keyless start theft risk?

Saruman

Just curious, im sure its been asked before though but anyway...

I was watching top gear and they were in the US testing muscle cars. Jeremy went outside the diner and was able to get in Richards car and drive off (because Richard was in the diner near the car). He parked it on the road and left it there.

Very funny but how big of a security risk is it? Im sure the car will stop when it realises there is no key but if you had a truck parked near by that you could drive it on to then it would be a pretty handy way to steal sports cars.

wilson10

I don't know about other vehicles but I drive a Qashqai with keyless start & it will not start unless the fob is inside the vehicle.

Once started you can remove the keyfob from the car and it keeps running & I assume that you could drive it away though I never tried it.

L-M

Well, to add to the story. I was in work, and i collected a jeep (Nissan Pathfinder) fromm valeting. Drove it up from the valeting bay to the car lot and went to take out the key (keyless) and copped it wasn't there. Went looking for the key and realised they still had it below.

Fair enough if they take the car, but imagine pulling up and turning it off and not having a key lol... I don't really understand it myself. There is a button on the drivers door handle that you push and it unlocks the car (as long as you are within a certain distance of the car).

I'd like to hear people's opinions on this.

NewApproach

There car notices when the key has been removed from the vehicle so I doubt it would work...

Saruman

New approach, the precious poster just said that he did what i was talking about without realising so it would seem that it does work though im sure it depends on the car.

Big Wave

NewApproach wrote: »

There car notices when the key has been removed from the vehicle so I doubt it would work...

Clearly not - did you miss posts 1 & 3?

lau1247

immobiliser will likely to kick in.. rendering it useless after parting with the key for a certain distance..

that's what i always assumed anyway.. maybe someone can confirm?

wilson10 wrote: »

I don't know about other vehicles but I drive a Qashqai with keyless start & it will not start unless the fob is inside the vehicle.

Once started you can remove the keyfob from the car and it keeps running & I assume that you could drive it away though I never tried it.

Owen

It does depend on the car. BMW's system has 2 different sets of receiving antennaes which can determine if the key is inside, or outside the car.

mickdw

The system on the audi A5 is as follows:

Car wont start without fob inside car but it will run perfectly if the key is then removed until the car is turned off. It will then not start again. I didnt pick this option though. The normal thing is fine.
It does sound like a receipe for disaster.

zilog_jones

lau1247 wrote: »

immobiliser will likely to kick in.. rendering it useless after parting with the key for a certain distance..

that's what i always assumed anyway.. maybe someone can confirm?

One would assume the immobiliser works more or less like any normal key ignition, so if the car was put on a truck or something they'd at least be looking at a new ECU which may not be easy to replace outside a main dealer in some modern cars - and hopefully main dealers would ask for proof of ownership before doing such things! :eek:

NewApproach

Big Wave wrote: »

Clearly not - did you miss posts 1 & 3?

I replied to post one before the other posts where up.

In the case I was talking about, I was driving a keyless car, had the fob in my pocket, pulled over to get something out of the boot and when I got back in there was a message saying the key had been removed from the car. Whether it would drive or not I dont know I will check later.

Clearly that will clear things up.