Wife locked out-how?

[stuz88]

My wife left the key fob in her purse in the trunk. She locked the car using the black button on the door handle. However, she could not unlock it and i had to go take her the spare. The manual says the fob only works for locking in that manner at a max distance of 40" so she shouldn't have been able to lock it as the trunk would be more than 40"away,, right? THis corresponds to the first day I had the car, and after driving it home left the fob on the passenger seat, and the same thing happened to me. Seems to me locking and unlocking should both operate or not operate from exactly the same distance but apparently not.ALSO-the manual says you can't lock the doors if the key is in the vehicle(4-6).
I also tried the cell phone trick and that didn't work. Is a smart phone necessary for that?

 

[Gambler]

Minimally it seems she should have been able to open the trunk still. That is a bit odd unless her purse is lined with wire mesh or something.

 

[PINGGOLF]

hmmm...this is weird.

Makes me think that the battery is very-low in the transmitter.

I could see this happening if any of the buttons are pushed for extended periods of time while in a purse...especially if its crammed full like my wife's.

I can lay my keys on the concrete and still unlock the doors but to start the car the keys HAVE to be in the front left side of the car.

 

[TNTitan]

I also tried the cell phone trick and that didn't work. Is a smart phone necessary for that?

What cell phone trick?

 

[TimeOut]

What cell phone trick?

You grab the cellphone and smash the car window.

j/k

 

[TNTitan]

You grab the cellphone and smash the car window.

j/k

ha! well played.

 

[vega]

you grab the cellphone and smash the car window.

J/k

roflol

 

[cschuler]

What cell phone trick?

Urban legend: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_unlock_door.htm

 

[Cut-Throat]

hmmm...this is weird.

Makes me think that the battery is very-low in the transmitter.

I could see this happening if any of the buttons are pushed for extended periods of time while in a purse...especially if its crammed full like my wife's.

I can lay my keys on the concrete and still unlock the doors but to start the car the keys HAVE to be in the front left side of the car.

Yup, the low battery seems like the reason. I have seen this on the Lexus Forum as well.

 

[tjc78]

I can lay my keys on the concrete and still unlock the doors but to start the car the keys HAVE to be in the front left side of the car.

Really? Many times I have given the key to my GF and her purse was in the passenger side footwell. In addition, everyday I clip the key to my briefcase and it is placed on the driver's side rear floor every morning. I haven't had any problems.

The key fob is pretty sensitive though. If I simply roll down the window when parked and hold the fob out the window the car knows and I get the warning.

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