New to Forum and C6, and haven't found this addressed in Forum.

Yesterday, I drove with my wife to local shopping center. Stopped, got out, and my wife drove to shopping center several miles away. About 5 minutes later, I discovered that I had the Fob in my pocket. I called my wife , who returned and I gave the Fob to her.

What would have happened if she had turned the car off? Would she be able to start the car?

I presume that if she got out, the car would lock and she wouldn't get in without a Fob.

I'm not real comfortable with this Fob system, So I don't put the Fob in the car for fear of forgetting and walking off. And, the 2nd Fob is stored at home. Prob should have a dupe key made and hid on the car, but that wouldn't allow starting.

This is likely a simple situation for long time owners, but any and all suggestions would be appreciated.

 

If she got out and turned the car off she would not have been able to restart it without the FOB. The doors do not automatically lock unless you have them set to do so.
As for suggestions treat the FOB like you would a normal set of car keys.

 

IIRC-
If you try to shut down the engine with no fob in the car, a DIC message will come up something like "No fob detected- off or run?"

At that point, you need to hit the Off button again to fully shut down the car, not sure if the engine will still be running or not. But the car warns you so you don't get stranded.

It's been a long time since I had that happen (fob was in my pocket but weak battery), some of the experts here can clean up any details I got wrong.

 

If that is in fact true our cars can easily be stolen. Doesn't make sense. Mine will not start.

 

Both our 2006 and now our 2009 would/will only start if the fob is in the car, but if you shut down with no fob then it gives you the warning and a second chance to avoid being stranded.

You can test it by driving home normally and not shutting down. Take all fobs out of the car and put them someplace well inside the house. Then push the Off position on the start/stop button. I think you'll get the warning I described, and a second chance.

 

Curiosity's got the best of me now. I know it won't start when I think I've got the fob only to remember it's stiill in the house. I'll have to try that if we ever get weather good enough to get the cover off and out of the garage.

 

When you shut it down without a fob in the car, it will give you a message and a chance to restart the car, which times out in about 5 min. or so. Don't exit the car from the driver's side, or you are screwed. Someone can exit the pax side, and it will not affect the time-out. If at any time you hit the bottom of the button, it will shut the car down and not allow any restart w/o a fob present.


lisa

 

If you try and shut down the car with no fob in the car (or the fob is not detected) You will receive the message

NO FOB - OFF OR RUN?


The above from the 2013 manual (same as the 2006 manual).

This gives you the opportunity to NOT shut off the engine. If the engine shuts down you will NOT be able to restart without a fob.

 

That makes sense. I couldn't imagine shutting the engine down and starting without a fob.

 

I think I am correct in that it would not let her open the door from the inside either.

Seems like this happened to my wife one day when I went in the house and she was still in the car on her phone and she actually called me to come let her out. At the time she did not know about the emergency door release

 

First, welcome to the "club".

As mentioned she would have gotten a warning BEFORE the engine stopped and she would have had to confirm that she really wanted the engine to stop with no FOB present.

If she continued and did stop the engine, AND exited through the driver's door, AND closed the driver's door, AND waited about 10 seconds without trying to reopen the door, AND you have autolock set, the car would have locked.

Get comfortable with the FOB. It is far more foolproof than keys if you keep it in your pants. The situation you describe is one of the few where a key would have been better simply because you would have both been required to fumble with keys multiple times rather than have the car just "know" the person who has the FOB in their pocket or purse.

Best suspender and belt solution is to purchase a third FOB (or just the second FOB if you and your wife don't really need 2) and hide it deep INSIDE the car with no battery inside. As long as you don't store it near the center right of the dash you should not need to wrap it in aluminum foil although that would be a rope in addition to the belt and suspenders. Now go to a locksmith and get 2 duplicate keys made that do not have the big top plastic piece (<$3 each). Keep one in your wallet and your wife can keep one in the bottom of her purse. As long as you have your wallet you can unlock the car, dig out a FOB, put it in the slot and go anywhere you want. No batteries required and almost no chance someone will find a hidden key or be able to start the car after breaking a window. This solves almost every issue people have with the FOBs. If you have your wallet, you have your car.

 

Some things we learn the hard way. The first day (night) I had a C6 I left the key fob in the house and I don't know what happened but I got locked in the car in the dark garage. I was so new to the C6 I did not know about the manual releases on the floor. I had to resort to honking the horn until my wife finally came out to rescue me. She though I was still trying to figure out how to shut off the annoying horn beep and it took her forever to finally come out to see what was going on... and bring the fob to the car. It has never happened to me again.

With regard to a missing FOB in the car, we had a Dodge rent car and my wife was amused when I got out to check the mail with the rental fob in my pocket and the display chimed and told her "The key fob has left the car."

 

Thanks to all. I'm going to check mine out today, and will respond back.

 

I too have locked my wife in the car ..... I won't go into how that ended for me.

 

I just checked it out.

Parked the car and left the engine running, got out with the fob and placed the fob on a table ~30 feet away.

Got back in the car and closed the door (engine still running), the DIC immediately said "No fob detected" as soon as I closed the door. That message disappeared after a few seconds.

I locked the door and hit memory button 1 to get everything in my normal driving position, it all worked normally.

Then I pressed the Off (bottom) button; the engine immediately stopped, the warning chime started dinging, and the DIC said "No fob detected- off or run?" From the last time I tried this, I remember the engine would restart if I hit the Start button like owc6 said in post #7. I have never tried to see what would happen if I opened the door or waited the five minutes, thanks for that info Lisa.

This time, I hit the Stop button a second time. The chime/ & message disappeared, and everything shut down like normal.

 

1RB,

Not everyone will agree with me on this but after having a battery die in my fob, 50 miles away from home , on Thangsgiving eve, I implemented the following;

#1. I had an extra key cut at home depot, checked the fit, no problems.

#2. Securely duct taped the key to the back of the rear license plate, used the Gorilla brand tape.

#3. Ordered a new fob, from a local hdwe store, for $75. Programmed that as the 3rd remote.

#4. Took the battery out of the 3rd remote and put in one of the rear cubbies.

#5. Hid the battery less 3rd remote inside the car,it won't be seen by the hud since it has no battery.

#6. In case of problem, get the key from behind the license plate.

#7. Open the hatch with the key in the lock above the license plate.

#8. Pull the steel cable that opens the door, just for this exact purpose.

#9. After opening the door, retrieve the hidden fob, (less battery).

#10. Insert the fob into the fob receptacle in the glove box.

#11. The car will start now.

Its not the solution for everybody but it has worked for me several times, in the worst of places to be locked out of your car, (like when you are buying crack).

Total cost was $75 for the admittedly after mkt fob, which looks and performs identically vs the $275 GM fob from the dealer.

I hope this helps, and in a pinch you have a spare, spare fob.

 

Where did you get the FOB, not a bad idea at all

 

Amazon currently has 3 used fobs (old C6 style) in stock. From $70.


lisa

 

Lisa,

Could you provide the link ?

Steve

 

Sure!





lisa