Ever been sitting in the parking lot and seen some unsavory looking characters walking around, and reached for the button to make sure the doors are locked? I got to thinking about that the other day. I have a Platinum; what prevents someone from just walking over to my car, hitting the button on my door handle and letting themself in? Seems pretty unsafe to me.

I tried Google to see if anyone else is concerned about this potential safety issue, since this isn't just a Nissan feature. All that I can find are articles about car theft, but nothing to answer my question.

I did an unscientific test to see if I could find out for myself. I rolled down my window, then locked my car using the inside lock button. I reached through the window and pressed on the unlock button on the outside handle. To my surprise the car did not unlock despite having the fob nearby (which is good). When I held the fob outside the window and hit that same button on the outside handle again , the car DID unlock. So it seems the system is somehow smart enough to know if the key is inside or outside the car. That is reassuring , but I'm still a bit worried about it. Does anyone know more about this works, and is the system really able to tell if you are inside the car with the doors locked intentionally?

 

"Seems pretty unsafe to me."

Uh, in my case that would be a pretty unsafe thing for the perp to do. I use a door security product called S&W. Just raise it up to window level and any thinking perp will pull a 180. Works with either door locked or unlocked!

I'll ask my wife to sit in my locked SL tomorrow (key fob inside) and see if I can open the door. If I can then I'll have to just rely on the product noted in the para above, but I'll let you know what I find out.

 

fishlet - To answer your question, I would guess the 8th gen works somewhat like the 7th gen, which had three internal antennas that supposedly could determine whether the key/fob is inside the car or not. I had one of those three internal antennas fail in my 2009 Premium, and the result was that the intelligent key operation became intermittent, and the car kept telling me the battery was bad in my fob (which it was not). Replacing that internal antenna fixed the problem.

PS - If you are ever in the Atlanta area, key inside or outside makes no difference. They smash your window, jam their gun in your face, and take everything you have. After that, depending on whether they are proving themselves for membership in a specific gang or not, you will either be shot or not. A young shift manager at a lounge in Atlanta was recently taken at gunpoint to the office and forced to open the safe. She opened the safe, the perps emptied the safe, then as they turned to leave, having gotten everything they asked for, they turned back and blew her head off. The security camera showed she did exactly as they asked, but life has become totally worthless in the Atlanta area.

If you have to be out and about, you might consider compyelc4's suggestion. I know that, even when locked in my own home with the security system on, I try to always have my S&W within arm's reach, and I would never hesitate to use it if I felt threatened. I still have my sharpshooter medal from my years in the Army.

 

Every pox key I've ever used did exactly that. What a major security problem if someone could just unlock your car while you are sitting in it!!! I think all the manufactures know this, hell it's likely a DOT standard requiring levels of encryption, security sequencing, good guy/badguy scenario, it makes perfect sense. What bugs me is that with all the tech, there isn't an additional internal security in a car, say a PIN for instance. Say your keys fall out of your pocket at the gym, you realize it 10 minutes later, but cant find the keys, mean time someone is outside already driving off with your ride. It would be a nice feature, especially when you have some people spending 60-100k for a vehicle, that the technology offered that PIN kill switch. Hell my phone has more security then my car with regards to misplacing a key.

 

Had my car detailed yesterday. They always leave the key under the mat and leave it unlocked for me. Like a dummy, I got in yesterday and just drove. Forgot to grab the key. Hopped in the car this morning (I leave it unlocked in my garage overnight) and drove to work. When I parked and tried to lock it, it gave me a different sound. Only then I realized it wouldn't lock as I'd never grabbed the key, it was still sitting under the mat.

I guess the point is, this is a good feature for dummies like me. No chance of locking your keys in the car.

 

Well, you really got me thinking about my SL and if it works like yours'. It does and that is a relief; never thought about it til now. As for the "magic" that makes this work, lightonthehill has the experience to know that the fob, being a transmitter and receiver "talks" to other transmitter/receivers (antennas if you will) placed in strategic locations inside the car, such as doors, dashboard, and who knows where. Based on signal strengths, weaknesses, and general locations of those signals (such as fob outside or inside the car) a main processor in the car uses a set program to then command appropriate response such as lock, unlock, beep, flash lights, etc. Not entirely a simple thing to engineer correctly but these systems have been around in some form or the other since the late 60's, to my memory. Cadillacs back then just amazed me with their other-worldly :-) electronic goodies. And it just gets better and better each year.

 

"Ever been sitting in the parking lot and seen some unsavory looking characters walking around"

Nope. Live somewhere safer.

 

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

Being the peace loving pacifist that I am, I probably won't be carrying a S&W anytime soon, but I respect everyone's right to do so if that makes them feel safe. Usually I'm not in "that part of town" but you must always be alert I guess. The multiple antennas to determine fob proximity makes sense. Probably I should place the fob clearly near the center of the interior to make sure the the car knows it's inside.

 

I think that's a little easier for us Canucks. Not a lot of areas I feel unsafe.

 

That's because it's too cold to go outside 9 months out of the year

 

Sadly you may be correct!

 

Thank god for the smarts in the system. I can't tell you how many times I tried to lock my keys in the trunk in my 7th gen. Go ahead and try it :-)
The trunk auto unlocks and beeps angrily at you.

 

Not in beautiful British Columbia.

 

Hahaha! Bingo!

 

And, as a public service, I will define the 'safer area' around Atlanta. It used to begin anywhere more than fifty miles from the center of Atlanta. These days, it begins anywhere more than 100 miles from the center of Atlanta. Even mansion-filled places such as Buckhead and Dunwoody are now under criminal siege.

The reality is that crime is no longer restricted to any specific place, and no place is guaranteed safe. Keep your eyes open, and always be prepared for the unexpected. My wife and I now frequently drive right on by places we were actually headed to, but changed our mind when we saw something or somebody unexpected or even slightly suspicious anywhere near where we were headed.

In many unexpected and frightening situations, just pressing the alarm button on the fob will distract/repel the source of the problem, as well as draw attention from everyone around the area, further distracting the perp.

Basic common sense - Never never never be around the parking lot of any night club after midnight. That is BEGGING for trouble.

 

Thanks Light,

... for the helpful tips. We're not too far from you actually, living in the greater Jacksonville area. i think it's more dangerous here, but I'll keep my eyes open next time we venture your way, We want to check out that awesome aquarium you got up there in Atlanta!

 

Wow, this is so sad and so foreign to Western Canada's largest city...Vancouver.