Posted on 05/13/2018 8:55:26 AM PDT by oh8eleven
On a summer morning last year, Fred Schaub drove his Toyota RAV4 into the garage attached to his Florida home and went into the house with the wireless key fob, evidently believing the car was shut off. Twenty-nine hours later, he was found dead, overcome with carbon monoxide that flooded his home while he slept.
“After 75 years of driving, my father thought that when he took the key with him when he left the car, the car would be off,” said Mr. Schaub’s son Doug.
Mr. Schaub is among more than two dozen people killed by carbon monoxide nationwide since 2006 after a keyless-ignition vehicle was inadvertently left running in a garage. Dozens of others have been injured, some left with brain damage.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The metal key in my fob has been essential when the battery in the fob died. I had to unlock the car and insert the key into the ignition. I had to remove the cover of the ignition first. Thankfully, I paid attention when the car dealer showed us four years earlier. lol
It is convenient. Don’t have to dig for keys in my pocket to open or start the car. They stay in my pocket and go with me after I lock and leave the car; never any keys left on the seat or in the ignition and if they don’t have to come out of my pocket, I won’t leave them lying on a store counter, office desk etc. Takes some getting used to but I’m sold on them. The pushbutton start and stop takes me back to my childhood in the 50s when my dad’s cars had pushbutton starters. They let you know very loudly that the car is still running if you try to get out and leave it running. The only foreseeable problem might be the remote start feature I have on mine. If you have it in the garage and the door is closed it could be a CO problem but it is definitely nice for cold winter mornings.
“The only foreseeable problem might be the remote start feature I have on mine. If you have it in the garage and the door is closed it could be a CO problem but it is definitely nice for cold winter mornings.”
Probably an Alexa skill to solve that!
“The metal key in my fob has been essential when the battery in the fob died. I had to unlock the car and insert the key into the ignition. I had to remove the cover of the ignition first. “
My wife’s Lexus requires the fob(rfid) to be placed against the start button.
My Mustang requires putting the fob against a sensor in the center console.
This way the rfid gets power from the car.
” Holding the dead-battery fob right next to the push button might work as well. “
Since Lexus and Ford say that is the only way, it had better work!
Modern engines are quieter and compsrtments more soundproofed. I have left it on a few times but car heeps if it is on and key fob leaves vehicle. In addition I now always have radio on since it it is on when I exit vehicle then engine is still running
“Also, these keyless fobs have an insert on the dashboard - usually to the left or right of the steering column - where you can insert the fob and start the car, should the battery on the fob be dead.”
Just reread your post. That is the same as I described. Just where the sensor is located. Special slot, on the button or in the console.
It’s like anything else, it takes a while to get used to, but eventually everyone does. I remember when we all had get up, and turn a knob to change TV channels. Now, with remote controls, it’s hard to believe we had to do it the old fashioned way.
” In addition I now always have radio on since it it is on when I exit vehicle then engine is still running”
Two sounds that I almost unconsciously listen to and note:
Radio goes off when I open my door means the engine is off.
Automatic door locks clicking as I pull out.
“I remember when we all had get up, and turn a knob to change TV channels.”
All? My father had voice activated remote back in the 50’s.
Some of the commands he used were:
“Son, channel 8”
“Son, rotate the antenna”
Then we got a color TV and he had to teach his remote a few more commands.
“Now, with remote controls, it’s hard to believe we had to do it the old fashioned way.”
I just say, “Alexa, watch Fox Business”!
I wonder how that number compares to people leaving the car running with regular keys still in the ignition...
I bet you had to program his VCR too.
“I bet you had to program his VCR too.”
I left home in 1965.
Dang you had color TV in the 60s.
“I wonder how that number compares to people leaving the car running with regular keys still in the ignition...”
I was in the back seat with two Navy buddies in the front. The dude on the right (as a joke) pulled the key out of the steering column while we were going down the road and the steering locked.
“Dang you had color TV in the 60s.”
Yup!
At first the only station was about 100 miles away and it was mostly colored snow but then our local NBC got color.
Missed a lot of homework assignments watching Wonderful World of Color and Bonanza.
Back then it was up and down as each camera had a different color rendition and one moment the character was pink and then he would be green as they switch cameras.
Nope. Watched women with big purses spend literally that long getting their keys out of the interior.
I remember watching color TV for the first time at a neighbor’s down the street. Redskins got beat by the dolphins.
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