This is so stupid...I left my cars keys inside my car in hte ignition (but off position) since sunday....and guess what today when im about to roll out and drive...battery is dead! anyways i dont why but it drained the juice out of my battery...i would say it should have a cut off that if you leave your keys in the ignition at the off position it shoudnt drained your battery...but anyways i guess not found it out the hard way...just for anybodys info.

 

Thanks for the info!!

 

That's so strange, I never would've thought that that would drain the battery. Do you know why it did?

 

The electrical system on these cars does not fully shut down until you remove the key.

Which is why when you turn it off, it says "REMOVE THE KEY"!

 

didn't your radio stay on if u left the key in there even in the off positon?

 

Perhaps it happened because it is an optical key. You should check the range of your key functions and see if that battery was also affected.

 

Keep in mind that the SmartKey is an electrical component, not a mechanical one. When you insert the SmartKey into the Electronic Ignition Switch, the coil present turns on the infrared system that reads the data in the key (through the end of the key) and then activates the ignition ready sequence, powers up any memory seating present, etc. As long as the key remains in the EIS coil the system is powered, thus comsuming electrical power.

 

Actually, I remember reading a warning in the owner's manual about leaving the key in the "0" position (off). It didn't say why, but it said there could be a battery drain. I remove the key even when I'm just sitting in the car, like waiting for someone I dropped off to return.

On that topic, several times I've dropped the keys between the seat and console, and it's a b!tch to get them out. Now, I always just lay them on the seat!

 

Mark, you're not saying RTFM, are you?

 

that once happned to me when i ment to just stick the key in and not turn it on that seconed and i did not push it in far enough and the key just flew in between the seat and console and it was a b*tch to take out as well. :p

 

Took me a second with that abbreviation! Who am I to tell people what they should do? Really, I was just confirming that it's a "known" issue.

Hey, Tommy, on another note. When you had your shades fixed, I guess they had to take your headliner out? Did you notice any difference after they re-installed it? I mentioned last week that I had some hail damage and I'm getting it repaired at Dent Wizard on 5/28. They have to sublet to a shop that specializes in roof stuff (they also do a lot of work for my MB dealer) to take down, and then put back, the headliner. They're charging $366 for this! I talked to a guy there and he said it's like 6 hours of labor. I hate to have them do this, but there are 3 bad dings in the middle of the roof and some smaller, less noticeable ones in the front. A bunch of people at work are having their cars fixed there, and I saw one already finished -- you can't tell anything was there.

 

I find my passengers to be very amused when I don't get the key all the way into the lock and the induction coil shoots the key into some crevice. I find myself to be somewhat embarrased when that happens.

 

Mark, RTFSM! See if you can get that one.

Yes, they mentioned that they had to take off the entire headliner the first time, and that it took a lot of time. I can see a little area where the fabric is a little scuffed as well, but I'll let them go. It's not worth the trouble.

But, when you get it back, you should definitely look for fitment of the headliner around the sunroof area. It does look like a time-consuming puzzle. Good luck with the repairs.

 

No kidding?! I have yet to admire that little stunt...guess I might try it on purpose sometime. Does it hurt when the key pops a backseat passenger in the forehead? Reminds me of the toy Batmobile's rocket launcher by Corgi Toys I had as a kid...

 

LOL

it is pretty embarrasing even when your by your self.

 

...perhaps my favorite comment of yous. lol.