Start Knob

[TexasTwister]

Hey everyone,

We just purchased a (new to us!) 2007 CX-9 Grand Touring that we love! Anyway, we didn't quite understand that Start Knob/Smart Key stuff until reading through the owner's manual. My understanding is that a "Start Knob" can be inserted into the ignition and it can be simply turned to start the car as long as the Smart Key (the credit card looking device) is somewhere in the passenger cabin.

First, is this correct?
Second, does anyone know if I can buy this "Start Knob" anywhere online, or is it a "dealer only" part?

Thanks everyone for your input and Happy Holidays.

 

[ceric]

"Start knob"? You mean the plastic cover that sits on the key cylinder?
Why would you want to buy another one for?
The Start Knob stays where it is.
When you SmartKey runs out of battery (just in case), you pull the metal key out,
take the Srart Knob off, plug in the metal key, and turn it on like any traditional vehicles.

When everything is working as expected, the SmartKey needs to be on the driver's side to
allow you to turn the key cylinder. Otherwise, the cylinder is locked. You can't turn it.

Technically, both the SmartCard and the metal Key have RFIDs in it (same IDs).
Either one can start the engines. However, only the "card" allows you to lock/unlock doors,
and allow starting remotely w/o contact.

I hope this is clear. If not, please elaborate you questions further.

 

[TexasTwister]

Hi. Just to clarify, our CX-9 did not come with a Start Knob. We can only start the car with the metal key that we take out of the Smart Key. We didn't even know there was such a thing as a Start Knob until we were reading through the manual. Sure would make life easier if we had one! Thanks.

 

[ceric]

Got it.
Buy one at the dealership. It should be very cheap.
It is just a piece of plastic with a small patch on the side.

 

[danz75]

You should still be able to start the car without the plastic knob and without the metal key inserted if you have a working smart card within range. The plastic knob will not let you start the car if you don't have the smart card in range. I hope you have at least 2 working smart cards otherwise, it can get very expensive to replace them.

 

[ceric]

Yes, TexasTwister, did you get TWO SmartKeys when you bought the CX9?
If you got only one and lose it somehow, it will cost you an arm and a leg to replace it (at least $500+).
If you got only one, getting a second and have it programmed costs about $200-300.

 

[TexasTwister]

Thanks for the replies, folks. We only got one smart card with the vehicle and no start knob. I didn't know you could start the car without using the metal key or a start knob. I haven't read about this in the manual. This vehicle is by far the most technologically advanced we have ever owned and we learn new things about it every day. Today we learned about rolling down the windows and opening the moonroof with the smart card. Pretty cool. That'll be pretty handy here in Texas, say in August, when it's a blazing 120+ degrees inside the car from sitting in the sun!