BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home

30 May 07 - 09:59 PM (#2064562)
Subject: BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home
From: JohnInKansas

Nissan: Cell Phones Can Disable Your Car Keys

          ARTICLE DATE:  05.25.07
  
            By  Reuters  , eWEEK
  
            DETROIT (Reuters) - Nissan North America has a warning 
            for customers: placing your electronic key too close to
             your cellphone could leave you stranded. 
  
            The automaker is asking customers driving new models of
             two of its flagship sedans to keep their car keys and 
            cellphones at least an inch apart to avoid disabling 
            the "intelligent keys." 
  
            Cellphones kept near Nissan's I-Keys—wireless devices 
            designed to allow drivers to enter and start their cars 
            at the push of a button—can erase the electronic code 
            on the keys, rendering them unable to unlock or start 
            the cars. 
  
            The problem has occurred on the 
            2007 Nissan Altima and Infiniti G35 sedans
            —two of their top-selling models, 
            the company said on Thursday. 
  
            "We discovered that if the I-Key touches a 
            cellphone, outgoing or incoming calls have the potential 
            to alter the electronic code inside the I-Key," 
            Nissan spokesman Kyle Bazemore said. 
  
            "The car won't start and the I-Key cannot be reprogrammed,"
             he added. 
  
            The problem has occurred in a "very small percentage" of
            cars sold, Bazemore said. He also said a new version of 
            the I-Key would be available in the fall. 
  
            Bazemore said current owners have been notified of the 
            potential glitch via mail and can get new keys from 
            dealers if they encounter the problem.

In the meantime, if your car won't start, just drive by your dealership and get a new key???????

Does anyone know the Japanese word for "OOOOPS?"

John

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30 May 07 - 10:21 PM (#2064567)
Subject: RE: BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home
From: Skivee

EEEE- TAIIIIIIIIIII !!!!!!!!!

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30 May 07 - 11:09 PM (#2064585)
Subject: RE: BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home
From: Sorcha

This is rich. We don't have cars, we have robots.

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30 May 07 - 11:46 PM (#2064610)
Subject: RE: BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home
From: Q (Frank Staplin)

Unrelated problem-
I have (had) a little electronic 'key' that came with my Cherokee. I dropped it on the tile kitchen floor and now have several little pieces, including tiny plastic clips that broke off and three button batteries.
After reading the above, I am glad the vehicle also came with regular keys.
I may not replace- my neighborhood mechanic says the replacement at the Jeep dealer ain't cheap.

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31 May 07 - 12:12 AM (#2064619)
Subject: RE: BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home
From: frogprince

Just saw another warning about electronic keys. Once the car is rumming, it doesn't need the key to keep going. So if you hand off the car to a valet, or anyone else, he can take it to park, or use, then stop it and discover he doesn't have the key to restart it. Or, as a number of people have discovered to their chagrin, you can take the car back from the valet and drive away, then stop it miles from nowhere and discover you don't have the key to restart it.   How many more gadgets will be foisted off that are so &*$# "clever" that they're a damned nuisance?

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31 May 07 - 07:10 AM (#2064760)
Subject: RE: BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home
From: wysiwyg

A dupe of our electronic key was more than 60 bucks, and no auto-unlock thingie included! Dealer only-- no one else c/would do it.

~S~

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31 May 07 - 08:24 AM (#2064807)
Subject: RE: BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home
From: GUEST,redhorse at work

All car keys now have a coded radio transponder (immobiliser):
most have to be put in the ignition to be within range, but the "keyless entry " type have a longer range and require what's effectively an immobiliser recognition before you can open the door.

Nothing special about Nissan here

nick

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31 May 07 - 08:32 AM (#2064812)
Subject: RE: BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home
From: Grab

Frogprince: Yeah, this kind of glitch is a general problem. Still, it's not being "foisted" on us yet - it's an option that gadget-happy people can buy if they want.

Note though that "electronic key" is different from the "key with electronics in the fob". A pure "electronic key" doesn't give you a physical key to do the unlock.

FWIW though, immobilisers are the reason there are hardly any thefts of modern cars - nearly all thefts today are of older cars. Plenty of thefts *from* cars, but electronic immobilisers have essentially made it impossible to steal modern cars without the key.

Graham.

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31 May 07 - 01:55 PM (#2065073)
Subject: RE: BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home
From: McGrath of Harlow

Another good reason to resist the suggestion of getting a new car.

Theft? Best defence is to have a car that looks like a wreck...

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01 Jun 07 - 04:18 AM (#2065547)
Subject: RE: BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home
From: Doug Chadwick

Theft? Best defence is to have a car that looks like a wreck...

That's why my wife doesn't mind me being a balding, overweight, ugly, bad tempered, old git.

DC

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01 Jun 07 - 05:25 PM (#2066039)
Subject: RE: BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home
From: Liz the Squeak

Ah Doug - beware the urge to trade the wreck in for a classic model....

LTS

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01 Jun 07 - 06:44 PM (#2066092)
Subject: RE: BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home
From: JohnInKansas

Should I then be concerned that my beloved keeps urging me to dress better and be more polite whenever she displays me in public?

Is she just hoping....???

(I don't know that she has insurance against my "accidental disappearance" ... but maybe I should investigate.)

John

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01 Jun 07 - 06:50 PM (#2066094)
Subject: RE: BS: Nissan Says Don't Call Home
From: Liz the Squeak

Especially if she keeps looking longingly at pictures of classic models...

Check under the bed.. that's a good place for putting insurance policies.

LTS

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