Watch Out! Key Fob works outside truck

[brillmtb]

Ok, so I was tired and stupid. Went fly fishing in tahoe this weekend. Got waders off, put keys on the passenger side on my cargo lid. Got everything put away, jumped in truck, started and drove 24miles from Markleeville to South Lake Tahoe only to find that I didnt have my dam keys when I got there.

Drove back with a friend and unbelievably found them on the first 554mph L hand turn where I figured they might slide off. Crap I was so lucky.

Anyway I assumed that the truck would only start with the keys inside. I wont make that mistake again. Subarus wont even let you shift out of park unless keyfob inside. Sure would like that feature to prevent getting stranded.

Anyway, perhaps you all are aware of this but I thought I would share.

 

[sag2]

Your lucky you didn't shut it off.

 

[Randomrunner12]

Thats Scary, My wife's Journey is the same in that you cant come out of park without the Key fob in the car.

Glad you got your keys back and didn't get stuck somewhere.

 

[wyosteve]

As a corollary, be sure you don't leave the keys too close to the truck if you're away from it or anyone can pull the handle and open the truck. A report on here a couple years ago when someone left their key fob in their pants in their 5th wheel camper and it was close enough for the truck to read the fob signal and would have let anyone start the truck or unlock the doors.

 

[Randomrunner12]

Good ole fashion keys!!!

 

[AH64ID]

As a corollary, be sure you don't leave the keys too close to the truck if you're away from it or anyone can pull the handle and open the truck. A report on here a couple years ago when someone left their key fob in their pants in their 5th wheel camper and it was close enough for the truck to read the fob signal and would have let anyone start the truck or unlock the doors.

My truck won't start with the fob outside the truck, even at the front of the bed. I am fairly certain it has different proximity sensors for unlock and start.

I've also noticed that the "keyfob has left the vehicle" warning is associated with any door opening and closing. Just this last weekend I got out to check something and had the fob, which really annoys the wife, so I opened my door and put the fob in the small dash pocket and closed the door. It kept dinging with the warning. The warning didn't go away until all the doors were closed. It must only look for the fob when doors are opened/closed.

 

[Ozymandias]

My truck won't start with the fob outside the truck, even at the front of the bed. I am fairly certain it has different proximity sensors for unlock and start.

I've also noticed that the "keyfob has left the vehicle" warning is associated with any door opening and closing. Just this last weekend I got out to check something and had the fob, which really annoys the wife, so I opened my door and put the fob in the small dash pocket and closed the door. It kept dinging with the warning. The warning didn't go away until all the doors were closed. It must only look for the fob when doors are opened/closed.

Exactly, something seems wrong with the RF Hub, the key has to be inside the vehicle to start the engine.

Also the moment you lost the key on the road there should have been the warning pop up in the EVIC - Key out of Vehicle! Including an annoying Bing Bing.
And no, there hasn't be a door to be openend for that warning.
I tried that, throwing the key out of the window, the warning flashed up immediately.

Something's wrong with that Truck.

 

[brillmtb]

I put the fob on the back of the bed cover in the middle of the window and could start the truck but not to either side. My fob exited the truck didnt come on and thats what I told myself when I got back to the cabin so looked for it inside the cab but since I couldnt restart the truck I knew it was gone. Fortunately after flyfishing for hours that AM my eyes were still locked into small things and picked up the fob on the side of the road driving by I will test the fob leaving the vehicle and if it doesnt alarm I will check with the dealer.

 

[grabinov]

OK. I admit it.

I was at my dad's house in a rented Suburban (nice "truck" by the way). I set the fob on the windshield (near the wiper) and went inside to say goodbye. Came out, started the truck, and drove 200 miles before stopping near the airport to fill with gas. Luckily I realized at the gas station that I didn't have the key, so I left the truck running and filled up. I drove to the airport, parked in an appropriate rental car stall and went to the counter to tell the guys that I had left their truck outside but that they'd have to start it with the spare key. They said they'd work it out and charge me (of course).

Next day the manager calls: "We don't have spare keys. You have to pay for the keys and for the week it takes until we get new ones made." Luckily I convinced him that his failure to keep spares in the face of customers like me was his fault, not mine. I'm just a dumb customer after all. I paid for the keys though, and they were expensive...

Lol...

 

[sag2]

Exactly, something seems wrong with the RF Hub, the key has to be inside the vehicle to start the engine.

Also the moment you lost the key on the road there should have been the warning pop up in the EVIC - Key out of Vehicle! Including an annoying Bing Bing.
And no, there hasn't be a door to be openend for that warning.
I tried that, throwing the key out of the window, the warning flashed up immediately.

Something's wrong with that Truck.

The key fob has left the vehicle only comes on when a door is opened. That is true for all FCA vehicles in the last 10 or so years. The RFH has no reason to look for the fob once the vehicle is started unless the door opens. On my 18 the message and annoying chime will not go away until both doors are shut again, assuming my wife also gets out.
So if yours chimes without opening the door, something is wrong with your truck.

 

[Ozymandias]

I'll look into this the next time I'm home.
Possible to be different from the country setting that the SUV runs on?