With previous vehicles it's been my practice to hide a second key somewhere under the chassis in a well concealed spot. Obviously, this in case I lose my keys or lock them in the car. I understand with the MR I can't lock them in the car. But I could still lose them.

Seems I can't hide the FAST key anywhere on the car because the security system would see it and keep the car unlocked. I could hide just the metal emergency key, but I gather the car won't start unless I have the electronic fob attached to or at least very close to the metal key.

I've considered wrapping the spare key in aluminum foil before hiding, but I see on this forum that the key sometimes has failures due to proximity of magnets, cell phones etc, so I don't know if it would tolerate being wrapped in aluminum.

Whattya all think...is there a way to have a spare key hidden on this car?

 

Simple, Take out the battery. Keep the battery with the FAST key trasmitter that way it doesnt transmit the with the car.

 

Yeah I thought of that but I haven't checked to see if batt replacement require tools. Also didn't know if you leave the battery out for an extended period if that would cause it to lose memory or something.

Would probably make sense to keep the fob and loose battery in the car and the metal emergency key hidden outside.

 

A lot of companies who have large fleets dont give out the expensive keys to their employees. They actually take the interior covers off the column and fasten the key to the column so the transmitter is always in place. Could be risky if you think your car might get stole, but that is just as good if not better than leaving it in the glovebox or something. Atleast no one would find it.

 

how about you take the key out of the key fob, taht way the key fob isn't near the car.

edit..does the key fob need to be there? i'll have to try that out tomorro.

 

why would you loose your keys. you dont need to take them out of your pocket

 

anything could happen...i lost my keys on a roller coaster one time. Hulk at Islands of Adventure, Orlando.

 

You can just use the key without the fob. The plastic thing on the ignition comes off and you can just use the key like on a normal car. Hope this helps.

 

No, you can't; the car will not start. The key will open the door and turn in the ignition but the car will not start. The FAST key needs to be present for the car to start.

 

Yeah, I don't really get that. One of the reasons given in the owners manual for using the emergency key is in case your FAST battery dies. So if it's really dead, the emergency key won't run the car? What good is that?

-- Bill

 

the key fob has the chip built in so that you can start the car. used with the metal key and you can start the car, hope this helps

 

What JoeyM3 said above is correct.

The FAST key has a battery in it to unlock the doors, open the trunk, and allows you to start the car with the key in your pocket. If that battery dies, there's also the chip inside the fob that doesn't require battery power. Like almost every newer car on the road now, as long as that chip is next to the ignition with the key, the vehicle will sense the chip and allow the key to start the engine.

 

Gotcha. The fob chip is an rfid so doesn't require the battery. And I understand I don't really need to back the metal key into the fob. Just having the fob close enough to see the chip is good enough. All makes sense now, thanx.

 

hopefully someone can help me! from reading above im under the impression that the emergency key should still work even if the batteries are dead in the keyless remote? however when i go to use my emergency key, the ignition turns on but the car wont start. can anyone help me with this issue? has any one experienced this and what did you do?

thanks!

 

From what I've seen with my key the transmitter and emerg. key are totally separate items they can be used together ( emerg. key in the transmitter ) or separate. now with your issue above it might be something else besides the key. You shouldn't have any problems driving the car with just the emerg. key. good luck.