Smart Key

[trbr81]

This evening wife pulled the CX-9 in the garage and shut it off. Opened the door and then tried to turn the key so she could check the mileage. Could not turn the plastic knob for the ignition. Key light on the dash was flashing. I finally was able to start it by putting the emergency brake on. Second time this has happened. What is causing this?

 

[ceric]

Was the gear shifter in "P" when your wife shut it off?

CX9 does not require stepping on brake to start engine (unlike Honda's).
Can you recall the sequence of events precisely to duplicate it?
Maybe some interlock mechanism is failing.

 

[erpexec]

This evening wife pulled the CX-9 in the garage and shut it off. Opened the door and then tried to turn the key so she could check the mileage. Could not turn the plastic knob for the ignition. Key light on the dash was flashing. I finally was able to start it by putting the emergency brake on. Second time this has happened. What is causing this?

According to the manual if the "key" is flashing on the dash the battery in the remote is low. If the light has been flashing for a while and not noticed, could be the battery in the remote is totally dead.

 

[ceric]

erpexec is right. If your red "KEY" light was flashing, that means the SmartKey was not "seen" by the ECU. Therefore, starting engine was not authorized. This could only mean that your button battery in the SmartCard/Key is low (sometimes it works, other times it doesn't). For 2009 model and before, the battery is CR2025. It costs only a couple bucks at radioShack.
Two things to watch out for
- don't put SmartCard/Key too close to your cell phone (within inches)
This would cause interferences of the wireless signal communication (same frequency range)
- don't leave your SmartCard/Key within 20ft of your CX9 when it is not used
This will drain the battery inside the SmartCard/Key.

 

[trbr81]

will have to give the battery thing a try - how long are they supposed to last. we got the car at the end of july

 

[ceric]

It should last about 1 yr if used 10 times a day.
However, as I said, if you leave the key within 20ft of the vehicle. The fob will continue to respond to the ECU, but the door sensors cannot pick up any fob within 3 ft. That will drain battery of the fob quickly (some reported dead battery within a couple months of ownership).
Yeah, those are the people who leave their keys in the garage area....

 

[Snowcat]

Smartkey troubles

I too am having some troubles today with my car not starting via the smartkeys. I tried both of mine and also the "regular" key with no luck at all! Why won't the regular keys start it either? Is there a way around this?

 

[ceric]

You meant even the metal key in the slot couldn't start the CX9?
You may have a dead battery. Have you tried to turn on the headlights?
Are they very dimmed?

 

[tony89]

Ceric, Will leaving the key fob in the CX-9 drain its battery? Do this all of the time in the garage.

 

[ZoomFive]

My car fails to see the smartkey when I place it next to my cell phone in the center storage cubby or carry it in the same pocket. My wife was able to lock the car with her key with mine still inside.

 

[ceric]

Ceric, Will leaving the key fob in the CX-9 drain its battery? Do this all of the time in the garage.

Yes, it will drain the battery in the card key faster than usual.
In short, the card key is not able to go into "sleep" mode when it detects ECU within range (i.e. key inside the CX9).

 

[nguvanh]

You can lock the car by your key with there's another key inside.
Confirmed!

My car fails to see the smartkey when I place it next to my cell phone in the center storage cubby or carry it in the same pocket. My wife was able to lock the car with her key with mine still inside.

 

[vikefan7]

That has always been the case.

True, but it does beep at you incessantly for awhile.

 

[100$ GUY]

erpexec is right. If your red "KEY" light was flashing, that means the SmartKey was not "seen" by the ECU. Therefore, starting engine was not authorized. This could only mean that your button battery in the SmartCard/Key is low (sometimes it works, other times it doesn't). For 2009 model and before, the battery is CR2025. It costs only a couple bucks at radioShack.
Two things to watch out for
- don't put SmartCard/Key too close to your cell phone (within inches)
This would cause interferences of the wireless signal communication (same frequency range)
- don't leave your SmartCard/Key within 20ft of your CX9 when it is not used
This will drain the battery inside the SmartCard/Key.

Thanks bro, that is quite an useful post, especially the code of the battery and where to buy it.
This car has crappy smart key batteries. The first one its a failure now and now the second one its starting to fail, barely using it. LOL
Reading your second advice, I thought, oh wow, then maybe that`s the reason.....
But then, I have another car with a smart key as well, and within the same distance as the mazda`s, and that one hasn`t failed, not at all.
So yes, one is clearly superior to the other one.

Dantona 3V/150mAh Lithium CR2025 Coin Cell Battery or this one:
Enercell™ 3V/165mAh CR2025 Lithium Coin Cell
???