Does Key Proximity Drain 12V?

[MMENACE]

Our driveway is immediately adjacent to the side of our house, so I see the car “light up” while walking around the house, as if I was approaching to enter the car. Is this taking a toll on the 12V battery? We’ve had the car two years (24K miles) and had no problems, but I still wonder. Time for a Faraday box?

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[HuntingPudel]

Yes, if you're waking the car, the car is using up 12V juice. I am not worried too much about that in my situation. If you are you can leave the key somewhere that won't wake up the car, get a Faraday box (which makes the key hard to carry around), force-quit the FordPass app (if you are using PaaK), etc. ??

 

[cyeung]

I live in a townhome with my garage, kitchen, and living room all on the same level. If I walked into range of the car with my phone, CLUNK! goes my charging station. I resorted to turning off the walk-up lighting.

 

[Schmedlack]

Similar problem as OP here. Remedy - Turned off PAAK and my key fobs are stored in a cleaned-out vegetable can in a closet next to the door leading to the garage. The can provides RF shielding like a Faraday bag. Obviously, this solution doesn't cost anything so you may wish to give it a try. Also, I use a leather shoelace as a long keychain, since it will not function as an antenna.

 

[John Perry]

Our driveway is immediately adjacent to the side of our house, so I see the car “light up” while walking around the house, as if I was approaching to enter the car. Is this taking a toll on the 12V battery? We’ve had the car two years (24K miles) and had no problems, but I still wonder. Time for a Faraday box?

I previously posted about a related issue. In the process I discovered that keeping a key fob near the car keeps it from waking up when I walk near it with another key fob. In our case one key fob stays in the kitchen, which is adjacent to the garage where the car is parked. I am assuming this is saving battery juice - assuming the constant contact with the car is not in itself draining the battery. Any opinions?

 

[Rob-Mach-E]

Yes, if you're waking the car, the car is using up 12V juice. I am not worried too much about that in my situation. If you are you can leave the key somewhere that won't wake up the car, get a Faraday box (which makes the key hard to carry around), force-quit the FordPass app (if you are using PaaK), etc. ??

This is what I do.

 

[E90alex]

Technically yes it’s using more 12V energy, but LED lights use very minimal energy. If it happens too often the car will stop turning on the lights. Either way, the car is still always “scanning” for a key fob whether the lights are on or not.

You can turn off the function if the lights are annoying. But I wouldn’t be too concerned about draining the 12V.

 

[Maquis]

It’s not the proximity of the fob(phone), it moving from out of range into range.

 

[EB87]

Yes I turned off PAAK and I just keep my keys farther away from the garage. I did leave approach lighting on tho

 

[NorthlandPhil]

I previously posted about a related issue. In the process I discovered that keeping a key fob near the car keeps it from waking up when I walk near it with another key fob. In our case one key fob stays in the kitchen, which is adjacent to the garage where the car is parked. I am assuming this is saving battery juice - assuming the constant contact with the car is not in itself draining the battery. Any opinions?

I wonder about this as well. I hang my key in entry way next to garage, about 10 feet from car. Is this potentially a problem?

 

[Maquis]

I wonder about this as well. I hang my key in entry way next to garage, about 10 feet from car. Is this potentially a problem?

No. See post 8.

 

[Neopifex]

No. See post 8.

Yeah, but how far does the range extend?

 

[Maquis]

Yeah, but how far does the range extend?

It doesn’t matter unless it’s moving.
My phone triggers the welcome lighting on approach at about 20’ or so.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Yeah, but how far does the range extend?

The car can detect the key fob a fair distance away, depending upon obstacles between the two, of course (walls etc). It won't do anything until the fob is fairly close, though.

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