
If you have remote start, DON’T put your keys/fob in your pocket, I always put the keys in my tool box, never leave them in the car as the car can sometimes lock the doors…
Just use a little common since… If you don’t have any, well then, stay away from cars… lol
I can push (key fob) the lock button and hold it while hitting the unlock button twice and it will disable the key fob from communicating with the truck, when ready, hit any button once and the fob has full function again…
1 Like
I have a manual so no remote start. I hook my fob on a Carabiner and attach it to my belt loop. the only problem I have sometimes is when I get in the car something must hit the panic button on the fob and sets off the alarm. But if I’m working on the car, after I unlock it the fob is set down somewhere. And in the past if I was working on my vehicle or the kid’s cars with remote start, I never kept the fob on me.
I’m. wondering if this is mainly about repairing cars with key fobs?
My car won’t close with the key fob inside of the car, unless I put the car in D ( Drive ). It also won’t start the car if the key fob is outside of the car.
So when I take the car to the dealer, I leave the key fob inside of the car and the doors remain open while the car is in P.
I don’t know anything about repairing, though, so that’s all I will say.
Mostly old habits, and always better to be safe than sorry…
Most wont, but in the past some cars would lock after x time and nothing like having a running car in your shop automatically lock the doors on ya… And on almost every vehicle even with smart keys, you can lock the doors with the key fob in it, it is just a PITA to do… Had many customers ask me to lock the doors with the key hidden somewhere in the vehicle so they could pick it up afterhours…
That is exactly what remote start is…
As safe as it is in my part of the world, I have still had vehicles stollen in the parking lot right next to the building… Stuff happens…
1 Like
It has been a while since I dropped a car at the dealer. but if you are talking about dropping your car after hours. usually, you would lock your car, and they would have a locked drop off box that you would put your key fob in an envelope with name phone number and license plate number on the envelope and drop it in the lock box.
I drive inside of the service department and leave the key fob inside of the car advised by the staff. I then go in the cafeteria and wait until service is completed.
As for dropping the car off over night, you are correct: I drop the key fob inside of the key box and leave a note. And of course, lock the car.
1 Like
So, your car has hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders to push the door open if the key is inside the car? I doubt it. I suspect, like @davesmopar, that you men locks.
Sorry, I meant lock.
We all make typos/mistakes… lol
I know I do!!
EDIT so I don’t get an English lesson here on an automotive forum… lol
That’s not a typographic error.
1 Like
With my neurological issue, I either double or triple hit a letter or my finger just plain doesn’t push the key down hard enough to put the letter down on many words I type, so many of my words are missing letters and I have to go back and correct it, that is a typo to me, I spelt it correctly, just didn’t show up with all the correct letters… I guess you just flat out misspelt the word then, doesn’t really matter what you call it, this is not an English assignment being graded forum, it is an automotive forum… Either way, as you say, stuff happens… lol
Moving on… 
2017 Chevy Volt here. If I leave the FOB in the car and lock the doors, get out and close the door all the doors unlock. Pretty cool if you ask me! Tomorrow I show up at my dealer for the state inspection. I pull in the service bay and walk to the service writer and hand her my FOB. Then head in for free donuts and coffee!
Yes, just curious if this is a potential safety issue & if so how it is is handled. Not a worry in my case as neither of my vehicles uses a key fob.
Every shop I have worked in, all keys (mechanical and electronic) remain in vehicles while in the shop unless there is a reason to prevent someone from switching on the ignition. Driver’s window is to remain down when key is inside vehicle. Detachable key fobs remain with the keys.
Remote start will not engage while the hood is open, the customer can’t cause a remote start while in the shop.
3 Likes
I’d give you a “like” @Nevada_545 , but that site feature appears to be turned off . Oh oh, just notice your post completely disappeared … lol … on the upside there’s two of mine.
How does that work on the 3rd gen Tacoma’s with no under hood lights and no open hood sensor (that I can see anyway)… as others that have the same setup…
I can both start and drive the truck with the hood open, no warnings…
I also have this under hood sticker…
The shop I just retired from, policy is to always leave the keys/fob in a work order sleave hanging from the drivers mirror if it is not dangling/missing or from the rack or tool cart/box… but we work on 30+ yo vehicles too…
Not all windows roll down… lol
