Keyless starting difficulties...
 

Hey guys my wife is having some trouble occasionally with the keyless start on our 07 4.8i and besides making me nervous and changing the key fob batteries the other day, I'm uncertain what makes the keyless starting act up. With the key inserted, all goes well, according to the driver. The one time I had to come rescue her, the car started keylessly without a hitch, and I drove home without incident. She knows the procedure for starting keylessly. She earns 250$k a year and is smart as hell........I wonder if it's the original battery starting to wane?

Anyone have keyless go wonkiness?

Not sure about your problem but can she adopt me?

I call her, Sir.

What does her earnings have anything to do with her not being able to start the vehicle with the key not in the slot?

Anyways....maybe it's her not pushing the brake pedal in all the way? And just by chance when the key is in the slot, she pushed the brake in just enough for it to start?

Sometimes I have to push harder on the brake than others for my truck to start. Otherwise it just cycles the power to the nav/lights/etc and I sit there wondering why it wont turn over.

LOL I thought the same thing and agree on the hard brake prior to starting.

My point is she's no dumb housewife stuck at the supermarket. I was anticipating some comments to that effect. The lady is super capable all around.

I agree with you both on the brake pedal/ pressure as the culprit.

If anyone has experienced actual signal from the fob problems, etc let me know, please.

I work in computers - and the most infuriating problem description I ever get is "it doesn't work".

WHY?! What error / problem / issue is the user experiencing?

If it's blasting a "key not present" error, that's no biggie. Worst case, she can put the key in the ignition - but my guess is that it's next to a cellphone or a metal case that's blocking the RFID signal back to the car.

I'm in software development, so I hear ya.....she probably has an iPhone and/or metal very nearby in that big purse of hers. Would a bunch of keys attached to the fob screw with the RFID?

IDK about that...I have my keys next to my cell, iPod's, in the center console, in the back seat in my bag next to my laptop (ThinkPad; made of magnesium alloy), etc etc. Never had an RFID problem. Ever. Maybe if you had a Griffin iPod transmitter from 2004 giving off static next to your cell, sure. But not the key fob.

Regardless, tell your wife to step harder on the brake from now on and see if it still happens. If it does, perhaps you have battery issues, electrical issues, comfort access issues, key fob issues, wife issues, the list goes on. I doubt it's that severe. I'd imagine it's just her not understanding that the truck needs ample pressure on the pedal.

Car has been fine since I've been driving it.......