Autolock Functionality Doesn't Always Work!

[DudeinVA]

As I said in my other locking thread, I had the dealership activate the autolock feature so that when I walk away from the car with my fob, it locks. However, after a few days of using it, it doesn't always lock! (screwy) That's a bit disconcerting. Anyone else had this issue? Thankfully it beeps if it does. Why can't Mazda grasp the simple art of locking a car....


BTW, Happy New Year!!

 

[rckt]

As I said in my other locking thread, I had the dealership activate the autolock feature so that when I walk away from the car with my fob, it locks. However, after a few days of using it, it doesn't always lock! (screwy) That's a bit disconcerting. Anyone else had this issue? Thankfully it beeps if it does. Why can't Mazda grasp the simple art of locking a car....


BTW, Happy New Year!!

This is scary b/c I am waiting for a personalization form to have them do the same thing. Are you sure it doesn't lock every time you walk away? It doesn't make sense to work sometimes unless the system is faulty.

 

[ceric]

Mine works every time.
Several things to watch out for.
- avoid putting your SmartKey together with your cell phones. It is a known issue with SmartKey which has interference with cellular phones. Not the same pocket!
- When you leave the vehicle with all doors closed, do not walk away too quickly. Stay for 1/2 second till you hear a beep, which acknowledges the impending locking. If there is no beep, it won't lock.

I am guessing that you have interference from cell phone. Keep them at least 1 ft apart such as in different pockets (left vs right).

 

[Force-1]

Mine works every time.
Several things to watch out for.
- avoid putting your SmartKey together with your cell phones. It is a known issue with SmartKey which has interference with cellular phones. Not the same pocket!
- When you leave the vehicle with all doors closed, do not walk away too quickly. Stay for 1/2 second till you hear a beep, which acknowledges the impending locking. If there is no beep, it won't lock.

I am guessing that you have interference from cell phone. Keep them at least 1 ft apart such as in different pockets (left vs right).

I have also learned to stay near the door until it beeps. If I swing the door closed while walking away it won't auto lock. Mine auto locks 99% of the time as long as I stay near the door.

 

[DudeinVA]

I'll play around with it some more. I don't think there's an issue with my cell phone as I keep that on my left side and my keys in my right pocket.

 

[DudeinVA]

BTW, is there any way to make the first push of the button the driver door unlock all doors?

 

[ceric]

BTW, is there any way to make the first push of the button the driver door unlock all doors?

No. As far as I know. Push twice or push the ones on the hatch or the passenger's side.

 

[GoBlueMazda]

No. As far as I know. Push twice or push the ones on the hatch or the passenger's side.

Can I enable this feature myself? (i.e. someone have the instructions) Or do I have to take into dealer?

 

[Force-1]

Can I enable this feature myself? (i.e. someone have the instructions) Or do I have to take into dealer?

Only the dealer can do it.

 

[ceric]

Autolock: dealer can do it for you (usually free if you bought it there and customize options for the 1st time)
Unlocking-All-Doors-At-One-Push: No. Not even dealer can do it.

 

[hamproof]

I finally decided to have this programmed on my 08. It works almost all the time if it is just me closing the driver side door. Almost a sec later, it beeps and subsequently locks.

Now, my problem is I've to get around the car to the rear passenger side to get my son out of his car seat. So, I closed the driver side door, it beeps. I hurried over to his side and open his door. Take him out and walk away. I never locks. I could stay there and it never beeps again to confirm that it'll lock.

This kinda defeats the purpose of having this programmed. The whole reason is I could be carrying an infant seat and my son at the same time leaving me only my legs to shut the door. Rather than using my knee or risk scraping the door with, I thought this would fix it.

Has anyone manage to get the doors to autolock after closing the rear passenger door?

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Where are those settings?

Hey I asked my dealer to do this on the 9 and they told me that it can't be done. Does anyone know the setting location? They did it on my 6 without any issue, but the CX 9 body control module supposedly doesn't have the same settings.

Ceric would you know?

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Oh and btw I experience this on my 6. I've figured out it depends on a couple of things including what ceric mentions above but also if a passenger, for instance, doesn't close their door before the person with the smart key moves out of range. It also has a problem if you access the trunk before the car locks.

 

[ceric]

Hey I asked my dealer to do this on the 9 and they told me that it can't be done. Does anyone know the setting location? They did it on my 6 without any issue, but the CX 9 body control module supposedly doesn't have the same settings.

Ceric would you know?

It should be listed in the Owners' manual (I know it is in mine).
Point the page to the dealer.

 

[ceric]

I finally decided to have this programmed on my 08. It works almost all the time if it is just me closing the driver side door. Almost a sec later, it beeps and subsequently locks.

Now, my problem is I've to get around the car to the rear passenger side to get my son out of his car seat. So, I closed the driver side door, it beeps. I hurried over to his side and open his door. Take him out and walk away. I never locks. I could stay there and it never beeps again to confirm that it'll lock.

This kinda defeats the purpose of having this programmed. The whole reason is I could be carrying an infant seat and my son at the same time leaving me only my legs to shut the door. Rather than using my knee or risk scraping the door with, I thought this would fix it.

Has anyone manage to get the doors to autolock after closing the rear passenger door?

I got it now. The sensors are located inside both front doors and below the hatch (near spare tire).
Since you walked over to the rear passenger side and opened the door, the impending autolock was interrupted.
When you closed the rear door again, there is no sensor inside the rear door to confirm another impending autolock.
Therefore, no more autolock. (effective range of sensors is only 3 ft!)
Solution. After you close the rear door, move near the front door (either side), you should be able to hear a beep to confirm.
Remember to move to the front door fairly quickly after closing the rear door.

Update: I actually tried it like you said, and I have no problem getting the beep even if I did not even try to get close to
the front door. I think the sensors of your CX9 is not sensitive enough...

 

[hamproof]

Update: I actually tried it like you said, and I have no problem getting the beep even if I did not even try to get close to
the front door. I think the sensors of your CX9 is not sensitive enough...

I think there's a timing issue as well. I haven't figured it all out yet (will take a stop watch with me this weekend when I try again), but I manage to get the doors to lock after closing the rear doors.

The couple of times it worked, I specifically stood closer to the front doors and I hear a beep. A few times it didn't work maybe because I had the rear doors opened for too long no matter how long I stood by the front doors.

IMO, it should just lock itself once all doors are closed after a certain amount of time has elapsed. I guess it needs to sense the smartkey was within range first in case the last person who closes the door may not realize the key is missing.

 

[ceric]

With my CX9, as long as I stay within 3ft of the vehicle doors and fenders, the moment all doors/hatch are closed, it beeps.
I think this is a sensitivity issue of the sensors.
For example, the sensor of my hatch (external and near spare tire) seems to be the weakest compared to the ones inside the doors.
Sometimes, it just can't sense the presence of the SmartCard for a few seconds.

 

[knowaczark]

Mazda's Smartcard is not, my opinion.

If I walk up to the vehicle and only the drivers door is unlocked and i want to access the rear seat area I must push the drivers door buttom three times. How smart is that?

I can walk up to the rear of my 9 and with one push unlock all doors. Same on the passenger side. But walk up to the drivers door, that is used most often, and I must push the button twice to access anything but the drivers area. That's smart?

How much would it cost to put a button on each rear door? Not to mention no auto-lock from park to drive.

My opinion, poor design.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

I believe that "poor design" is meant to prevent car jacking. And I also believe you can program auto lock. I did. I have a 2010 though and you have an 08. But I think ceric has an 08 and was able to program auto lock.

 

[hamproof]

I can walk up to the rear of my 9 and with one push unlock all doors. Same on the passenger side. But walk up to the drivers door, that is used most often, and I must push the button twice to access anything but the drivers area. That's smart?

This is more of a safety design. If it unlocks all doors with 1 push from the driver side, someone could be hiding on your passenger side and enters your car.

However, the same logic could be applied about the passenger side or hatch, but Mazda figures if you are opening the passenger side, surely someone else must be waiting by the driver side door to get in. At least someone you want to let in.