My Kodiaq just allowed me to start the car, and drive all the way to the supermarket, without having the key in my pocket. I know this because I’ve just had to walk back from the supermarket to fetch the key after it refused to start to come home again.

 

The key had definitely been in the house for over an hour, and nowhere near the car, yet when I jumped in it, it allowed the car to start without complaint. Hence I assumed the key was in my pocket. When I got to the supermarket, it refused to lock. It would still let me start the car, so I thought the key must have fallen out of my pocket and wedged between the seat. I spent 10 minutes looking for the key, and eventually decided it wasn’t in the car, so tried to drive home again. At this point, the car then decided that it shouldn’t start without a key being present.

 

Not fun when it’s 3C out and raining.

 

So be warned, the logic to the keyless ignition is not foolproof.

1 hour ago, MrTrilby said:

My Kodiaq just allowed me to start the car, and drive all the way to the supermarket, without having the key in my pocket. I know this because I’ve just had to walk back from the supermarket to fetch the key after it refused to start to come home again.

 

The key had definitely been in the house for over an hour, and nowhere near the car, yet when I jumped in it, it allowed the car to start without complaint. Hence I assumed the key was in my pocket. When I got to the supermarket, it refused to lock. It would still let me start the car, so I thought the key must have fallen out of my pocket and wedged between the seat. I spent 10 minutes looking for the key, and eventually decided it wasn’t in the car, so tried to drive home again. At this point, the car then decided that it shouldn’t start without a key being present.

 

Not fun when it’s 3C out and raining.

 

So be warned, the logic to the keyless ignition is not foolproof.

Did you not get an alert on the dash saying key not present in the car?

Mine shouted at me the other day and I was just away slightly from the car

That is strange. 

 

On my Superb (and Kodiaq’s i’ve coded) any more than a couple of feet away from the car and it will refuse to turn the ignition on. 

 

Once started if you again move away from the car a couple of feet the key not present warning is shown on the maxidot. 

7 hours ago, milkymarsh said:

Did you not get an alert on the dash saying key not present in the car?

Mine shouted at me the other day and I was just away slightly from the car

 

I only got the “key not detected” alert when I tried to drive home from the supermarket. Normally I get that every time if the key is even slightly outside the car. 

 

It it means I can no longer rely on “if the car started, the key must be in my pocket” :(

That is indeed a strange one.

 

My Kodiaq won't even lock / unlock unless the key is very close to the car, as in being stood next to it.

 

I unlocked the house and left the house key in the door, the car key being on the same keyring, I then wasn't able to lock the car by touching the door handle until I took the key right back to the drivers door.

 

To be able to start the engine, with the key in the house is worrying.

 

Edited 10 January, 20197 yr by silver1011

I laughed but it was probably not funny for you at the time!

 

I've had no issues, I regularly forget to bring the keys to the car (Or more frequently, leave them in a coat pocket in the boot) and the car always refuses to start. So if it did something's clearly not right with yours, I'd try some experiments and take it in if it does it again.

 

My doors won’t open for SWMBO if she’s a few paces in front of me an reaches the car first, much to her annoyance

Also on a few occasions I’ve got out of the car to let son have a shot of driving and the key not present message and buzzer go off. As suggested looks like yours has a problem.

50 minutes ago, Dr_Pepper said:

 (Or more frequently, leave them in a coat pocket in the boot) and the car always refuses to start. 

 

I don't even get as far as trying to start the car! With the electric tailgate, if you leave the key in the boot the tailgate reuses to fully close. Confused me for a minute the first time it happened, but I'm glad it works that way!

Edited 10 January, 20197 yr by gojoholo

44 minutes ago, Kenny R said:

My doors won’t open for SWMBO if she’s a few paces in front of me an reaches the car first, much to her annoyance

 

Lucky you - obviously yours has a new factory option normally reserved for the Middle East market.  

Where was the spare key, hopefully in a faraday pouch in your house

 

If the spare key was nearer your front door and it picked that up, you need to improve your key security

 

But shouldn't be able to start it if key was in the house, something is wrong here

 

 

My car clearly has a fault. I’ve just got home from work. Took my key into the house. Left the car for about 30 minutes, then popped back out to it making sure I left the key inside the house. The car started without complaint. 

 

Fortunately once it’s locked it stays locked and can’t be unlocked whilst the key is in the house, but I’ll need to get it fixed as there are lots of times when I need to be able to leave the car unlocked but secure against being driven. 

Is there any chance the second key is somewhere in the car?  I know the car won't unlock if the key is inside as I've had that happen (second key left in car and locked with first key, car would not unlock unless first key was used even though could see the second key through window)

On 10/01/2019 at 20:52, WaterMelonMan said:

Is there any chance the second key is somewhere in the car?  I know the car won't unlock if the key is inside as I've had that happen (second key left in car and locked with first key, car would not unlock unless first key was used even though could see the second key through window)

 

So as always, the simplest answer is usually the right one. Blame the user. It turns out there was a coat lurking in the boot, with the spare key tucked in an obscure pocket. 

34 minutes ago, MrTrilby said:

 

So as always, the simplest answer is usually the right one. Blame the user. It turns out there was a coat lurking in the boot, with the spare key tucked in an obscure pocket. 

 

So with a key present why didn't it start at the supermarket then?

 

Presumably it had shifted to a part of the boot where it couldn’t see it. 

I guess it is good advice to go back to basics and if you decide to drive the car , make sure you take (or check that)  the car key is with you ( this tends to avoid the issues which may or not be caused by modern technology )