Spare key?

[jggann]

I know I can call the dealer to have this question answered, but today is Sunday and my dealer is closed, so I thought I would ask here. After a past episode several years ago where I lost my car keys (and car was parked in a remote area on holiday weekend) I have made it a habit to carry a spare key in my wallet. BMW (my other car) provides a lightweight, thin profile, plastic key for just this purpose. I recently purchased the Genesis for my wife and forgot to ask the a dealer if a spare emergency key was available which could be carried in a wallet. The "key" portion of the standard Genesis remote fob is pretty thick and would not be suitable to carry in a wallet. Does anyone know if something else is available?

 

[Seattle Genesis]

What good is a spare key going to do for you ? You still need the key fob to start it, right? Am I missing something here?

 

[dataguy]

It's generally for when you accidentally lock your keys in the car. Since the Genesis' smart key won't let you lock the door from the outside if you leave it inside, it's probably not needed so much.

 

[ctrcbob]

The above two posts are correct. A spare key is not going to do you any good.
You can't start the car with the spare key, only unlock the door (glove box and trunk).
Without the FOB, the car will not start. If you somehow left the fob inside the car, then locked the door, anyone could still come and unlock the door because the fob is inside, close enough to get the door unlocked, and start the car.

If the battery in the FOB dies, yes you need the key to open the car, but you still need the fob to fit into the holder in the dash, for the car to start.

No matter what, you need the FOB to start the car.

 

[jggann]

Thanks for the info. I was generally aware the fob could be placed in its "holder" and the car could be started that way if the fob battery dies but I wasn't sure if just the key portion could be slid in to that holder to allow the car to start. Apparently not. Guess I'm just out of luck if I lose the fob while in an inconvenient or isolated location. Hopefully I won't ever be losing my car keys again, but one really bad experience makes me paranoid about it.

 

[ctrcbob]

No reason to lose your key fob, as you never need to take it out of your pocket.
I have mine attached to my "Key Ring" that I snap on my belt loop. Although attached to my belt loop, the fob "hangs" into my pocket.

My buddy who has a Prius that uses the same system, keeps his in an interior pocket sewn into his pants. When I asked him to see his key fob, it took him a long time and a lot of trouble to get it out to show me.

 

[ctrcbob]

On my last two trips to France, the system worked as follows. I always lease (not rent) a Renault Laguna II.

Two trips ago, I used a device that looked like a thick credit card. It was a device that was about twice as thick as a credit card, and it also had an emergency key stuck in the edge. To unlock (or lock) the car, I had to push the unlock (or lock) button on the device. (Just like our key fob). To start the car, this device had to be pushed into a slot in the dash, then push the Start/Stop button on the dash.

Last trip, I used a device that looked exactly the one above, about twice as thick as a credit card, however I just kept it in my pocket, without having to stick it into any slots. It worked exactly the same as our FOB, except;

When walking away from the car, the car would know you were walking away, (about ten feet away) and it would lock by itself. When you returned, and got about four feet away, it would unlock by itself. Did not have to push any buttons on door, or device.
Neat!