What were car designers thinking when they...
- Thread starter Steve145
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What were car designers thinking when they...
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Modern cars that don't allow you to open the boot with the engine running/keys in the ignition!
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If you want to see crazy car ergonomics - look no further than the Alfa 75.
Front electric window switches are in the roof panel near the rear view mirror.
The rear switches on the centre console. Apart from the disable button, which is on the panel with the front switches.
The hand brake handle is U-shaped.
And you can't change a CD / cassette in the stereo if you're in 1st, 3rd or 5th.
Front electric window switches are in the roof panel near the rear view mirror.
The rear switches on the centre console. Apart from the disable button, which is on the panel with the front switches.
The hand brake handle is U-shaped.
And you can't change a CD / cassette in the stereo if you're in 1st, 3rd or 5th.
Central locking that self activates after a few minutes and locks the keys you left on the seat inside the car!!!!!
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That's a bit mad. My BMW won't do that if the keys are in or very close to the vehicle.
The Toyota and Boxster won't do it, as the auto-lock doesn't function if you've opened the door after unlocking. Auto-lock will only work if you unlocked but didn't open anything.
The Toyota and Boxster won't do it, as the auto-lock doesn't function if you've opened the door after unlocking. Auto-lock will only work if you unlocked but didn't open anything.
Now I am making a bit of an assumption here. This afternoon I unlocked my Ibiza with the remote, opened the drivers door, took my tyre pressure gauge out of it's cubby hole, closed the door and started checking the tyre pressures on the Panda which is going for its MOT first thing in the morning. As I was checking the second tyre the Ibiza relocked itself. I assume that if the key was lying on a seat, or maybe in the boot, rather than in the ignition where the car would "see" it, then the doors would lock with the keys inside? or am I missing something? I've noticed it locking itself before. It did it whilst I was standing talking to my son outside his house - key was in my pocket.
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They'll only usually re-lock if the key is outside the vehicle... or if you've unlocked and not opened a door within a certain time.
(The Boxster is something like 30 seconds)
(The Boxster is something like 30 seconds)
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My 2002 Audi A4 would auto lock if left unlocked for more than (I cant remember) minutes. But I have never left my keys in any car ever since it was possible to lock by pushing the button down while holding the door handle (or some such).
I did that once and cost myself an AA callout after a long wait of course. Never again.
I did that once and cost myself an AA callout after a long wait of course. Never again.
Most VAG group cars have lots of options regarding locking and unlocking. If it bugs you next time the car goes in for a service ask them to turn off auto locking.
There are other options like auto close for the windows when you lock the car, Auto lock above a certain speed, Beep or not when you lock/unlock the car....
Thanks minirib. I actually have a fully licenced version of VCDS (in addition to my MES) which I used for service resets and fault finding etc on my old '99 Cordoba Vario 1.9tdi and my boy's ancient Fabia. I found it very useful indeed. The old Cordoba was a pretty simple machine by comparison with my new Ibiza and I never felt the need to explore any of the "cosmetic" options - few as they were. The Ibiza is just out of warranty and so far I haven't even plugged the VCDS into it! I know it lets me alter these sort of things so I think a wee bit of experimenting might be taking place when the weather gets warm enough to sit outside in the car for a while.
Most cars will relock if not opened after an unlock. If a door has been opened, it should not relock. It knows you've opened a door, from the doorswitch, which could be lying. Do the interior lights work with that door?
Cars with keyless start know when the key is inside, as the key is constantly transmitting its ID (There's genius), but normal key start do not.
I've known a car relock whilst ticking over. For a long time now my rules are, key always with me, or if have to be inside, leave a window open. Beware autoclose though.
Cars with keyless start know when the key is inside, as the key is constantly transmitting its ID (There's genius), but normal key start do not.
I've known a car relock whilst ticking over. For a long time now my rules are, key always with me, or if have to be inside, leave a window open. Beware autoclose though.
Yup. Always leave the driver's window open. Been doing it for years. But they must have seen me doing it because then they invented auto close! :bang:
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Only time I've ever known a car lock with the keys inside was the keyless entry Micra.
Most cars monitor the door sensors..the Micra monitored the interior light circuit to see if there had been a current draw. On my wife's car this circuit was faulty, so she opened the car put bag inside then set about defrosting it then locked.
Tbf keyless system on that thing was terrible..off Renault I believe. I drove it 20 miles with no keys..switched it off then realised I'd left the keys with my wife. Obviously the car was no off and immobile...and I had no way of locking it.
Most cars monitor the door sensors..the Micra monitored the interior light circuit to see if there had been a current draw. On my wife's car this circuit was faulty, so she opened the car put bag inside then set about defrosting it then locked.
Tbf keyless system on that thing was terrible..off Renault I believe. I drove it 20 miles with no keys..switched it off then realised I'd left the keys with my wife. Obviously the car was no off and immobile...and I had no way of locking it.
These days the remote locking fobs send a different signal each time, changed by an algorithym. Car is waiting for any of next 5 or so signals, but if you 'play' with it while out of range, you may send a much later code. Often need to 'plip' several times for car to accept code sequence. A good system.
When remotes were new, they's send the same signal every time, for both lock and unlock. This led to people with scanners reading the code, repeating it and opening your car later. Sometimes they'd just transmit a wide range of codes and see what opened up.
To counter this, many cars locking systems would shut down if they received an incorrect signal 3 times. This was the case with the Rover 800. (early eighties) The remote fob was separate form the key. Once shut down, the car could only be unlocked with the key, in the door.
In the car park at work, people would walk along the line of cars, plipping away until their car unlocked. All the others they's just walked past were now shut down. A colleague had decided to leave the key in the door pocket, and only carry the remote. Oops! Got locked out, unsurprisingly. Had to get a lift home, and back the following day, and grovel to the fleet department to borrow the spare.
Happy days.
When remotes were new, they's send the same signal every time, for both lock and unlock. This led to people with scanners reading the code, repeating it and opening your car later. Sometimes they'd just transmit a wide range of codes and see what opened up.
To counter this, many cars locking systems would shut down if they received an incorrect signal 3 times. This was the case with the Rover 800. (early eighties) The remote fob was separate form the key. Once shut down, the car could only be unlocked with the key, in the door.
In the car park at work, people would walk along the line of cars, plipping away until their car unlocked. All the others they's just walked past were now shut down. A colleague had decided to leave the key in the door pocket, and only carry the remote. Oops! Got locked out, unsurprisingly. Had to get a lift home, and back the following day, and grovel to the fleet department to borrow the spare.
Happy days.
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A normal key left on the driver's seat will allow the car to auto lock. It won't know it's there so the car autolocks after it's timed delay.
its a saab part
Quite likely.. given the location of it.. and GM parts
Quite odd how those joint ventures panned out wasnt it..
SAAB.. Gone
Croma .. gone
Vauxhall.. struggling in that sector too.
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Nobody wants a car-shaped car of that size these days. Most families in the market for large hatchbacks / saloons now buy an SUV instead.
Mondeo / Insignia sized cars have grown to almost fit into the same space for those who do want a large hatch or saloon - but leasing rates for company users are crazy - so company car drivers get a BMW / Mercedes / VW / Audi / Volvo or Lexus. (And, to be fair, with the 5-series starting at around £38k and the Lexus ES300h at £35k, they're around the same price levels as a loaded up Mondeo or Insignia anyway).
Even Alfa have abandoned the 5-series sector.
Mondeo / Insignia sized cars have grown to almost fit into the same space for those who do want a large hatch or saloon - but leasing rates for company users are crazy - so company car drivers get a BMW / Mercedes / VW / Audi / Volvo or Lexus. (And, to be fair, with the 5-series starting at around £38k and the Lexus ES300h at £35k, they're around the same price levels as a loaded up Mondeo or Insignia anyway).
Even Alfa have abandoned the 5-series sector.
The decision to locate the ignition switch down between the seats was probably a safety crash decision/trial to avoid having items sticking out around the steering column that could make contact with the legs/knees.
