Frodo

Did you know you can turn the Infotainment system on, while the vehicle is off, with or without having a fob present? I just learned this by accident while working on my Info screen. I enjoy listening to music while detailing the inside or waiting on Wifey to do her shopping. Most of you know the car is equipped with Retained Accessory Power (RAP), meaning Accessory power stays on for up to 10 minutes after shutdown, allowing the Infotainment system to work as well as power windows. You can listen to your music in this mode but this power goes away when you open the door, or after ten minutes. Not good for long time listening enjoyment or while detailing the interior. Many of you know you can press Start Stop button momentarily, with the vehicle off, without the brake applied, to turn on Accessory mode, fob must be present. This power will last only 5 minutes and if the door is open the chime will run continuously. So annoying. Many of you know you can press and hold the Start Stop button,with the vehicle off, and the brake pedal not applied, fob present, for more than five seconds and it will place the vehicle in Service Only Mode. All power is applied but again, with the door open the chime will sound continuously. Now for the fun part, you can press the Power/Volume button beside the Infotainment system, vehicle off, no fob present, and the Infotainment system will power up. No chimes if the door is open, no time out. Remember to turn it off when done, though, it will run even after you close up the car and walk away. Finally, what I wanted. I've searched the Owner's Manual and Infotainment Manual and didn't find this specifically mentioned.

bjones7131

I assume U press the power/volume button again to turn it off? Good tip, thanks

Frodo

Yeppers.. that's it.

felkebg

I will use this..... in fact I think I detected a particle of dust on the dash when I arrived home last night..... CYA

Flame Red

Great tip! I had no idea

joemessman

Thanks for sharing. That's what I love about this forum. Where would we be without being able to communicate with each other?

dfettero

That's an easy question. Answer: Congress

Larry/car

Thanks, that info came out of the woodwork, I never even thought about being able to override the ign. accessory selection.

Tulsaeasyrider

This is excellent! Especially great to circumvent the "open Door" chime. Thanks for the info!

TyBoo

That is cool! Thanks!

I just tried it and it seems to work the same with the fob present, which is the more likely case for me since the car is always locked.

I wonder if that was by design or a fluke? As soon as I saw the thread title I was reminded of my mom's 1965 Galaxy 500. If the brake pedal was pushed, the four way flashers on, and a turn signal on, the radio and wipers would work. If the brakes lights and flashers were on but no turn signal, the radio would go on and off with the flashers. A couple times I ran my moms battery down doing that - just because I could.

Thanks again. Go out to the garage and find another Easter egg for us. It's that time of year.

DBLXX

This is great to know. Thank you.

Frodo

Yeah, I should have mentioned it would work either way. I guess I was blown away by the fact that SOMETHING would work without the fob. I don't lock my car at home in my garage, nor have the auto lock selected, so I sometimes go to the car without my fob to clean or tinker with it. I'm glad this little tidbit will help my Corvette buddies.

MikeyTX

Hope my kid never finds out.

probono

Just went to the garage to try this, and yes indeed, without the fob, and with door open, you can power up the info screen without the chimes. However, radio does not play.

Are you saying you can power up the screen without the fob and get the radio playing?

Ken

rcooper

Frodo, thanks for sharing this bit on information. I had no idea! Will certainly take advantage of this new knowledge.

Rebel Yell

Dang, whoed a thunk it....................Thanks for the tip.

Frodo

Yes, the radio will play. Remember, if you are in a garage you might not get Sirius radio or maybe even FM. I was listening to mp3s on my SD chip. Played for over an hour.
Update... tried it on Wifey's Nissan, works there too. Who'd a thunk.

themonk

good read thanks for the info but what would you be doing in the car without the fob present or, for that matter, how would you even gain access unless you unlocked from a distance. I don't think there would ever be an instance where I was in my car without my key fob with me. And then there's the issue of the intrusion alarm.

Frodo

Actually, when I discovered this I did have my fob with me. I was tearing into my dash to discover for myself why the Info screen wouldn't work. I spent my career troubleshooting and repairing all kinds of equipment in the business machine industry and became very good at diagnostics. I always want to know WHY. I had tried the accessory mode but had door chimes going off, hated that, so I quit using it. However, I accidentally pressed the power on button beside the Info screen and the radio came on, playing the mp3 files as I had last used that source. And I noticed I didn't hear the door chime. After investigation I learned the fob wasn't necessary. I wasn't suggesting you leave the fob behind, rather making note you didn't have to have it. And you didn't have to hear the door chime.

My car is never locked at home, its secure in my garage. I don't have to have my fob to go detail the interior, or the exterior for that matter, unless I want to wash it. I don't carry my fob unless I plan to drive the car into or out of the garage.

Is your car always locked at home?

MikeyTX

My car is always locked. Even at home. I like the passive lock/unlock feature. Keeps my right hand free.