Death by Keyless start

[90Duck]

I saw this sad story yesterday about a man who killed himself via carbon monoxide poisoning when his 4Runner inadvertently started or kept running in his garage overnight:

His keyless car killed him while he slept. New legislation could save others. - Orlando Sentinel

I've never had a car with keyless entry/start up, and honestly have never really understood the benefits, if any. I guess it is just confirmation bias on my part, but this kind of tragic event makes me question the feature even more.

I am curious to hear from those who have it on their 4Runners or other vehicles.

 

[JP421]

I saw this sad story yesterday about a man who killed himself via carbon monoxide poisoning when his 4Runner inadvertently started or kept running in his garage overnight:

His keyless car killed him while he slept. New legislation could save others. - Orlando Sentinel

I've never had a car with keyless entry/start up, and honestly have never really understood the benefits, if any. I guess it is just confirmation bias on my part, but this kind of tragic event makes me question the feature even more.

I am curious to hear from those who have it on their 4Runners or other vehicles.

Death by lack of a carbon monoxide detector in his home is another way to put it and is far more common than a car accidentally running.

 

[Toffees]

I saw this sad story yesterday about a man who killed himself via carbon monoxide poisoning when his 4Runner inadvertently started or kept running in his garage overnight:

His keyless car killed him while he slept. New legislation could save others. - Orlando Sentinel

I've never had a car with keyless entry/start up, and honestly have never really understood the benefits, if any. I guess it is just confirmation bias on my part, but this kind of tragic event makes me question the feature even more.

I am curious to hear from those who have it on their 4Runners or other vehicles.

It's certainly not perfect and if you have certain habits then it can be hard to relearn the keyless habit. But still, the story is a bit misleading, his vehicle's keyless entry didn't kill him. It was:

1) old age and mistakes or distraction
2) lack of CO monitor, like said above
3) was the garage properly vented?
4) a machine that doesn't think for the user and inform the user of his mistakes forgot to turn itself off

 

[03_4x4Runner]

My Limited has keyless start and I will never have another vehicle without it. You get spoiled real quick not having to dig the keys out of your pocket. If you leave the engine running and walk away from the vehicle it beeps loud to let you know the engine is running. I heard on the news that the manufactures are going to make it so that the engine shuts off after a certain time to prevent this freak accident.

 

[MAXISTYLES]

I owned a Nissan Altima many years ago when push button tech first started coming out. I left the car on for about six hours in my driveway because I didn't hold the button down for long enough time to shut the engine off. Auto Manufacturers need to come up with some more safety features for keyless on/off however Im sure it will be at a price, both monetary and of inconvenience. Personally I prefer a regular key, that way I always know where my key is and when my vehicle/engine is on and off.

 

[KuhDunkADunk]

My Limited has keyless start and I will never have another vehicle without it. You get spoiled real quick not having to dig the keys out of your pocket. If you leave the engine running and walk away from the vehicle it beeps loud to let you know the engine is running. I heard on the news that the manufactures are going to make it so that the engine shuts off after a certain time to prevent this freak accident.

I had a WRX with keyless start before as well. It's a cool feature but I've learned to live without it. I'm fine with a key now.

 

[IndyFastlane]

I don’t have keyless entry/start on my 4runner, but I have had it on a couple previous cars.....most recently a 17 Tacoma. It was convenient, although not a “must have” for me.

In the Tacoma.....when/if you got out of the truck with the key in your pocket and the engine running, the truck would “beep” really loud as a safety reminder. If one left the fob sitting in the car, it wouldn’t do that....but then I would argue that a person who forgets to press the power button to stop the engine may be just as inclined to leave the key of a standard-keyed car in the steering column with the engine running. If you are distracted, you’re distracted.

I feel sorry for the guy and his family, but it wasn’t the fault of the car or it’s design IMO.

 

[LandCruiser]

Oh boy more stupid government legislation to try to fix stupid.

 

[Bumbo]

For a moment I thought this was related to remote start systems, where you could fire up the vehicle remotely. I like these system very much.

Keyless entry / start is pretty convenient item as well.

Sad story, but this is really an end user issue / carelessness.

I guess the idle time-out isn’t a bad idea, but there are certain instances where I actually wouldn’t want it to do that.

 

[cbreze]

So the way that works is you need to carry some kind of a chipped card or fob on your person, right? I’d rather just carry a key. People in hot summer climates leave cars running with the AC on, or winter time heat running, maybe someone is with them remaining in the car? How would that work? Leave the fob in the car? To many government nanny systems on today’s cars IMO. One more thing to drive up the cost and need fixing later. Hard pass.

 

[cb1111]

So the way that works is you need to carry some kind of a chipped card or fob on your person, right? I’d rather just carry a key. People in hot summer climates leave cars running with the AC on, or winter time heat running, maybe someone is with them remaining in the car? How would that work? Leave the fob in the car? To many government nanny systems on today’s cars IMO. One more thing to drive up the cost and need fixing later. Hard pass.

You carry a key fob- it is a proximity key so the car knows where it is - outside but close by (i.e. in a pocket or purse) and you can unlock the door by touching a door handle or pressing a button) and inside will allow you to start the engine using a start/stop button.

At the risk of sounding sexist, fob-less entry is more of a "gotta have it" for women with big purses so they don't need to dig around in the bag to find their key.

Once you've had it, then it does become sort of a "must have"

 

[cbreze]

You carry a key fob- it is a proximity key so the car knows where it is - outside but close by (i.e. in a pocket or purse) and you can unlock the door by touching a door handle or pressing a button) and inside will allow you to start the engine using a start/stop button.

At the risk of sounding sexist, fob-less entry is more of a "gotta have it" for women with big purses so they don't need to dig around in the bag to find their key.

Once you've had it, then it does become sort of a "must have"

Yeah, I had it on a Miata. Carried a credit card sized card in my wallet. It was nice but def not a must have for me anyway. It came with the car that way. It didn’t always read it right and I had to pull out the aux backup key from the card to start the car then it would work fine till the next time. Wasn’t a big fan. To each their own and I realize some like all the bells and whistles, I’m more old school, (my 4Runner is my first auto tranny in 50 years,) and also older than probably most on here. I’ve never , ever had a regular key fail me. I don’t see how I could get out of my 4Runner and not hear the engine running when in an enclosed garage. It does make some noise. Hard of hearing maybe? A sad story none- the -less.
EDIT: a sad true story of an old troubled friend I had years ago who tried to kill themselves in my garage when I was away. Car running, they’re sitting in it, doors to garage closed. Neighbors found her and called 911. My point is the entire house smelled like car exhaust fumes inside. I know carbon monoxide is odorless but the rest of the gunk is not at all. I would think one would smell that before succumbing to the carbon monoxide.

 

[Superjet]

I have it and love it. Looking to add a RAV4 to the fleet and just using one fob for both vehicles.

If you leave the vehicle running and exit the truck will beep at you. However, as the article states Toyota can very easily add a software update to shut the vehicle down by itself if it's not moving.

 

[808Keith]

My aftermarket keyless start has a 15min timer.

According to Toyota FAQs (After remotely starting the engine, how long will the engine run before it shuts off?
):

After remotely starting the engine, how long will the engine run before it shuts off?

Any vehicle started with the remote engine starter can idle for a total of 20 minutes. Automatic engine shutdown occurs after 10 minutes, but the vehicle may be remotely started as many times as you wish for an additional 10 minutes. After 20 minutes of total operation, however, the vehicle must be started manually to reset the remote engine starter.


Sounds like operator error sad to say... yet they will enact a law for automobile manufacturers to put in safeguards. On top of that the family will most likely try to sue.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Superjet]

My aftermarket keyless start has a 15min timer.

According to Toyota FAQs (After remotely starting the engine, how long will the engine run before it shuts off?
):

After remotely starting the engine, how long will the engine run before it shuts off?

Any vehicle started with the remote engine starter can idle for a total of 20 minutes. Automatic engine shutdown occurs after 10 minutes, but the vehicle may be remotely started as many times as you wish for an additional 10 minutes. After 20 minutes of total operation, however, the vehicle must be started manually to reset the remote engine starter.


Sounds like operator error sad to say... yet they will enact a law for automobile manufacturers to put in safeguards. On top of that the family will most likely try to sue.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You are confusing a remote starter with keyless start (push to start).

 

[Ray Dunakin]

I would never own a vehicle with keyless entry/keyless start, especially if it means I can't leave the vehicle with the engine running.

 

[Agent_Outside]

The smart key system is awesome. When we are hiking, biking, or skiing, basically anything that requires a pack, we get back to the truck and you can just walk up to the back and open it or hold the down arrow on the outside of the back hatch and the rear window rolls down so you can throw all your gear in back. You never have to dig the keys out of the pack. Once your stuff is in inside you can walk around open the driver door and reach in to start the engine and get the HVAC running while you change clothes, load up equipment, have a snack, etc.

There nothing dangerous about the system, if you exit the vehicle with the key while the ignition is on it will do very loud audible warning beeps.

For what happened in the story you would need to leave the vehicle running (which let’s be honest, these things aren’t silent luxury vehicles) and have the key with you and the leave the door open, or you would have to leave the vehicle running and forget your keys. There’s nothing inherently dangerous or complicated about the system.

That being said, higher end vehicle do have auto shut off safety features, like everything if you want an abundance of extra stuff and capabilities you can open your wallet to get them.

 

[Bumbo]

I would never own a vehicle with keyless entry/keyless start, especially if it means I can't leave the vehicle with the engine running.

It's really no different than a keyed system... if you want to leave it running, just leave the key-fob in the car, just like you would have to with a regular key.

This story would have ended the same if the owner decided to leave his 4Runner running with the key in the ignition.

 

[bigmace]

How did his truck run all night? Most keyless starts only run for about ~15 mins and then turn on off. 15 minutes of a car running is not enough to kill someone from carbon monoxide poisoning. Something else going on with this story.

edit: after reading the story he must have had a limited model. Do limiteds not turn off after X minutes from the remote start?

 

[nglayton]

Looking to add a RAV4 to the fleet and just using one fob for both vehicles.

Damn! This is an excellent idea!! It never dawned on me until you posted it here. Easy enough with techstream to add some fobs.

For me it's a 3 Toyota family and 3 fobs, never having the right fob for the right rig is a pita sometimes, no way am I carrying all 3 all the time.