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Is keyless remote start dangerous?

10909 Views 28 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  4Tires
I've put down a deposit on an EX-L after I test drove one the other day.



I have a concern about the keyless remote start system -- hopefully it's just because I don't know the details of it. I've had keyfob alarms on my Hondas since 2000. Maybe once or twice a year, the car alarm goes off in the garage because something in my pants pocket has pressed against the alarm button and set it off. Is it possible for the same thing to happen with the remote start on the keyless fob? Could the car start in the garage without me knowing it and fill the house with carbon monoxide?
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I've put down a deposit on an EX-L after I test drove one the other day.



I have a concern about the keyless remote start system -- hopefully it's just because I don't know the details of it. I've had keyfob alarms on my Hondas since 2000. Maybe once or twice a year, the car alarm goes off in the garage because something in my pants pocket has pressed against the alarm button and set it off. Is it possible for the same thing to happen with the remote start on the keyless fob? Could the car start in the garage without me knowing it and fill the house with carbon monoxide?
I got a small leather smart key case for mine so it does not do anything in my pocket when I am not aware of it. Amazon or Ebay sells a generic smart key case that does the job
Could the car start in the garage without me knowing it and fill the house with carbon monoxide?
The car could probably start this way. But it has to be held down for several seconds. And it will only run for 10 minutes. Even from a cold start, the amount of CO from 10 minute is probably not a risk except in incredibly small, well sealed, spaces.

The bigger problem may be people who pull into the garage and forget to turn the car off before closing the garage door and going inside.
The car could probably start this way. But it has to be held down for several seconds. And it will only run for 10 minutes. Even from a cold start, the amount of CO from 10 minute is probably not a risk except in incredibly small, well sealed, spaces.

The bigger problem may be people who pull into the garage and forget to turn the car off before closing the garage door and going inside.
Anyone who might be prone to that should enable the 6 foot walk away auto locking feature
Will that work if you walk away with the car running?
I think it would be unlikely to accidentally start the car. It requires a 2 button action: first press the lock door button, then hold the remote start button.
you have to hold the button for almost 10 seconds. The light start flashing also when it starts. It will only run 10 minutes and shuts off.

With a 1.5 liter engine, the idle is a lot less than bigger cars and trucks, so less exhaust gasses.
It's harder to be poisoned by CO than that, even if the car did start and run for hours. You'd need to be in a well contained place with the vehicle. It's not going to seep under the door and chase you around the house.

Thinking further (dangerous), there is something to be considered about how Carbon Monoxide can harm us. It's not a toxin like say chlorine gas or cyanide. It harms us rather by making Oxygen less available, in effect suffocating us. We breath CO all the time, but in a low concentration. A running internal combustion engine changes the makeup of the atmosphere in a confined space. As there is more CO there is less O2, and the CO tends to compete for free Oxygen to become CO2.
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...because something in my pants pocket has pressed against the alarm button and set it off. ...
Another design trend that always bugs me. If remotes were designed like G-Shock watches with recessed and protected buttons that would be great. Then again, making you hold the button for 10 seconds achieves the same thing. Iirc, some G-Shock watches do the same thing, as people complained about the buttons being too hard to press! So you can't please everyone.
Though carbon monoxide could build up, who would be there to suffer? Just don't leave the baby in the car too, or lock your dog in the garage. I wouldn't worry too much, and you can always find a pocket or holder that will take an extra precaution to prevent this from happening.
Though carbon monoxide could build up, who would be there to suffer? Just don't leave the baby in the car too, or lock your dog in the garage. I wouldn't worry too much, and you can always find a pocket or holder that will take an extra precaution to prevent this from happening.
I think he's worried about it coming in through an attached garage/shared door.
I think he's worried about it coming in through an attached garage/shared door.
I really don't think that is something to worry about.
I've put down a deposit on an EX-L after I test drove one the other day.



I have a concern about the keyless remote start system -- hopefully it's just because I don't know the details of it. I've had keyfob alarms on my Hondas since 2000. Maybe once or twice a year, the car alarm goes off in the garage because something in my pants pocket has pressed against the alarm button and set it off. Is it possible for the same thing to happen with the remote start on the keyless fob? Could the car start in the garage without me knowing it and fill the house with carbon monoxide?
I've had my civic sedan 6 weeks and have inadvertently started the engine twice with remote. I have now disabled the remote start as I don't expect to ever use it. To learn how to enable/disable it, go to the CD manual pages 309 (home, settings), 315 (vehicle) and 316 (keyless, access, remote start) There you can turn it on or off.
I think he's worried about it coming in through an attached garage/shared door.
Yes, the garage is part of the house, plus the furnace/AC air handler is in the garage and I'm sure it is not totally sealed.
If this ever happened to someone, resulting in their death, wouldn't there be a big lawsuit against the automaker?
I have a very nice little leather case my smart key goes in. And its impossible to press a button on the key fob smart key while its in this case.
For 10 bucks you can ease your mind and have a nice leather case for your smart key :)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12181574532...49&var=420807116557&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
I have a very nice little leather case my smart key goes in. And its impossible to press a button on the key fob smart key while its in this case.
For 10 bucks you can ease your mind and have a nice leather case for your smart key :)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/12181574532...49&var=420807116557&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
"This listing (121815745329) has been removed, or this item is not available."
If this ever happened to someone, resulting in their death, wouldn't there be a big lawsuit against the automaker?
Sure--but 10 minutes of operation isn't going to produce that much CO unless you get in a mostly empty, small, sealed plastic bag connected directly to the exhausts.
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"This listing (121815745329) has been removed, or this item is not available."
Listings all end eventually, I'm sure you could go on ebay and put in leather smart key holder, or leather key holder.
The point is, there are CHEAP and EASY ways to make sure you never press the button in your pants pocket or purse by accident and start the car.

Since you have to press the Lock button then the start button the odds of starting the car by accident are pretty darn small.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pocket-Mini...rse-Pouch-Zipper-Bag-Case-Cover-/381476049762
Here's another
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Lea...ash=item43e71ce05a:g:ERoAAOSw9r1V70kS&vxp=mtr
And another
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thick-Genui...ash=item19f75df3aa:g:W~sAAOSw0e9Uy7oE&vxp=mtr
And another
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Practical-Genuine-Leather-Car-Key-Wallet-Holder-Purse-Pouch-Organizer-Zipper-Bag/381476043105?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3D7dd63f363f9547c9a12c24a9584c1754%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D381476049762
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