SmartKey & Chargers

[SeCX-9]

Once in a great while I've experienced the CX-9 thinking that my smartkey was "missing". The key light would flash even though the smartkey was in my hand, in the middle of the car. Sometimes, I would drive down the driveway, put the car in park, get out and put the mail in the mailbox and get back in only to hear the car beeping about the smartkey. I couldn't nail down what the hell was going on. Othertimes it would beep when I opened the door or closed the door, even though the key was where it was supposed to be.

Not sure if any of you have had similar strange experiences.

I just ran into a similar thread on the CX-7 forums and I think they identified the problem with the smartkey and phone chargers. Somehow, phone chargers, plugged into the power outlet interfere with the smartkey sensors, or cause some type of power drain that cause the key sensor to malfunction.

This morning, I think duplicated the problem by plugging in my iGo iPhone adpater to my old IPod in my center console. Started the car, and took the smart key far away from the vehicle so the key sensor would go off and beep. It did not! In fact, it didn't even know that the smartkey left the vehicle. (I had to get to leave for work so I couldn't test the "normal" operation and only went from memory).

I rarely use a phone/iPhone charger for my 30 minute commute, and even more rarely charge the old IPod in my car, but I think the CX-7'ers have isolated the problem.

http://www.mcx7.com/showthread.php?t=4768

Anyone else been having this mysterious problem?

 

[SeCX-9]

Once in a great while I've experienced the CX-9 thinking that my smartkey was "missing". The key light would flash even though the smartkey was in my hand, in the middle of the car. Sometimes, I would drive down the driveway, put the car in park, get out and put the mail in the mailbox and get back in only to hear the car beeping about the smartkey. I couldn't nail down what the hell was going on. Othertimes it would beep when I opened the door or closed the door, even though the key was where it was supposed to be.

Not sure if any of you have had similar strange experiences.

I just ran into a similar thread on the CX-7 forums and I think they identified the problem with the smartkey and phone chargers. Somehow, phone chargers, plugged into the power outlet interfere with the smartkey sensors, or cause some type of power drain that cause the key sensor to malfunction.

This morning, I think duplicated the problem by plugging in my iGo iPhone adpater to my old IPod in my center console. Started the car, and took the smart key far away from the vehicle so the key sensor would go off and beep. It did not! In fact, it didn't even know that the smartkey left the vehicle. (I had to get to leave for work so I couldn't test the "normal" operation and only went from memory).

I rarely use a phone/iPhone charger for my 30 minute commute, and even more rarely charge the old IPod in my car, but I think the CX-7'ers have isolated the problem.

http://www.mcx7.com/showthread.php?t=4768

Anyone else been having this mysterious problem?

 

[ceric]

SeCX-9:

I would check the battery in the SmartCard first. When the button battery goes low, all sorts of weird symptoms show up. Why? When SmartCard(SC) is often placed next to RF sources (cell phones, computers, etc.) the SC thinks that the base station is trying to talk to it, it keeps responding and getting nothing back. That drains the battery much faster than it is designed for (typically lasts up to 5 years). It has been frequently reported that some owners' SC (or fob) only lasts for 1 to 2 years.

The beeps when you leave your CX9 with engine running is normal. It is telling you that "the SC is leaving the cabin, and I don't like it....".
The flashing is telling you that the base station sees the SC (fob). This flashing can be seen when you just got in or just turn the engine off. These are normal also.

Those button batteries are very cheap ($2-3 at most) ar Fry's or RadioShack.

 

[SeCX-9]

SeCX-9:

I would check the battery in the SmartCard first. When the button battery goes low, all sorts of weird symptoms show up. Why? When SmartCard(SC) is often placed next to RF sources (cell phones, computers, etc.) the SC thinks that the base station is trying to talk to it, it keeps responding and getting nothing back. That drains the battery much faster than it is designed for (typically lasts up to 5 years). It has been frequently reported that some owners' SC (or fob) only lasts for 1 to 2 years.

The beeps when you leave your CX9 with engine running is normal. It is telling you that "the SC is leaving the cabin, and I don't like it....".
The flashing is telling you that the base station sees the SC (fob). This flashing can be seen when you just got in or just turn the engine off. These are normal also.

Those button batteries are very cheap ($2-3 at most) ar Fry's or RadioShack.

Ceric,

I agree with all of that, but there definately is some type of issue.

I tried my spare SC too (which gets no useage). The SC is nowhere near the charger. When this happened last week, I moved the key around the cabin while driving and no luck. The car thought the key had left the car when I opened the door and never came back when I shut the door (key light flashing). Once the car is started, and a door is opened or closed, the key status is set. Only gets reset once the car is restarted(rebooted)

Give this a try yourself. See if the SC acts funny with something charging. In fact, the other post reports problems with just the charger plugged in and not charging anything.

 

[ceric]

Interesting. I rarely use the power outlet inside the armrest.
I will give it a try when I have time.
Have you tried the one 12V outlet under the stereo? Does it make any differences?

 

[dolesun]

I put my Blackberry in the same pocket as the smartkey one time and I couldn't get the doors to unlock until I pull the phone out.

 

[SeCX-9]

Interesting. I rarely use the power outlet inside the armrest.
I will give it a try when I have time.
Have you tried the one 12V outlet under the stereo? Does it make any differences?

Yes, I RARELY use mine as well, but I think I put 2 and 2 together (as they say) and I think I proved some issue exists.

I haven't tried the 12V under the NAV system, but wil do a little more problem isolation this weekend.

Regarding the phone next to the smartkey, yes, I've seen that it gets mixed signals and makes the signal unreliable. I also have seen an Iphone, next to a smartkey cause a buzzing sound in my wifes CX-7 hands-free bluetooth car audio (in the same pocket in her purse).

 

[nguvanh]

I just get into same problem.
I have an inverter plugged in armrest powerlet and my both keyfobs didn't work properly as described above until I unplug the inverter.

 

[ceric]

I guess the power outlet in the armrest is constant 12v. not switched.
The SmartKey, of course, is on constrant 12v as well. Maybe they share the
same circuit. When you have accessory plugged into the outlet, the voltage drops to a level low enough such that the SmartKey base station does not work properly.

Someone needs to bring MazdaUSA's attention on to this. There should be a TSB to fix this.

 

[SeCX-9]

How would one go about requesting a MazdaUSA "fix" directly to Mazda? All we can do is complain at the local dealer and when they get enough complaints over the next few months and years, maybe they will do something.

Any ideas?

 

[ceric]

SeCX-9.
You certainly don't have to follow the "chain of commands" in this case. While you are dealing with the dealers, you can, in the meantime, talk to MazdaUSA (email or phone call) about this. I think this may be a design issue, instead of a defect in parts.
I don't have a power-converter. Otherwise, I can try mine to verify.

I don't have the wiring diagram. (still looking for one to buy on eBay)
My Workshop manual does not show system wiring in details.

 

[nguvanh]

Lighter outlet on dash and AC power outlet on rear driver side are switched. All other lighter outlets are constant current at all time.

 

[ceric]

If this is truly a design issue, we would need Mazda engineers to get involved and devise a fix for it. Then, issue a TSB for all dealerships to know how to fix this if customers request for it.
So far, it seems so.

 

[ceric]

For the sake of trying, I bought a mini-USB charger (for $2.99) for my HTC pro, and plugged it in to the power outlet in the armrest to charge. NO PROBLEM.
I can lock/unlock (autolock and press keys on SmartCard) and drive w/o any issues.

It is well-known that SmartCard/Key interferes with cell phones and certain antenna towers (FM stations, airport radars, etc.) Put your cardkey in a separate pocket from your phone. This should eliminate that issue.

As for the issue reported by SeCX-9, I can't reproduce it with my CX9 and charger I bought.

 

[tony89]

Once in a great while I've experienced the CX-9 thinking that my smartkey was "missing". The key light would flash even though the smartkey was in my hand, in the middle of the car. Sometimes, I would drive down the driveway, put the car in park, get out and put the mail in the mailbox and get back in only to hear the car beeping about the smartkey. I couldn't nail down what the hell was going on. Othertimes it would beep when I opened the door or closed the door, even though the key was where it was supposed to be.

Not sure if any of you have had similar strange experiences.

I just ran into a similar thread on the CX-7 forums and I think they identified the problem with the smartkey and phone chargers. Somehow, phone chargers, plugged into the power outlet interfere with the smartkey sensors, or cause some type of power drain that cause the key sensor to malfunction.

This morning, I think duplicated the problem by plugging in my iGo iPhone adpater to my old IPod in my center console. Started the car, and took the smart key far away from the vehicle so the key sensor would go off and beep. It did not! In fact, it didn't even know that the smartkey left the vehicle. (I had to get to leave for work so I couldn't test the "normal" operation and only went from memory).

I rarely use a phone/iPhone charger for my 30 minute commute, and even more rarely charge the old IPod in my car, but I think the CX-7'ers have isolated the problem.

http://www.mcx7.com/showthread.php?t=4768

Anyone else been having this mysterious problem?

I have enough intermittent issues with my smart key that I was able to lock the smartkey inside the CX-9 one time. Luckily after a few tries on the door button, I was able to unlock the vehicle.

I constantly have my cellphone charger plugged in and cellphone stored int he adjacent pocket. Also I keep an ipod plugged into the console charger.

I get the key light often but haven't spent the time to isolate it.

Question. Will the CX-9 continue to run indefinitely without the smartkey once started?

 

[ceric]

Question. Will the CX-9 continue to run indefinitely without the smartkey once started?

Once started, the CX9 powertrain is unaffected by the CardKey.