Can I lock the keys in the car with the car turned on?

[DarthHobbit]

It is oftentimes around 20 degrees when I leave the office, so I would like to turn the car on and leave it running with the keys inside while it warms up (I have the key code access on the driver side door so I'm not worried about being locked out). But no matter what I do I cannot get the doors to stay locked when the car is running and in park. Am I missing something or is this a "safety" feature? Any way to get around it if it is a safety feature?

 

[elle]

I tried to do this the other day and could not do it. I think it is a safety feature, or a "don't lock your keys in the car" feature, but it seems kind of silly when we have keyless access, too.

[SteveB_TX]

Yep. From the Owners Guide: "Press and hold 7·8 and 9·0 at the same time (with the driver’s door closed). You do not need to enter the keypad code first." When you are ready to go, just enter your entry code to unlock the door. At least this method works on my MKZ. :)

[hybridbear]

Have you tried locking the doors with the door lock switch on the door? I have never tried to lock the doors with the car running to test out these ideas.

[SteveB_TX]

Have you tried locking the doors with the door lock switch on the door? I have never tried to lock the doors with the car running to test out these ideas.

 

After testing locking via the door lock switch, my Z honks at me and unlocks the doors as soon as I close the drivers door. How rude! ;)

[elle]

 

After testing locking via the door lock switch, my Z honks at me and unlocks the doors as soon as I close the drivers door. How rude! ;)

 

Yup, that's what mine did.

[Howie411]

A few weeks ago I was trying to figure this out myself. I was doing a 5k and I wanted to leave my keys etc in the car. But every time I tried to lock the door the car yelled at me cause the keys were inside. What is the point of having a keypad on the door to unlock the door if I'm always stuck with the keys....

[murphy]

The batteries in the key could be dead.

 

To lock the key in the car remove the batteries.

[aaronj1159]

A few weeks ago I was trying to figure this out myself. I was doing a 5k and I wanted to leave my keys etc in the car. But every time I tried to lock the door the car yelled at me cause the keys were inside. What is the point of having a keypad on the door to unlock the door if I'm always stuck with the keys....

That's odd. I've locked my keys in the car using the touchpad many times.

[hybridbear]

That's odd. I've locked my keys in the car using the touchpad many times.

The difference could be SE vs HyTi. The Prius has an intelligent access key like the HyTi. It beeps angrily if we try to lock the car with a key inside. The SE doesn't know there's a key inside so it doesn't get angry with you.

 

The original discussion was about locking the car with it running. The HyTi will intelligent access will let you get out with the key while it's running. It will beep at you by the car keeps running. The doors will lock without issue because the key is outside the car. The question is how to lock the key inside the car on the SE while the key is in the ignition with it running.

[elle]

Yes, and this is an issue for anyone who wants to warm their car up in the morning during cold weather. These running cars are prime targets for theft. I assume the ones with remote start stay locked when the engine starts. I can't imagine the usefulness of this, otherwise.

[aaronj1159]

Well, lemme go try it and see what happens. Be right back! haha.

[aaronj1159]

Interesting. I managed to do it. Turned on the car, got out, and it didn't work. So I thought "well, maybe it can't be done" but then I had an idea. I got my spare key and locked it using that. That worked, no problems. Then I used the keypad to unlock the door. No issues there. So then I turned the car off, turned it on, and tried locking with the keypad again, and voila, works. Not sure if I just didn't his the keypad correctly the first time or what, but I was able to duplicate the results plenty of times.

 

Edit: again this is on my SE, so no Intelligent Access. I guess that's the sticking point.

Edited December 23, 2013 by aaronj1159

[elle]

I'll have to try the keypad. Never thought of using that to lock, just to unlock.

[hybridbear]

Yes, and this is an issue for anyone who wants to warm their car up in the morning during cold weather. These running cars are prime targets for theft. I assume the ones with remote start stay locked when the engine starts. I can't imagine the usefulness of this, otherwise.

Remote start leaves the car locked while running. With intelligent access you must then unlock the car and get in. The key must be present. Before you can drive you have to put your foot on brake and push the button. Remote start systems with a key usually require something similar. You have to unlock doors with remote and then put key in ignition and turn before you can shift out of park. This way cars running from remote start cannot be stolen. If someone breaks a window to get in they will not be able to put the car in gear to steal it.

 

In MN it is against the law to leave your running car unattended, even if the doors are locked. I'm not sure how the law applies to remote start systems since a thief couldn't break the window to steal the car like he/she could when it is running with keys in it.

[acdii]

The touch pad locks sometimes dont work well on the Fusion. ran into this a few times, have to touch them just right. So it is possible you were trying and ran into this problem, however, any of the Fords will allow you to lock the keys in using the touchpad to lock and unlock, even while running.

[SteveB_TX]

Fords will allow you to lock the keys in using the touchpad to lock and unlock, even while running.

 

That is what my original response was... and I just verified it with a friends 2013 FFH SE. :) So, go out unto the world and lock your keys in your FFH and MKZ!

[acdii]

I figured out the issue with the 7/8 9/0 pads and why I have problems locking the car with them. You have to wait for the lights to go off on the pad, then touch them both, then the car locks. You also have to touch and hold then a few seconds. So used to the pad with real buttons I expect the locks to happen right away.

[elle]

I'll have to try that, because I tried locking with the pad yesterday and it did not work.