2009 Dodge Ram 1500: Things That Make You Go Hmmm

Three extra buttons that do nothing? This is probably done b/c this is the same key that is used on the Grand Caravan which needs those three extra buttons for the power liftgate and each power sliding door.

the fob looks like the 'keyless' operator for the Challenger

Two separate keys.

Why would you need the extra key since there is a 'normal steel' key inside the plastic fobkey?

.. What's with the switch near the bottom of the fob?

Oh, and no trunk release. *nods sagely*

It looks like a mini-hand grenade, does it have a self-destruct button on the back?

There's no pictures of Natty Light in the Rambox accompanying this post

eidolways, why would you need a trunk release in a pickup?

I would say the panic button being placed right on the tab that is inserted into the ignition. Some fumbling around in the dark could cause it to be set off as you try to find the ignition.

"I would say the panic button being placed right on the tab that is inserted into the ignition. Some fumbling around in the dark could cause it to be set off as you try to find the ignition."

There's no way to do that.... I've tried. :-)

It is upside down, at least in relation to every keyless entry/alarm fob I've ever had. The keyring on this fob attaches at the bottom, all the others at the top.

I noticed that is orientated upside down compared to most other manufacturers.
Most panic buttons are recessed so that you don't accidently press them, this one is right out there in the open...put that might be for a valid safety reason.

But what does the (x2) button do?

The (X2) button is for automatic start.

Those are two different keys. Tradtional metal key and the all in one keyless entry and key with the metal key hidden inside... Which one does the Ram use?

Yeah, panic button looks like an afterthought. Has anyone ever used it? If I ever panicked, reaching for my keys would not be the first thing I would think of doing.

@ bankerdanny -

I think he was being funny. At least I thought it was funny.

The two different keys. I know that the there's a spare metal key inside the keyless plastic fob anyway, in case the battery dies and you need to unlock the door via the metal key. But I don't think there's an actual slot for the metal key to be inserted in the ignition, so it seems kind of pointless.

I think the regular key is for the locking tailgate maybe and the door? Same key Mercedes uses but without any metal on it.

I going to go with the panic button and unlock button being WAY to close. It appears the unlock is a slight rocker button, so you would have to press it forward. Thus your fingernail could trigger the panic function while just unlocking the vehicle. This may not be a bad thing since my three year old boy says the red button for helping mommy can find the car.

The metal key locks the tailgate. The switch is a release for the spare metal key, which only unlocks the door(s).

It's based off a Mercedes-Benz key fob from when they were owned by Daimler? Same with most of their vehicles.

Too many blank spots for extra buttons.

I kinda like how its shaped a grenade.

The traditional key locks/unlocks the ram boxes and tail gate.

The FOB is for keyless entry and keyless start.

Inside the FOB is an emergency key (traditional key) used for opening the doors if the FOB loses battery power.

All that considered...I'm betting the traditional key does not lock/unlock the doors.

What they should of done was use those extra blank buttons to lock and unlock the tailgate and ram boxes. That would be nifty.

Your biggest problem was making an Arsenio Hall reference.

Okay, so I found a similar fob on a co-workers desk and inquired about it. The actual key is the tab where the panic button is. The switch unlocks the fob from a hidden key. The problem is the hidden key is still attached to the ring, but the fob/real key is now now longer on the key chain. The fob being the key also would add to confusion as many are used to a metal key to start a vehicle, not a fob only (no switchblade metal key). Is the metal key only for doors and tailgate? Why go to the trouble of using the fob as the key instead of a traditional metal key, when you have to have one anyway?

As the owner of a set of those keys, the problem IS that the lock/unlock buttons are raised instead of recessed.

I'd take a guess. How many time did you pressed PANIC accidentally when you thought you pressed Unlock

I have a set of these. I don't see the problem. I like it to be honest. As for the panic button, I can honestly saw Jason31480 that, for me at least, that has never happened.