Push-button-to-start ignition...like it?

[SearchMaster]

Can you still start your car if the fob battery is dead?

AFAIK, yes. My car definitely will start if the fob battery is dead - it uses an RFID chip that you put on a spot on near the steering column to start it. And it has a physical key inside the key fob to open the door lock if necessary. I'm sure other manufacturers do it similarly.

 

[LTC8K6]

Can you still start your car if the fob battery is dead?

Yes, the FOB battery for my Jeep is just for the remote transmitter. It is unrelated to normal starting. You would lose the remote functions only.

 

[yh125d]

Ugh, yes! We had a Volvo S40 a few years back that was like that. There was one single cup holder in the front, which folded out from just above the radio and blocked the whole radio and AC panel. It was also very easy to break; just a crappy design.

Better than my old Saab

 

[Midwayman]

Can you still start your car if the fob battery is dead?

Yup. On mine there is a key hidden inside the fob for the door and the start button pulls off to reveal a slot for the fob to act as a key (rfid based or something.)

 

[exar333]

I like how Porsche Entry and Drive works. It has a 'perma key' on the dash you turn to start, but you don't need the actual key in your pocket (just that the fob is in the car). I prefer 'turning the key' vs. pushing a button. Feels better IMHO. Both accomplish the same goal though.

 

[rh71]

I had to take the keys out of my pocket when getting into the car anyways to unlock the doors, so using a push button seemed pointless and only made me worry I set the keys somewhere in the car and not back in my pocket (which I did a few times.)

Is there a total-keyless option for the car? If so, it makes sense that they didn't want to develop 2 different ways to start the car. If not, then really it is just done to appease owners who want "cool" features.

 

[slag]

I love it. The key never has to come out. Just walk up to the door and it unlocks as you pull the handle. Then press the button to start the car when you sit.

Yeah, but I don't want my keyring with keys/fobs to the car, truck, other car, house, boat lock, mailbox, etc sitting in my pocket while I'm in the car. I'll accidently leave them in the car if I put them in the center console as well. No, keys belong in the ignition so I am forced to take them with me when I exit said car.

 

[gorcorps]

Yeah, but I don't want my keyring with keys/fobs to the car, truck, other car, house, boat lock, mailbox, etc sitting in my pocket while I'm in the car. I'll accidently leave them in the car if I put them in the center console as well. No, keys belong in the ignition so I am forced to take them with me when I exit said car.

If you can remember to leave the house with your keys, then surely you can remember to leave the car with your keys as well. Especially since the car can't lock with the fob still inside, you should immediately know that you don't have the key on you when you go to lock the car... and can't.

 

[KK]

Can you still start your car if the fob battery is dead?

On my 12 prius, you just hold the keyfob up to the start button, then press the start button.

 

[sphenodont]

I like keyless ignition (and keyless entry), but I'm not a big fan of push-to-start.

I actually prefer the keyless start on my Versa: The key slot was still there, but it has wider wings around it. You can just turn the ignition and start the car without the key, but if the fob is dead, you can just insert it like a trad key and start it.

I think the thing that annoys me about push-to-start is having to hold the gasbrake pedal.

Edit: Duh. Meant brake pedal.

 

[LTC8K6]

I like keyless ignition (and keyless entry), but I'm not a big fan of push-to-start.

I actually prefer the keyless start on my Versa: The key slot was still there, but it has wider wings around it. You can just turn the ignition and start the car without the key, but if the fob is dead, you can just insert it like a trad key and start it.

I think the thing that annoys me about push-to-start is having to hold the gas pedal.

Hold the gas pedal?

 

[exar333]

I like keyless ignition (and keyless entry), but I'm not a big fan of push-to-start.

I actually prefer the keyless start on my Versa: The key slot was still there, but it has wider wings around it. You can just turn the ignition and start the car without the key, but if the fob is dead, you can just insert it like a trad key and start it.

I think the thing that annoys me about push-to-start is having to hold the gas pedal.

That did annoy be a little at first, but the fact is you have to press the brake anyway to move out of park, it sort of becomes second-nature to just press brake + keyless ignition and push brake to move to drive.

 

[KentState]

I like how Porsche Entry and Drive works. It has a 'perma key' on the dash you turn to start, but you don't need the actual key in your pocket (just that the fob is in the car). I prefer 'turning the key' vs. pushing a button. Feels better IMHO. Both accomplish the same goal though.

The 2nd gen CTS-V was like that. Made it easier to select the accessory/run/off by turning the knob instead of messing with a button.

 

[Midwayman]

Hold the gas pedal?

Yah, you have to put in 'D' and floor it to start it.

 

[gorcorps]

Wait wait wait, hold on

You guys mean you hold the BRAKE pedal to start the car, right?

 

[tsupersonic]

Wait wait wait, hold on

You guys mean you hold the BRAKE pedal to start the car, right?

Yeah, every manufacturer I've seen, it's the brake pedal.

 

[sphenodont]

Wait wait wait, hold on

You guys mean you hold the BRAKE pedal to start the car, right?

Yeah, brain fart. I meant the brake.

 

[cbrunny]

Prefer? Yes.

Would pay extra money for? No chance in hell.

 

[basslover1]

Yeah, brain fart. I meant the brake.

I've been driving manual cars for over a decade so I'm used to having to push in the clutch to start anyway but I could see how that would take a bit of getting used to.

 

[slag]

If you can remember to leave the house with your keys, then surely you can remember to leave the car with your keys as well. Especially since the car can't lock with the fob still inside, you should immediately know that you don't have the key on you when you go to lock the car... and can't.

One would think so, but in practice, it doesn't work that way for me.

 

[Mir96TA]

I've been driving manual cars for over a decade so I'm used to having to push in the clutch to start anyway but I could see how that would take a bit of getting used to.

There was time you could start without pressing clutch.
But my last manual requires clutched in

 

[JulesMaximus]

There was time you could start without pressing clutch.
But my last manual requires clutched in

My first car you could start in gear. That was quite useful actually when the clutch cable broke.

 

[awongsurawat]

I have a 2016 MINI Hardtop 4 Door. I have to push the button on the remote to unlock the door, but once I am inside, I just have to push the start toggle while holding the clutch in, brake for an auto. In order to not have to push the button on the remote you have to add comfort access. I found that weird at first, but I had a BMW before that which I can touch the door handle to unlock, but I used the button on the remote anyway, so nothing changed for me really, it was just weird to not have the option to not use the remote to get in the car.

 

[pcgeek11]

Can you still start your car if the fob battery is dead?

The FOB power has nothing to do with the RFID Chip. Your credit card with an RFID Chip doesn't have a battery.

 

[tortillasoup]

I have push button start... I hate it. I hate it because of the strong parasitic draw on the battery. Having a "smart key" or anything like that is very hard on car batteries, especially if you don't drive 15K miles a year.