DerrickM

So tonight the weirdest thing happened--I parked downtown (to have dinner with my son) and the car wouldn't lock. The key fob didn't work at all. Couldn't lock the doors either with the button on the door handle, or the button on the remote. (Remote has new battery and lights worked when I press buttons). Got back in the car and tried to start it; dash said key not detected.

So, I lock it from the inside and go have dinner. Come back an hour later and had to use the physical key to get inside, and hold the key next to the start button for the car to work.

But, when I get home everything works normally!

My theory is that something was interfering with the radio signals. Has anybody seen anything like that? I don't know if it was somebody jamming the signals deliberately, or something environmental; but it's the only cause I can think of.

jmcraney

Your experience was very likely due to Radio Frequency Interference. Your owner’s manual cautions that this can happen. Great job of dealing with problem. Thanks for sharing.

swfla

iTrader: (1)

Here in San Diego, we had a situation where garage openers were activated. It was due to the Naval base nearby having a new system activated.

DerrickM

Wonder what could have caused it. Nothing in the area other than restaurants and banks.

I was so glad for the backup physical key and RFID to start the car.

jmcraney

Defective sodium vapor lighting and neon lighting can cause problems. Lots of other possibilities too.

Anfanger

Sometimes, signal jamming is used for car hijacking. I heard, it is common in Russia.

Vtallysx4

This happened to me in a parking lot once. As I was walking from the car I realized it wasn't locking the door remotely (not responding at all), walked over and locked it manually at the door and it locked. It was a fairly full lot. As I began walking away I noticed that it was still not responding remotely and there was someone hanging out in their car down one of the other aisles. I went back and moved my car to another lot in the complex. Never happened again in that lot or anywhere else. Could have been just someone sitting in their car and relaxing, I've done that, but with the fob not responding I'd prefer not to take any chances. They can jam the signal and then go digging through your glovebox when the doors don't lock remotely.

Luke11

missclick not here