What you probably didn't know.
12-18-07, 05:02 PM
#1
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
What you probably didn't know.
I was away on vacation and didn't run my ES350 for almost 5 weeks, so I was concerned about the battery life. I should have mentioned that the car was left outside, and the temperature was about 25° Fahrenheit.
I approached the car, with the electronic key in my pocket. The puddle lamps did not light up, and when I tried opening the door with the handle.....nothing happened! At this point I thought the car battery was dead. It wasn't! When I pressed the unlock button on the electronic key, and voila, the car unlocked, the puddle lamps illuminated, and I noticed that I left the map light on, because it lit up also. I than started the engine. It immediately started, with no engine noises whatsoever! I looked at the eye in the battery which indicated that it was fully charged!
My point is this: The car's circuitry goes into a sleep mode after long periods of time to help prevent a dead battery condition. Great.......it even turned off the map light. Now, that's what I call great engineering!
I approached the car, with the electronic key in my pocket. The puddle lamps did not light up, and when I tried opening the door with the handle.....nothing happened! At this point I thought the car battery was dead. It wasn't! When I pressed the unlock button on the electronic key, and voila, the car unlocked, the puddle lamps illuminated, and I noticed that I left the map light on, because it lit up also. I than started the engine. It immediately started, with no engine noises whatsoever! I looked at the eye in the battery which indicated that it was fully charged!
My point is this: The car's circuitry goes into a sleep mode after long periods of time to help prevent a dead battery condition. Great.......it even turned off the map light. Now, that's what I call great engineering!
12-18-07, 06:28 PM
#3
I was away on vacation and didn't run my ES350 for almost 5 weeks, so I was concerned about the battery life. I should have mentioned that the car was left outside, and the temperature was about 25° Fahrenheit.
I approached the car, with the electronic key in my pocket. The puddle lamps did not light up, and when I tried opening the door with the handle.....nothing happened! At this point I thought the car battery was dead. It wasn't! When I pressed the unlock button on the electronic key, and voila, the car unlocked, the puddle lamps illuminated, and I noticed that I left the map light on, because it lit up also. I than started the engine. It immediately started, with no engine noises whatsoever! I looked at the eye in the battery which indicated that it was fully charged!
My point is this: The car's circuitry goes into a sleep mode after long periods of time to help prevent a dead battery condition. Great.......it even turned off the map light. Now, that's what I call great engineering!
I approached the car, with the electronic key in my pocket. The puddle lamps did not light up, and when I tried opening the door with the handle.....nothing happened! At this point I thought the car battery was dead. It wasn't! When I pressed the unlock button on the electronic key, and voila, the car unlocked, the puddle lamps illuminated, and I noticed that I left the map light on, because it lit up also. I than started the engine. It immediately started, with no engine noises whatsoever! I looked at the eye in the battery which indicated that it was fully charged!
My point is this: The car's circuitry goes into a sleep mode after long periods of time to help prevent a dead battery condition. Great.......it even turned off the map light. Now, that's what I call great engineering!
Was wondering where you have been. Welcome back, hope you had a great vacation!
12-18-07, 07:37 PM
#4
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
I went to Arizona, then to Palm Springs, and then to Santa Monica....using my portable GPS(Garmin Nuvi 350), in my rented Camry SE. I have to say, it worked as well as the NAV in the 350, and possibly better, since it announced not only the turns, but the names of the streets also. 
I also went to the Phoenix International Auto Show and spent alot of time at the Lexus exhibit. I was pretty impressed with the new IS-f. Wow....The engine develops over 400HP.
Here are some pictures I took:
I also went to the Phoenix International Auto Show and spent alot of time at the Lexus exhibit. I was pretty impressed with the new IS-f. Wow....The engine develops over 400HP.
Here are some pictures I took:
12-18-07, 07:48 PM
#5
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
I don't know of any other cars, besides Lexus's that uses this type of system. In fact I think that this started with the 2007 model Lexus's, because my '03 ES300 didn't have this feature. Any ideas.....I'm curious.
12-19-07, 04:57 AM
#6
What's an SKS transmitter, and how does it control the hibernation of the electrical system?
I don't know of any other cars, besides Lexus's that uses this type of system. In fact I think that this started with the 2007 model Lexus's, because my '03 ES300 didn't have this feature. Any ideas.....I'm curious.
I don't know of any other cars, besides Lexus's that uses this type of system. In fact I think that this started with the 2007 model Lexus's, because my '03 ES300 didn't have this feature. Any ideas.....I'm curious.
The true test would be to leave the car unlocked for several weeks and see what works once you open the door. I would guess the car comes back to life once the door is opened.
Just my educated guess?
12-22-07, 06:46 AM
#7
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12-22-07, 06:46 PM
#9
What's an SKS transmitter, and how does it control the hibernation of the electrical system?
I don't know of any other cars, besides Lexus's that uses this type of system. In fact I think that this started with the 2007 model Lexus's, because my '03 ES300 didn't have this feature. Any ideas.....I'm curious.
I don't know of any other cars, besides Lexus's that uses this type of system. In fact I think that this started with the 2007 model Lexus's, because my '03 ES300 didn't have this feature. Any ideas.....I'm curious.
It's in the manual. The transmitters are looking for the remote fob (hence the warning Toyota/Lexus gives about leaving the fob too close to the car. It'll drain the battery cause the car and the fob are in constant communication if they're too close).
If the transmitter doesn't make contact with a remote fob for some time (I believe it's 1 or 2 weeks), then it'll automatically stop searching to save your car's 12V battery.
My Prius has a Smart Key
. We had it at the same time it was launched in the 2004 LS430.Other Toyota cars that have it include the Avalon Limited (US only), Camry XLE, Camry Hybrid, 2008 Highlander Hybrid (both models), 2008 Highlander Limited, 2009 Sequoia Limited, 2009 Corolla XLE.
12-22-07, 08:24 PM
#10
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
SKS = Smart Key System for Toyota or what you Lexus folks call SmartAccess.
It's in the manual. The transmitters are looking for the remote fob (hence the warning Toyota/Lexus gives about leaving the fob too close to the car. It'll drain the battery cause the car and the fob are in constant communication if they're too close).
If the transmitter doesn't make contact with a remote fob for some time (I believe it's 1 or 2 weeks), then it'll automatically stop searching to save your car's 12V battery.
My Prius has a Smart Key. We had it at the same time it was launched in the 2004 LS430.
Other Toyota cars that have it include the Avalon Limited (US only), Camry XLE, Camry Hybrid, 2008 Highlander Hybrid (both models), 2008 Highlander Limited, 2009 Sequoia Limited, 2009 Corolla XLE.
It's in the manual. The transmitters are looking for the remote fob (hence the warning Toyota/Lexus gives about leaving the fob too close to the car. It'll drain the battery cause the car and the fob are in constant communication if they're too close).
If the transmitter doesn't make contact with a remote fob for some time (I believe it's 1 or 2 weeks), then it'll automatically stop searching to save your car's 12V battery.
My Prius has a Smart Key
. We had it at the same time it was launched in the 2004 LS430.Other Toyota cars that have it include the Avalon Limited (US only), Camry XLE, Camry Hybrid, 2008 Highlander Hybrid (both models), 2008 Highlander Limited, 2009 Sequoia Limited, 2009 Corolla XLE.
12-29-07, 03:42 PM
#13
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