2009 Mazda 6: What To Do When the Intelligent Key Gets Dumb

Electronics are good but steel is better.

I imagine it's a lot harder to steal a car without a regular ignition. It's pretty easy to punch out the ignition on the steering column and drive away.

Does anyone know if it really is harder to steal a car with one of these "intelligent keys"?

I hear you guys, but I do find that the systems that allow me to leave the keys in my pocket through the entire process extremely convenient. And I HATE a dangling key ring swinging around, banging into my knee and generally scratching the hell out of the nearby dash or steering column plastic.

I'm glad this happened and is documented. I have one of these keys and never really knew how or where to plug in the key on my 370Z.

Maybe you could do this with other cars so your users can see what to do?

@ stephen987,

It's called technology advancement... Got a question for you...

Have you ever had a car for a long period of time with the keyless-entry/start type of keys?

If you haven't then I strongly suggest you to try it before making any conclusion. If you have then please share with us why the old "take a physical key out of your pocket, stick it into a keyed ignition switch on the steering column, and turn the key to start the car" type of system is better.

Personally before I have my current car (which has the keyless-entry/start system) I didn't thought about it much as well, however after having it for more than 3 years now I am not sure if I can live without it... Am I getting spoiled? Maybe. Does it worth it? Bet your arse it does.

I agree - we don't have this system in either of our cars but I think it is one of the smarter developments of late. Also agree that it would behoove an owner to review that section of their manual before it ends up in the glove box of their locked car.

The system that doesn't seem to make a ton of sense (more of a novelty) is the one like my wife's 328 has - you still have to pull out the "key" to unlock and you still insert it in the dash prior to using the push to start feature (reverse it to shut car off).....two steps where there used to be one. On the plus side however, the BMW key is otherwise pretty impressive with the degree of driver unique preferences and settings that it communicates to the car.

This is one of those pieces of tech that I think is fixing something that wasn't broken. There is just something about twisting a key to start the car.

I also have to say that it is EXTREMELY convenient to not have to take your keys out, stick them in the ignition to start the car.

Keyless start FTW!

@ the_big_al,

So based on your logic, microwaves, TVs, cars, and toilets all "fixed something that wasn't borken"... Hey, our ancestors used to live in caves and they did just fine and dandy right?

I'll ask you the question that I asked stephen987... Have you ever had a car for a long period of time with the keyless-entry/start type of keys?

Infiniti has a good system for this and I think it made its way to Nissan but not 100% sure. if the smartkey dies, there's a tab on the dash where you plug it in so that the car can recognize it and then start.

as for the technology itself, i think it's a great move forward. sure it can fail but can't a key break after long use itself? i just love the fact that i can get in a car and start it without having to take my gloves off to take my keys out during the winter or to waste the time to get keys out during a rain storm.

Like many people are saying, I never really gave the key much thought before we bought our new wireless key-equipped car. Now, I would never want to go back. It's superior, in every way, to an old mechanical key. While I might not choose one car over another, solely on the merits of the key. I would gladly pay a small premium to have that option.

I think to each his own. My Infiniti had remote keyless entry and trunk. When I got it I thought it was great. Then the fob separated from the key and it was a nuisance to carry both but I still did because it was good to be able to open all the doors and trunk from one place. Then I got my MB; no keyless but the one solid nice key opens every thing including trunk from any key hole. I like this much better since it's one small key and there's no changing batteries or programming fobs (both things I had to do with the Fancy Nissan).

Being of the generation that grew up with a computer in hand I have no doubt that these keyless systems can be defeated and once they're more common I can foresee systems that require virtually no skill to disable and let someone get away with your $90K BMW with nothing more than a 6 grade education and the ability to use a Ipod.

On the plus side though as the number of keyless systems go up the probably that someone will still know how to bust a keyed system goes down. Or at least thats my logic.

Being of the generation that grew up with a computer in hand I have no doubt that these keyless systems can be defeated and once they're more common I can foresee systems that require virtually no skill to disable and let someone get away with your $90K BMW with nothing more than a 6 grade education and the ability to use a Ipod.

On the plus side though as the number of keyless systems go up the probably that someone will still know how to bust a keyed system goes down. Or at least that's my logic.

There is something uniquely satisfying about sticking a key in an ignition lock and starting a car. Old 70s Mopars had a really nice feel...stick the key in upside down (just like a door lock) and fire up the hummingbird starter and hope the Carter carb did not have hot soak....anyway I digress.....the wifes Prius makes you stick the stupid fob in the slot THEN you have to push a button......that is progress? When old GM key locks wore out you did not need a key anyway. So it takes two more seconds of your life to put the key in the lock, big deal.

To each to their own.

I drove a company car, which was a Nissan Versa SL for several months, the keyless entry works well. Drop it in the pocket, open the doors, twist the ignition to start.

The fob had a key available, that allowed you to open the cars manually and start the car (if that is what you prefer).

Whatever.

@ bodyblue,

You need to look outside your wife's Prius...

There are many keyless entry/start systems out there that doesn't require the fob to leave your pocket AT ALL TIME.

I know that there are many different systems...I was just kicking the Prius ...I hate so many things about it. Some things just dont need to be changed.

Having a lame metal key is SOO twentieth century! I mean, come on! This is the twenty first century! When I can text in my vote for American Idol on my iPhone, why would I be bothered to take something out of my pocket? Plus, I get this cool Indy car style starter button to start my car with! Just like and Aston Martin! A metal key is just about as lame as walking to the corner store for milk. Why would I do that when I can hop into my car an imagine like I'm starting my Aston?!

There's even an app for starting my car with my iPhone! How cool is that?
http://www.insideline.com/car-news/iphone-is-a-car-key-with-viper-smartstart.html

I have not owned a vehicle with this feature. And I do not plan to do so until the technology matures.

These systems all seem to require a lot of work-arounds (like the one described in the blog entry) in order to account for what happens when the key doesn't work.

My old-fashioned metal keys don't have that problem. They always work.

So no, it didn't fix what wasn't broken--it broke what was already fixed.

@ stephen987,

The technology is very mature... This is really not some high tech thingy as some will think it is, I have my car for over 3 years now and never once had any problem with it. Have the fob in my pocket, pull the door handle, get in the car, push the button and off I go... Been doing that every week morning for the last 40+ months and not a single day I had ran into problems.

A lot work-arounds? LOL... Like I've said, don't jump into conclusions by reading stuffs on internet until you actually used it yourself.

Am I the only one who thinks that start button is in a stupid spot?

@bodyblue
The prius most definitely has everything keyless, my wife doesnt ever take it out of her pocketbook. You guys must be using it incorrectly.

No...your Prius has that option...ours does not.

I've had this feature on my '09 Mazda6i now for a year. Absolutely love the convenience.

Occasionally find myself forgetting to pull the keys out of my pocket after I'm already strapped into our other (keyed) vehicle now and then. Not a big deal there - just shows how easy the system is to live with. Nothing better than not having to fish the keys or fob out of your pocket to open the trunk or door when your hands are full of things you're bringing to or from work.

My 4 year old thinks its hot to reach up to the handle and unlock the doors himself. Bonus kid entertainment!

I just bought a 2009 Mazda 6 S Touring. The Advanced Keyless Entry is awesome. I love the novelty and practicality of it. I like not having to get the keys out of my pocket, especially when I've got bags or stuff in my hands. The ability to push a button to start the car makes my inner kid smile with joy (the button is in the right spot). Lastly, what I like about this feature is that I don't think I can kill the starter by trying to start the car when its already on.

I'm not sure if most modern cars prevent you from damaging the starter if you try to turn it on with a key once its already started, but if I only have to push a button, then I know that I can't hurt the car's starter if it is already on.

Lastly, the key fob and entry design is awesome. Its simple and right. The Challenger's is a joke for such an ionic and expensive car. The new CTS wagon keb fob is really big, most likely so that the driver can find it, and ford still gives out a key and fob combination.

This is nice!

Ok, so the advanced key is nice, but one thing that the key should do, which it doesn't, is memorize my seat position, even though I don't have the stock memory seats. UG! This means I need to readjust my seats every time my wife drives the car. What further complicates things is that I am forever playing with the power seats to get a comfortable position.

Does anyone have a method of setting up the driver's seat and steering? Is their a right or wrong way, like setting up your mirrors?

Since the editors have a lot of test drives, do they have any thoughts on this?