Question re: auto door locks

[Caustic]

I have a 2007 GT. I noticed that once in a while when I get out and close the door that it doesn't beep. (Recognizing it is shut). At first I thought that it mattered how hard I closed the door (indicating an issue with the little plunger), but that does not appear to be the case at all; the plunger works just fine.

So that got me thinking... if it isn't the plunger, then it must be thinking I am still in the vehicle since it doesn't beep when I get in and close the door.

So I guess my question is: Does it have a sensor for weight like the passenger side which tells the vehicle that there is someone sitting in it? How does it know? I can't imagine it has any kind of radar sensing or infared of any sort?

Obviously, this has greater implications than it simply not beeping. Without it knowing I got out and closed the door, it doesn't lock/alarm it either. This has resulted in my vehicle sitting out vulnerable on more than one occasion....

Thx.

 

[ceric]

Caustic:

Smart key is known for interference from cell phone.
Please pay attention to that. Keep cell phone and keycard in separate pockets (good enough).
Don't put them in the same one.
If that is not the case, check the battery inside the keycard.

How it knows:
SmartKey system works by coordinating multiple sensors:
1 in door's door, 1 in passenger's door, 1 inside the carbin (near center console),
and 1 under the rear bumper (some automaker puts it inside the hatch).
With four sensors and their detected signal strengths, the ECU can triangulate your
locations. ECU allows your access based on your location. For example, if it determines
that you are inside the cabin, you are allowed to push the Power On/Off button.
If it determines that you are near driver's door, it allows you to push the small rubber button on the handle.
and grant your access by unlocking/locking the door.

The way autolock works is similar.
If this feature has been activated by dealer, the ECU will check if you are outside the vehicle AND
all doors are closed (it does not check windows, however). If yes, it gives you a confirmation beep.
If you stick around the vehicle, it will close in 30 seconds. If you leave, it will close in 3 seconds.
If the confirmation beep is not heard, it will NOT lock at all. You have to lock the doors yourself.
This has happened to me a few times. Basically, you have to learn to stay at the door for 1-2 seconds
longer than you normally do. If you walk away quickly, the beep might not be heard since the ECU
might not have sufficient time to confirm everything. The effective distance is 3ft from the door.
Keep in mind this that is a wireless system. Interferences are intense.

The seat sensors are not linked to the SmartKey system. I wish they are, but they aren't (too bad!).
At gas station when my wife/kids are in the car, I have to leave the driver's door ajar to prevent auto-locking.
Locking is fine by itself, but if my kids decide to get out and open any door, the alarm will sound off !!!

I wonder if I had answered your questions....

And, don't slam your doors. The stuff inside the door might be damaged if you do that all the times.
BTW, did you have the battery replaced? Settings might be reset when battery was disconnected.
Autolock is off from factory.

 

[Caustic]

Great response! Thank you.

I keep my cell in an entirely different pocket, so I doubt that is the issue. I did take out the battery (after this was happening) but it still autolocks most of the time so I'm sure it is programmed properly. I actually took out the battery to test in my other card because it was dead. Turns out that other card works with the new battery, but doesn't appear to be programmed since the buttons do nothing but turn on the little LED on the card itself. This sucks in itself, as I know you need two *working* cards to program another. (That never made sense to me.. since far more people will need to reprogram a 2nd card as opposed to a third)

I'll try sticking around the door a bit longer and see if that makes a difference. I do notice that if I reopen and then reclose it tends to work then. Of course, this isn't an ideal solution for obvious reasons.

 

[ceric]

Some people did report bad contact on the button battery over years.
You might want to adjust the metal contacts if possible (any spring arms, etc.)