Function of key after taking out of fob

[Sonic_Boost]

If I remove the key from the fob, will the key still function to start the car?

I have a keybar so getting rid of the fob would consolidate it very well.

My thoughts are i would need to atleast keep the chip inside the car somewhere which is fine with me.


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[Rowdy_Sonic_RS]

It won't mess anything up. The key is really separate from the fob.


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[eggsalad]

If I unlock the car using the key instead of the fob, the alarm goes off. How are you going to get around that?

 

[Tech_God]

If I unlock the car using the key instead of the fob, the alarm goes off. How are you going to get around that?

You really don't. Locking from the keyfob turns on the alarm, unlocking from the fob turns it off. Unlocking with the physical key is basically the same as picking the lock, the car has no idea electronically that it was unlocked so it'll go off, no matter what, unless you never lock your car

 

[Sonic_Boost]

Damn. Thats annoying.

Sometimes when I get out of my car, i push doen the lock thing on the door (blanking of the name). What if i do that everytime i get out and unlock it with the key? Do you know what happens then? Going to test a bunch of this out later anyways but figured i would ask.


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[Tech_God]

If you do that, then actually yeah the alarm system won't turn on, it's just the keyfob that turns the alarm on.
I'd get annoyed losing the fob functionality haha, but if you're willing to do that, it'd work.

 

[Sonic_Boost]

Cool. I'll give it a go today.

I probably will get annoyed as well haha but we'll see.

I'm sure itd be much better if the lock/unlock wasnt on the center console. So when i'm trying to get the kids in the car i dont need to lean in so far to get it all unlocked.


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[eggsalad]

I'm sure itd be much better if the lock/unlock wasnt on the center console.


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Yours is clearly a common complaint. I was at the dealer this week picking up some parts, and I looked at a '16 Sonic.

One of the few changes I could find over my '13 was that (in addition to the door lock button on the center console) there is also a door lock button on the driver door, near the release handle.

 

[Sonic_Boost]

Yours is clearly a common complaint. I was at the dealer this week picking up some parts, and I looked at a '16 Sonic.



One of the few changes I could find over my '13 was that (in addition to the door lock button on the center console) there is also a door lock button on the driver door, near the release handle.

Ughh. So little but so frustrating haha


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[Sonic_Boost]

Update: it does NOT work.

The car will not start with just the key.
Put the battery in the fob the key was taken out of and it worked.

Took the battery back out and tried again and it worked. Working when it wants to i guess.


Edit:

It will start, but only when holding the key/fob as if its still together haha. I've tried a bunch of different ways to bo avail.

 

[troy_audi0]

The fob has the data chip that talks to the car, all GM Cars are this way from the way back with the black dot on the key.

 

[borockster]

I don't think I have ever locked/unlocked my doors with the button in the console. I just unlock it with the fob and it locks itself when I put it in gear and of course unlocks itself when I put it in park. Obviously mines an automatic.

I can only think of one time I actually locked the car and remained inside. I was eating lunch in the car one day and decided to take a 15 minute power nap. I reached up and locked the drivers door by manually pushing the door lock post down. It locked all 4 doors.

So...I wonder why we have lock/unlock on the console at all?

 

[eggsalad]

I don't think I have ever locked/unlocked my doors with the button in the console. I just unlock it with the fob and it locks itself when I put it in gear and of course unlocks itself when I put it in park. Obviously mines an automatic.

I can only think of one time I actually locked the car and remained inside. I was eating lunch in the car one day and decided to take a 15 minute power nap. I reached up and locked the drivers door by manually pushing the door lock post down. It locked all 4 doors.

So...I wonder why we have lock/unlock on the console at all?

Because the car can be re-programmed by the user.

When you put the car in park (automatic) or remove the key (manual), the car will, by default, unlock all 4 (or 5) doors.

But you can change the program to only unlock the driver door.

Which is what I did. So when I end my drive, only the driver door unlocks. If I want to also unlock the hatch, I push the unlock button on the center console.

 

[ChicksHateMe]

I hated how big the Key FOB was and here's a thread talking about how I solved it. Basically I had a Dealer make a set of Keys, that were designed because the Camaro had an issue and had keys made without the FOB, but with the chip in it.

My Own Ignition Problem My Own Ignition Problem

 

[ChicksHateMe]

If you looked at other thread, you can see the picture of them side-by-side. Key and FOB. I have them both on my key chain, and the spare key in my wallet.

I still use the FOB, for locking and unlocking, but the key in the ignition. I had never tried unlocking the door with just the key yet, so I just went and did it.

It doesn't sent the Alarm off per se, but it does start a short chirp every second until I put the key in the ignition and turn the key. I still use the FOB though, so no issue for me.

And it's not consistent with that either. I think if I go back before the Alarm light goes to blinking from steady, I won't get the chirps. I wonder too, whether what happens for me will happen for others, because I seem to have an OLD version of firmware/software. I haven't got the NEW one from the recall, so I have no idea if/how that will change how the key vs FOB work.

But, after me accidentally hitting the FOB, reaching for the wipers, and having it turn the car off, I am really happy I got the Key alone.