This is an interesting situation I have with my 08 RL. My car starts and drives with no key in it (apparently). At least that's what I believe. The dealership couldn't find the key inside it and I can't either and they are saying the next step is to take both seats out and see if it's in or under the seat. No way...keys don't float up into the seat. I'm 90% sure the key is not in the car and the car drives with no key, but maybe I'm just missing something.

It is impotant to note that I am missing one of my keys so it could theoretically be in the car. But I've looked everywhere and it's not anywhere in the car or findable. ARRRGH.

So for the last 4 months I've been using my other set of keys to lock the car. I can't lock the car by hand because it automatically unlocks itself because it thinks the keys are in it. Someone could easily steal the car and drive it whereever they please. (good thing they don't know that)

A few times I'm drive the car lately WITH my other set of keys on my lap and the alert pops up, "can't detect keys" or whatever. So this leads me to believe that maybe there IS something screwed up with the key sensing system.

Anyone else ran into this conundrum? (PS - I hope I do not sound like a moron!)

 

Your car is ripe for rip off if it really does start w/o key
and has push button start.

FWIW - I dropped my keys on floor and could not find
until several days latter when I stuck my hand "Deep" under the console. Denies logic I know but there were the keys.

 

I have had a similar situation where Fob2 went missing for a while. If I had Fob1 on me, I could lock the door with the handle sensor and the car would remain locked. If I did not have Fob1 and the car was locked, it would not unlock for me. Thus, no one would have been able to steal it. I figured the key was in the car b/c I was able to start it with or without Fob1. It turned out that is was indeed wedged between the driver's seat and the console.

Is your situation exactly the same? If not, I would suspect a faulty unit. have you checked under the back seat? Here is a DIY for removing the back seat. You would only need to pull up the bottom cushion to confirm, and it is a very easy process (should only take 2 minutes).

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-rl-audio-bluetooth-electronics-navigation-90/diy-amp-wire-backseat-removal-813630/

 

I'll try to find it again and i'm open to trying anything.

 

Where do u live?LOL joke Did you try the secret glove compartment where the owner's manual goes?

 

how many keys do you have ?

can you keep all the keys you got at 15-20 feet distance....and then try driving away ?

Am guessing either the module went bad or a key slipped in the seat and you are not aware about....

 

So are we starting a pool that its in the car?

 

LOL... I guess there's a chance since there is a key I haven't been able to find for the last 4 months.

Even the Acura Dealer couldn't find it... he thinks it some how defied gravity and got sucked upwards into the seat. yeah OK.

 

Dunno, it could have been kicked.

Have you moved the seats all the way forward? I believe there is a vent under there (not 100% sure)

 

Oh, that fob is in the car. When you find it, put some keys on it or something!

 

So can you open the doors from the outside without your keys if the car is locked? You should not be able to if the module is functioning. You should also be able to lock the door via the handle sensor if you have your keys on you. Checking these two things will give insight into the module functionality.

 

go into the users menu with the key and disable auto unlock ect until you find that key

 

Based on all the info I have read so far, my money is on the fact that the key is IN THE CAR. Like others have said, just check under and in all the seats and behind the center console and the glove compartment and even check under the steering column area. Who knows... maybe someone put it there. It has to be in there.

 

I just went out an looked everywhere again. I had a LED head lamp so i could shine a light everywhere under the seats and still nothing.

The tech at acura said, the key is in the car and that it is probably lodged under the seat and that they're going to have to take the seats out. But if they find it, I'll have to pay for that labor, if they don't...I won't.

So I bagged it and figured I'd be able to find it, but... I can't.

This sucks. I'll take it in again I guess.

 

Pull the seats out yourself or roll the dice.

 

what color is your car? ohh i see in your avatar BOSTON!!

 

Yea the easy way dissable it for now!

 

Can you disable to missing Fob via the MID? This would at least allow you some peace of mind.

 

It's silver and I live north of the Bean a couple miles. Do I smell a meet up??

I am afraid to pull the seats on my own. I'm just gonna let the dealer deal with it i guess.

 

Smell a meetup? No, you smell him getting a whole pile of free parts after he drives your car away and takes the good stuff before selling the rest to guys with Civics. Find that key yet?

 

The worst part about your situation is that you HAVE to find the key in order to UN-Program it. You cannot unprogram it with the MID settings and EVEN WITH the HDS system that the dealers use to program and unprogram keys, the steps involve removing ALL keys from the vehicle and then programming the one(s) you want with one key in the car at a time. It will NOT allow the programming to proceed if more than one fob is in the vehicle at a time.

I know this because I have gone through the process before. If you really can't find it, even if they replace the PCM module, you would still be stuck. About the only thing you can do is wait for the battery to die in that missing remote... which would be a REALLY LONG time.

Bottom line is... you have to find the remote. Maybe you can go to some specialized radio shop or something and see if anyone has an RF sniffing location device that can pinpoint and locate RF sources at the frequency of your remote. You can give them your other fob to set the frequency. That would be WAY easier than tearing your car all apart (assuming the basic seat removal doesn't turn up anything).

Good Luck man!

 

lol. Of course you are from SoCal, the car stealing capital of the world. Believe it or not, cars don't get stolen that much up in New England. The border is too far away, Etc.

 

another helpful post. Thanks.

OK, so no one else on here has ever lost their key in their car or ran into the same situation I'm in.

Has anyone ever been driving the car with their key right in plane site and the warning light comes on saying something like "key not detected." To me that might be a hint that there's something wrong with the detection system if this occurs.

 

I'm afraid you are in a unique situation. I have never heard of someone losing the key fob in their car to the point where they really cannot find it. In fact, your post was very intriguing to me because I had never thought of that scenario... and I'm sure the engineers didn't really think of this situation either, because the resolution is not very simple in case of really losing the fob in the car (as I explained in my earlier post).

As for the Key Not Detected message when the key is in plain site, no I have not heard about that one either unless your battery is weak. But I tend to think that any problem with the detection system would make the car harder or not be able to start because it can't detect your fob... not the other way around as in your case. Any failures in the keyless detection system should NOT cause things to work because the default state is to have the ignition locked... as is the case when there is no fob present. I think your getting that message is actually good, because when that message is showing, that is the time to test if you car will let you start it again if you shut it off. Have you tried just leaving the fob you do have at home and go driving a while without it??? If you never get the Key Not Detected message, there has got to be another fob in the car.

I still say the other fob has got to be there... Maybe someone played a practical joke on you and intentionally placed it where you would never look?? After reading your story, that is indeed a great practical joke to do to an RL owner if you have access to a programmed key fob. I would just pull a side sill up from one of the doors and slip the fob in under the edge of the carpet there and pop the sill back on and immediately, that person would be in your same boat. And it would be hella tough to find. Heck, I can think of many place like under the console, under the shifter, inside a door panel, etc. that would be tough to find and would result in your problem. I know these probably don't apply to you... but just a thought... Like I said, I don't think the engineers thought of this scenario because it is hard to resolve.

 

Its happened to me before:



I usually just turn the car off and back on to reset it.
And to answer your question, no I've never lost my key in the car and not found it.

 

yeah. my car drives saying key is not detected. this only has happen to me twice since having my car. and if your car was turned on with the key and you walk out with your keys and someone comes by and walks into your car they can drive it off without your key. not the greatest thing.

btw check the trunk and take apart the glove box.

we really need a boston RL meet. Im tired of seeing TL meets. i have only seen 4 other rls out arund here in boston. a blue one with wheels in dorchester; lsm with 22in wheels dropped on teins(ithink); a clean lsm down the street from (he got his after 2 weeks of me getting my rl) and my friends white one. i want to see a line of RLs lol

side note: no i will not look for your car. unless you got a 20k rolex in the glove box

i don't know about the stealing rate in new england but i know theres alot of hit and runs in new england. (f*** those people that side swiped one of my doors)

 

Could it be jammed between the seat and seat back? I'd also take a plastic hanger between the back seat and the seat back. I assume you checked the center console as well as the section that flips up. The cup holders... did you pop up the part for big cups?

 

Thats a good spot to check!!

 

You can't be serious....if you are North of Boston you are near the car stealing "Capitol" of the entire country...the Lawrence\Lowell area.

 

been there done that

 

that's northwest of Boston, not due north. Besides, no one ever has a reason to go to lawrence/Lowell. Actually, I go there infrequently for business...Andover all the time though.

 

The battery is brand new in the car. I have driven to Boston or elsewhere on business 4 times maybe, parked in a parking garage...car completely unlocked, without the key on me. Anyone could've walked up to the car opened it, and driven it away. If the car is indeed in the car...it's the valet's fault for making me take the key fob off my key chain.

 

If the key was in the trunk, wouldn't the car not let me close the trunk, and automatically re-open?

 

The famous last words of your car.

I have ran into both. However, you did not answer any of my questions that I asked when I explained what happens when you lose the key and you detection system works fine.

I have the "Key not detected" error probably twice a week. I believe it is a problem with Fob1 as I have never had trouble with Fob2. I have not taken the time to debug it b/c it has never been a show stopping issue, just annoying. I can always start the car and drive. I'll get around to figuring it out someday.

This is not really surprising. What happens when a Civic owner leaves their car on and walks away? This is not a new issue that an engineer needs to find a fix for.

Really? Is it really necessary to clarify? He simply said "north of Boston", and you seemed to have confirmed he was right. It is technically north of Boston.

If you read my explanation on what happens in my car when a fob is left in, you would know that you can lock the car, via fob, handle, or key, and the car will remained locked until you return with the other fob. If this is not the case, something is wrong with the car.

Yes. If your other fob is in your trunk, the trunk will not close. Just to make sure, like Professor asked, have you checked by the AUX plug?

 

Your point was cars don't get stolen that much in NE, that is incorrect. Where the cities are situated is irrelevant to your point.

Hope you find your fob.

 

FYI, there's a Rolex Presidential platinum in the glovebox of this car. Anyone who finds the car, and then drives it to Georgia with a case of Coors Beer in the trunk by Friday at noon can have the watch. Give to beer to my son, Junior.

 

Yea that fob is in the car LOL No coincidence you lost the fob same time the car started doing this.

 

I experienced the same problem before and it literally took me days till i realised that the key was in fact in the car (no other explination) and i fount it in side the driver seat. When I say "inside" i mean i had to stick my hand way in between the crease that seperates the seat back from the seat bottom. Try to search between all the seats. Im quite sure you'll find it there

 

The suspence is killing me..trick or treat..give me fob no money!!LOL Cheers guyss,its almost friday!!

 

That key is somewhere, I would bet the house on it (your house that is). The not detecting the key could mean the FOB battery is dying, but you have to take the seats out. What does the dealer want to charge in labor costs?