locked out
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
locked out
My wife drove our 09 to work then when she went to go out to lunch she opened the back and set her bag inside with the fob in it then closed the back and could not get in the car. The fob is always in the bag and it works why would it not work when its in the back of the car? I have only had this car for about 3 months and I replaced the battery since then. She got a ride home and got in the car with the extra fob.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 258
From: Tampa FL
My wife drove our 09 to work then when she went to go out to lunch she opened the back and set her bag inside with the fob in it then closed the back and could not get in the car. The fob is always in the bag and it works why would it not work when its in the back of the car? I have only had this car for about 3 months and I replaced the battery since then. She got a ride home and got in the car with the extra fob.
Key made on B106
Luck
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,974
Likes: 148
From: Magnolia Texas
Has to do with the position of the FOB in relation to the antennas used for communication with the ECM. Unfortunately the hatch area is a dead spot and you are hardly the first to experience it. Extra key is one solution, OnStar another. Best is to never let the FOB out of your possession! I'll let you handle the last one with your significant other 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 12
From: "No matter where you go... there you are"...."You cannot drive a dollar bill". ...and remember... "D
Has to do with the position of the FOB in relation to the antennas used for communication with the ECM. Unfortunately the hatch area is a dead spot and you are hardly the first to experience it. Extra key is one solution, OnStar another. Best is to never let the FOB out of your possession! I'll let you handle the last one with your significant other
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 785
From: Las Vegas NV
My wife drove our 09 to work then when she went to go out to lunch she opened the back and set her bag inside with the fob in it then closed the back and could not get in the car. The fob is always in the bag and it works why would it not work when its in the back of the car? I have only had this car for about 3 months and I replaced the battery since then. She got a ride home and got in the car with the extra fob.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Been there - done that.
Read about it in 3 or 4 different threads here several years ago. Still accidentally dropped my fob in the rear hatch area and didn't know it until after I had closed the rear hatch. Had to get my wife who was 15 miles away to bring me her fob.
Read about it in 3 or 4 different threads here several years ago. Still accidentally dropped my fob in the rear hatch area and didn't know it until after I had closed the rear hatch. Had to get my wife who was 15 miles away to bring me her fob.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 411
From: Mt. Sinai NY
if the fob is in the trunk then why couldn't she open it with the button under the trunk lip. it is certainly within range . then she could use the door release. or am I missing something. Or she didn't know about it.
Clif
Clif
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,608
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From: Long Beach California
You would think that would work, but it doesn't. Been there, tried that.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
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Then with the fob in the back and close enough to the rear fob sensor for the car to see it, all she need to do is reach up above the license plate to push the rubber hatch/trunk release button to open it.
The hatch/fob release button is big black round rubber thing to the right of the key latch,
Short of this, then you should have had a spare key taped to one of the rear wire harnesses under the car that all she has to do it get to it, untape and use the key to unlock the hatch/truchk isntead. Also, a good idea is to put an extra programmed fob with a dead battery (or the battery removed) tucked away behind the carpet in the car some place as well. This way if she loses the Fob while shopping, then the taped spare key gets here into the trunk/hatch to pop it, she grabs the door release cable to open the drivers door in the back, and with the fob in hand to put it into the glove box slot, she can start the car a well.
Short of this, then she is left sitting until someone brings her a spare key and fob isntead.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 4,362
From: Chirper Island
Every car has a foot print that will sense the fob when exiting, which is done via the glove box antenna. The antennas that sense the door unlock are VERY directional One inch inside the door is usually enough so that the sensors do not "see" them. The hatch area is usually a dead zone for both types of sensing. It pays to do some experimenting with your car to find out exactly where it will and will not sense the fob.
Separating the fob from the key ( carry or stash an extra key) is usually the best way to ensure that you don't lock the fob in the car.
Your wife should not feel bad, most of us have done this at sometime or another--I did this about ten years ago when I set my purse in the trunk and shut it.
Fortunately, the top was down, and all it cost me was a moment of panic and a few strange looks when I set the alarm off when opening the trunk. Whew!
Separating the fob from the key ( carry or stash an extra key) is usually the best way to ensure that you don't lock the fob in the car.
Your wife should not feel bad, most of us have done this at sometime or another--I did this about ten years ago when I set my purse in the trunk and shut it.
Fortunately, the top was down, and all it cost me was a moment of panic and a few strange looks when I set the alarm off when opening the trunk. Whew!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
Because the antenna for using that button is directional and only covers the few inches around the button.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 462
From: Southern Utah
The car is designed to have a dead spot for fobs in the trunk, otherwise you could never carry an extra one in a bag when on a trip and still lock the car. This is by design, not a malfunction.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 12,687
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From: Nazareth, PA.
St. Jude Donor '17
I keep my onstar card on me because I locked myself out once already. Will never happen again as long as I keep my onstar subscription.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,436
Likes: 875
From: Bay Area CA
Then with the fob in the back and close enough to the rear fob sensor for the car to see it, all she need to do is reach up above the license plate to push the rubber hatch/trunk release button to open it.
The hatch/fob release button is big black round rubber thing to the right of the key latch,
Short of this, then you should have had a spare key taped to one of the rear wire harnesses under the car that all she has to do it get to it, untape and use the key to unlock the hatch/truchk isntead. Also, a good idea is to put an extra programmed fob with a dead battery (or the battery removed) tucked away behind the carpet in the car some place as well. This way if she loses the Fob while shopping, then the taped spare key gets here into the trunk/hatch to pop it, she grabs the door release cable to open the drivers door in the back, and with the fob in hand to put it into the glove box slot, she can start the car a well.
Short of this, then she is left sitting until someone brings her a spare key and fob isntead.
The hatch/fob release button is big black round rubber thing to the right of the key latch,
Short of this, then you should have had a spare key taped to one of the rear wire harnesses under the car that all she has to do it get to it, untape and use the key to unlock the hatch/truchk isntead. Also, a good idea is to put an extra programmed fob with a dead battery (or the battery removed) tucked away behind the carpet in the car some place as well. This way if she loses the Fob while shopping, then the taped spare key gets here into the trunk/hatch to pop it, she grabs the door release cable to open the drivers door in the back, and with the fob in hand to put it into the glove box slot, she can start the car a well.
Short of this, then she is left sitting until someone brings her a spare key and fob isntead.
Many times I have walked up to the hatch about a foot away, fob in pocket and opened the hatch using the rear button. Did she try to use the button?
Last edited by Mike's LS3; Nov 5, 2015 at 10:00 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Las Vegas NV