What happens if you forget to turn off?

[beth]

I’ve only had my car a week. This morning I rushed for a train and half way to london couldn’t remember pressing the off button or locking the doors.

What happens if you get out of the car, taking the key fob with you, but not turning off or locking the car?

Does it just sit there till it goes flat? Could someone get in and drive it off?

 

[Susanna]

Do you have it connected to iSMART? If you have, you can check the status of the car on that, and certainly lock the doors.

 

[beth]

Do you have it connected to iSMART? If you have, you can check the status of the car on that, and certainly lock the doors.

I have the ZS Excite. I don’t think the app works with the Excite.

 

[Gadget Geek]

If someone tries to drive the car without the key, the car states "no key detected" and won't move.

In "ready mode" (ready to drive), the car is being powered by the main traction battery and will last for days or weeks depending on the state of charge.

 

[Lovemyev]

I have the ZS Excite. I don’t think the app works with the Excite.

What model ( year ) of car do you have ?.
Excite suggests it’s the original Gen 1 version with the large black “pop” up grill / charging port.
If so, then is no App connectivity on the Gen 1 versions.

 

[beth]

What model ( year ) of car do you have ?.
Excite suggests it’s the original Gen 1 version with the large black “pop” up grill / charging port.
If so, then is no App connectivity on the Gen 1 versions.

It’s a 2021 (71 reg) excite with the pop up charging port.

If someone tries to drive the car without the key, the car states "no key detected" and won't move.

In "ready mode" (ready to drive), the car is being powered by the main traction battery and will last for days or weeks depending on the state of charge.

So if it’s left unlocked in ready mode (you’ve just pulled up and got straight out) it can’t be driven away unless the fob is in the car?

 

[Susanna]

I have the ZS Excite. I don’t think the app works with the Excite.

Apologies - when you said you had only had it a week, I made a silly assumption. I hope all will be well on your return to the car.

 

[chowbenter]

I did that once in a hospital car park & forgot to turn off, I was in the hospital for a 4pm appointment last Winter for around three hours & when I went to the car park I couldn't understand why my headlights were on then it dawned on me I hadn't turned the car off (2020 excite).

 

[Lovemyev]

If you leave the car, with it still in ready mode and the fob in your hand, when you try to lock the doors, it will refuse to lock the car and the car and beep the horn.
This is to warn you that your still have the car booted up and a safe guard.
I have done this myself, while doing the school run in the morning.
Pulled up, put the car in park and grabbed the key and jumped out.
The car is still in ready mode and then I suddenly realise as it refuses to lock the doors - Dooh !.
It is possible to have the car in ready mode and then leave with the fob still inside the car, but it will warn / advise you to take the key as you open the drivers door.
In this situation the car is still very vulnerable of course.

 

[Tim Green]

If you try to get out of the whilst it is still "on", it bongs and a warning appears on the fascia screen, and the indicators flash.

 

[beth]

It’s a 2021 (71 reg) excite with the pop up charging port.


So if it’s left unlocked in ready mode (you’ve just pulled up and got straight out) it can’t be driven away unless the fob is in the car?

turns out it can be driven off without the fob, if it was let in ready mode. See my post later in the thread.

 

[Lovemyev]

In many keyless entry ICE cars, once the car has detected the key it can be removed from the inside of the car.
In theory you could drive any distance with the key left at home.
However, this only works if you don't stall the engine or turn it off.
Then you need the key in order to restart it !.
This could be a bit difficult if you find you have left the key behind and you are miles away .

 

[chowbenter]

If you leave the car, with it still in ready mode and the fob in your hand, when you try to lock the doors, it will refuse to lock the car and the car and beep the horn.
This is to warn you that your still have the car booted up and a safe guard.
I have done this myself, while doing the school run in the morning.
Pulled up, put the car in park and grabbed the key and jumped out.
The car is still in ready mode and then I suddenly realise as it refuses to lock the doors - Dooh !.
It is possible to have the car in ready mode and then leave with the fob still inside the car, but it will warn / advise you to take the key as you open the drivers door.
In this situation the car is still very vulnerable of course.

Yes I remember it doing that when I tried to lock the car but I was so preoccupied with getting to the hospital dept appointment on time I dismissed it & rushed off

 

[Lovemyev]

Yes I remember it doing that when I tried to lock the car but I was so preoccupied with getting to the hospital dept appointment on time I dismissed it & rushed off

It also “paps” the horn if you try to lock the car with the fob, but you still have one of the doors etc on the first catch and not closed 100% correctly.

 

[origin]

gen2 you can use ismart app with Excite. i have an excite gen2 facelift. I can lock it with ismart

 

[DB Go Rex]

In many keyless entry ICE cars, once the car has detected the key it can be removed from the inside of the car.
In theory you could drive any distance with the key left at home.
However, this only works if you don't stall the engine or turn it off.
Then you need the key in order to restart it !.
This could be a bit difficult if you find you have left the key behind and you are miles away .

My wife dropped me off in town a few weeks ago and headed off to an appointment. I got a call 15 minutes later to say I had the keys and she didn't.

The car let her drive miles without a hint of a warning.

It was a long walk back to get the keys.

Not a good moment.

 

[Mike H]

I’ve only had my car a week. This morning I rushed for a train and half way to london couldn’t remember pressing the off button or locking the doors.

What happens if you get out of the car, taking the key fob with you, but not turning off or locking the car?

Does it just sit there till it goes flat? Could someone get in and drive it off?

If the car was in ready mode then yes they could.

 

[jollyman]

I stupidly left my MG4 se in the garage without locking it overnight ,in the morning guess what totally flat auxiliary battery,i had only had it for just a week it didn’t even have enough power to open the doors,It must lock the doors itself.I rang Eden’s they told me contact the AA they sorted it in minutes. Needless to say I always lock it now even though I lock the garage every night .Dooooogh live and learn

 

[Susanna]

@jollyman I don’t understand why not locking the car would drain the 12v battery, unless it allowed a courtesy light or radio to remain on, for example. Maybe that’s what happens with the MG4 - I have the ZS, and have definitely left the car unlocked, in my locked garage, without the 12v being affected.

 

[jollyman]

@jollyman I don’t understand why not locking the car would drain the 12v battery, unless it allowed a courtesy light or radio to remain on, for example. Maybe that’s what happens with the MG4 - I have the ZS, and have definitely left the car unlocked, in my locked garage, without the 12v being affected.

Yes Susanna but the running lights were on the rear lights the ignition both screens so it wasn’t just an interior light,as I discovered it was everything because on the MG4 locking and unloccking switches it all on and off, so if you forget because I wasn’t aware of it at the time it soon drains the auxiliary battery ,did I feel stupid when the AA man came or what haha ?