Handy lifesaver - Key in Boot Situation

[admiralross2400]

Not sure if anyone else has come across this before, but I asked my wife to put some stuff in the boot recently. I handed her the key so she could just open the boot without having to unlock the car. She put stuff in the boot and left it open so I could put the last of our stuff in. I then closed the boot thinking she still had the key...but as I walked off I noticed the boot light was still on. I went back, opened and shut the boot, and noticed it didn't want to shut properly. Thought something was catching it or stopping it closing right...turned out that my wife had put the keys in with the rest of her items. Turns out, there's a sensor to stop you locking your keys in the boot!

Not sure if it only works if only the boot was opened rather than the whole car, but nice to know it's got a safety to stop you being a complete tube!

 

[smokie]

I did exactly this some years ago in a rented convertible at a race track in the middle of Florida, but no warning there. After some hours of trying, and calls to the rental company and the police being unproductive, ne of my skinnier race going buddies managed to force his way somehow around the bottom of where the roof folded itself up into and reached the key.

There was some damage which I thought might cost me but the rental car missed it.

So I'm glad to hear the MG5 prevents this happening.

 

[Deleted member 7134]

Think this happened to me the other day with the driver's door. Was sat in the car charging, with the door open. When I tried to shut the door it sort of wouldn't latch properly. Maybe it was this very same thing. Feature or bug?

 

[Kithmo]

It won't shut as long as the key is discoverable by the system. If the key signal is blocked by other items (e.g foil etc.) then it will close and lock.

 

[Gomev]

Think this happened to me the other day with the driver's door. Was sat in the car charging, with the door open. When I tried to shut the door it sort of wouldn't latch properly. Maybe it was this very same thing. Feature or bug?

It is a feature, same on the ZS.

 

[BarryH]

It won't shut as long as the key is discoverable by the system. If the key signal is blocked by other items (e.g foil etc.) then it will close and lock.

No, you can't lock the car with the key in the boot. It is a recurring discussion at the services when we arrive and need the services only to discover I can't lock the car because my better half has tucked her key away in one of the bags buried in the boot!!!! It always happens when I need to dash for the services having hooked up the charger and she has wandered off to avail herself of the services and I've no idea which bag it is hidden in ... !!!!

 

[Gomev]

No, you can't lock the car with the key in the boot. It is a recurring discussion at the services when we arrive and need the services only to discover I can't lock the car because my better half has tucked her key away in one of the bags buried in the boot!!!! It always happens when I need to dash for the services having hooked up the charger and she has wandered off to avail herself of the services and I've no idea which bag it is hidden in ... !!!!

Buy her a Faraday pouch.

Amazon product ASIN B08GFTYTZR
(many types and vendors)

 

[BarryH]

Buy her a Faraday pouch.

Amazon product ASIN B08GFTYTZR
(many types and vendors)

We both have them and use them all the time, but the MG key detection is so sensitive that the car still knows the key is in the car, which TBH is a good thing. It's my wife that is the annoyance
In fact, I don't need to ever take the key out of the Faraday pouch because the doors can detect the key if I stand within ½ metre of the door so, by significantly limiting the key's radio range, I'm getting the security benefits of preventing rough access, but without the hassle of removing it every time I want to unlock and lock the car.

 

[smokie]

Are you sure you are using it properly? I got some cheapies from eBay and didn't think they were working but it was because the key needs to be inside the inner lining pouch (gold material on mine) not in between the layers!

EDIT: Just checked mine and so long as the key is properly inside the pouch there is no "leakage"

 

[BarryH]

Are you sure you are using it properly? I got some cheapies from eBay and didn't think they were working but it was because the key needs to be inside the inner lining pouch (gold material on mine) not in between the layers!

EDIT: Just checked mine and so long as the key is properly inside the pouch there is no "leakage"

Yep, it is in the pocket between the mesh. There is a secondary pocket which isn't screened and is used to keep my Drivers Lic and a couple of RFID cards. There is still sufficient screening to allow me to open the door if standing next to it but if it is in a pocket on the other side id me so I'm standing between the car door and the key then the car won't open. There is no way there would be enough signal leakage therefore for a hoody wearing thief at night to interact with my key if they were outside my house and open my car.

 

[Kithmo]

Yep, it is in the pocket between the mesh. There is a secondary pocket which isn't screened and is used to keep my Drivers Lic and a couple of RFID cards. There is still sufficient screening to allow me to open the door if standing next to it but if it is in a pocket on the other side id me so I'm standing between the car door and the key then the car won't open. There is no way there would be enough signal leakage therefore for a hoody wearing thief at night to interact with my key if they were outside my house and open my car.

There must be something wrong with your car or the Faraday bags.
Normally, out of the Faraday bag, my ZS does not detect the key through my body if I have it in my left trouser pocket and I'm facing towards the back of the car.
If it's in the Faraday bag then the car won't detect it, even if I touch the car with the bag.

 

[Edoc16]

Not sure if anyone else has come across this before, but I asked my wife to put some stuff in the boot recently. I handed her the key so she could just open the boot without having to unlock the car. She put stuff in the boot and left it open so I could put the last of our stuff in. I then closed the boot thinking she still had the key...but as I walked off I noticed the boot light was still on. I went back, opened and shut the boot, and noticed it didn't want to shut properly. Thought something was catching it or stopping it closing right...turned out that my wife had put the keys in with the rest of her items. Turns out, there's a sensor to stop you locking your keys in the boot!

Not sure if it only works if only the boot was opened rather than the whole car, but nice to know it's got a safety to stop you being a complete tube!

Also discovered that if the car is locked and you just need into the boot just open (keys need to be on you) and then close the lid the car automatically locks again- clever stuff ...

 

[Gomev]

Yep, it is in the pocket between the mesh. There is a secondary pocket which isn't screened and is used to keep my Drivers Lic and a couple of RFID cards. There is still sufficient screening to allow me to open the door if standing next to it but if it is in a pocket on the other side id me so I'm standing between the car door and the key then the car won't open. There is no way there would be enough signal leakage therefore for a hoody wearing thief at night to interact with my key if they were outside my house and open my car.

Are you using the right pockets? Mine too has 2 pockets, the back one 'faradayed' the front one not.
When key is in the rear part no locks on the car or start button work.
If you can still operate the locks etc while the key is in the Faraday part of the pouch it is faulty/not working, you need to buy a new one.

 

[BarryH]

Are you using the right pockets? Mine too has 2 pockets, the back one 'faradayed' the front one not.
When key is in the rear part no locks on the car or start button work.
If you can still operate the locks etc while the key is in the Faraday part of the pouch it is faulty/not working, you need to buy a new one.

I bought two key pockets and I've no complaints about them. Personally, if I have the key in the pouch and the pouch on the righthand side of my person I can enter the car, drive the car, lock the car and open the tailgate. If you have to get the pouch out of your pocket, and then remove the key before doing any of those operations then what is the point of having the hands-free key in the first place?

I still have the confidence that if I am or at least the key in the pouch is more than 1 stride away from the car then none of these operations can be performed by anyone close to the car. Also if I squeeze the key buttons through the pouch I cannot activate the car locking/unlocking mechanism again unless I'm within a foot or two of the car.

 

[Gomev]

I bought two key pockets and I've no complaints about them. Personally, if I have the key in the pouch and the pouch on the righthand side of my person I can enter the car, drive the car, lock the car and open the tailgate. If you have to get the pouch out of your pocket, and then remove the key before doing any of those operations then what is the point of having the hands-free key in the first place?

I still have the confidence that if I am or at least the key in the pouch is more than 1 stride away from the car then none of these operations can be performed by anyone close to the car. Also if I squeeze the key buttons through the pouch I cannot activate the car locking/unlocking mechanism again unless I'm within a foot or two of the car.

If I have misunderstood I apologise but effectively your pouch is serving no purpose at all since the RFID range of the key is only a metre or so anyway.
From the manual.....The smart key must be within 1.5 metres of the vehicle for the keyless system to operate correctly.

The original purpose of the pouch is to prevent relay theft while the key is away from the car.

 

[Alb]

Exactly.
Other (more switched on) manufacturers have modified their keys to enter a sleep state when no movement is detected as an easier circumvention.

 

[Kithmo]

Exactly.
Other (more switched on) manufacturers have modified their keys to enter a sleep state when no movement is detected as an easier circumvention.

Some, like Toyota, have an option to turn off the key by pressing a combination of buttons.
I did this on my Prius with the spare key but still used a Faraday pouch for key in daily use, to save faffing about, battery life and wear and tear on the key buttons.