2007 Keyless entry and start
 

Yesterday I was at work and lunch time came around and I wanted to go out for lunch. So I go out to the parking lot, unlock my car and try to start it...

Now, the 2007 MT models come with the new fancy, no key entry and start option. As long as you have the keycard in your pocket the car will unlock and start.....theoretically....

The immobiliser needs to sense the right keycard before it will deactivate and you can start the car by just turning the little knub where the key would usually go. This is all very nice and high tech until you run into the problem that I had during my lunch break.
Apparantly, for the first time since I purchased my car (1 week ago), I put the keycard and my cellphone in the same pocket. I didn't think anything of it until it came time to go and start my car. The keycard has two mechanisms, one for locking and unlocking the car and the other for actually starting it. The lock and unlock function worked fine, but when I got in and tried to start it...NOTHING. Immobiliser still had my car on lock down. Tried a few times and even tried it with the emergency key that is built into the card. Still nothing.

Somehow my cellphone had scrambled the information on the keycard and the car couldn't recognize the key. So I had to get off work early, take the bus all the way home, get my spare key card, get a friend to drive me back to work and start the car with the spare keycard. Today I had the key reprogrammed by the dealer.


So just some advice to anyone who has the new keyless option. Don't put your cellphone and keycard in the same pocket!!!!

Out of curiosity, what kind of cell phone do you have?

It's a Motorola A1200 (a.k.a. Ming)

That sucks. Anything noted in the manual about this being a possibility?

Apparantly not....I went through the manual when I first got the car, to read up on the features, specifically about the radio and the keyless option. Nowhere does it say that this could happen. Although it may have been a one time random occurance, anybody want to test the theory out? :rolleyes:

I was just reading this in the manual yesterday and if, I remember correctly, the manual states that (I believe it was in section 3 of the 2006 manual - the first 15 pages or so) the advance key may not work in the proximity of a cell phone. However, this should not "permanently" erase the advance key. You may want to read this section of the manual for more details.

Yea I saw that section and when I read it I assumed it would act like any other radio device (will get occasional interference from other radio signal devices). I have always had my cellphone in one pocket and the keys in the other and haven't had any problems with starting the car. Then yesterday it wouldn't start. I knew it was because of the cellphone and I tried a bunch of different things: taking the keys out and putting them on the passenger seat, putting them in the rear seat, going in with only my keys and no cellphone or pda....nothing... wouldn't let the car start. Then I tried again this morning before going into the dealer, went outside with just my key and tried to start it, still wouldn't start, but the spare key worked fine, even with the cellphone in the car.

So occasional interference is perfectly fine with me, but if it wipes my key, then that's not cool at all.

that is weird, I dont have that particular problem but my keycard seem to interfer with my bluetooth on my cell phone. Normally I have my bluetooth headset on, and if I accidently put my cell phone in the same pocket as my key I loses connection to my BT headset.. weird

dude, there's a regular key inside the key fob. it's in the top left corner. pull it out and start your car. drive it directly to mazda, and get your card reprogrammed..

edit: just read that you went to get your spare. HAHAHAH. ALWAYS read your manual before you leave the garage . You didn't think, "mazda must have thought of this scenerio" ? HAHAHAHHA.
incidentally, i think this is the best keyless entry system on the market. i really love the button on the door handle. so handy.

I also put in my original post that I tried to use the key that was built into the keycard. However, that key is what has the chip in it. Like I mentioned in my original post, there are two electronic aspects of the keycard, the first one is battery powered and it controls the locks, trunk and panic functions. The second is NOT battery powered and it is located in the head of the "emergency key" on the keycard. That is what failed in my case, it is NOT dependant on power but rather radio frequencies (kind of like a proximity sensor in buildings that you have to swipe a fob on to open doors). The cellphone somehow erased the codes stored on that chip. This is why I had to go home and get the spare keycard because even the emergency key would not work.


And yes, the dealer also tried to tell me that I messed up and didnt' try the emergency key, however, I explained to them as I am explaining to you how the advance key works.


You're also probably wondering: "Then why the hell is that emergency key on the advanced key if it doesn't work in helping out in a situation like this"

Well the answer to that is simple, the emergency key is there so that if the batteries were to run out on the advanced key you could still unlock your car and start it. It is useless if the immobiliser chip has been erased of its information.

can some one in theory trace the radio frequency and then use it to open the door locks and such? I know I watch too much Gone in 60 seconds....

ah, okay. i failed to follow the principle of charity. i shouldn't have thought you were just a moron. and i should have read all of your post. my apologies.

so, hmm, i'm really not clear on how a cell phone could do that. i carry my samsung phone with bluetooth next to my fob all the time. i just checked my key, and it still works. I also use my radio quite a bit. are the frequencies at all the same? wouldn't that matter? i mean, i guess i could see how it could interfere, but erase it? i dunno.

I have had that happen when my cell is in the same pocket as my key card I cant unlock the doors or start the car. I just take out my cell and it just works...

I really think my situation was a freak of technology accident. you guys are right, it shouldn't have wiped my immobiliser chip.


hopefully with the new reprogramming everything should be ok. I tried it again just now, with my cellphone and key in the same pocket and the car started without a problem.

But this was a weird occurance and though I would share! :)


EDIT:

btw myriadshalaks, no harm done in you thinking I was a moron. with many of the new members asking dumb questions and reposting the same thing over and over again without searching, it's like all new members are defaulted to moron status.
but in terms of the radio, cell and advanced key frequencies, I don't think they should cause any problem with each other, that's why all of these electronic devices have to go through the FCC! But I guess sometimes you can't account for every single possibility. Meh, that's life!

In terms of the immobiliser chip in the key, the key isn't actually transmitting the data per se. Rather, the car searches the predefined area (ie. in the cabin of the car) for the right codes stored on the key when a request to start the vehicle is received. So really the car is doing the searching and as long as the key is in the right location with the right code the car will start. Plus the data is encrypted so you can't just scan an area and pick up the code.

But if someone really really really wanted your car they could theoretically hack the immobiliser or even simpler still, just pull up in a flatbed and in a few minutes your car would be gone. :(

i just put my key in my wallet. since the key isnt too bulky it fit very nicely. and i dont have to worry about it being loose and getting banged around with other keys. only thing that sux is that if i lose my wallet ill have some problems until i get the spare. i never had the problem of the cell phone and i keep it on my belt near my pocket. i guess it has to really be in close proximity for it to mess with the key

Lemme just say, thats a super sweet phone. I used to have its older version the E680

Yea the phone is pretty sick. I love the huge screen it has and the fact that its all touch screen input. The E680 started that whole line off for motorola, their ultra compact smartphone line that is.

Yes- without going to the car to look, I believe it does state to avoid keeping the fob next to a cellphone. In addition to the usual warnings, like "do not place heavy items" on it.

Actually, I kind of like your idea of keeping your key card in your wallet! It should not be any problem if you are organized and know how to keep your wallet safe, and know you will not forget your wallet (even though you might forget other things). Nice plan! :)

I have 2006 MTX GT, also with the advanced keyless system. I have a Sanyo Katana cellphone, and keep my advanced key in my wallet. Sometimes, they both make their way into the same front pocket, but no problems whatsoever - flawless for me.