Spare Key with a Key Fob Question

[300rum]

Since so many vehicles come with a Fob to start the car, what can I do to have a spare key?  I used to wire a key under each vehicle.  Hunting is my big concern, someone gets back to the truck first and can't get in, etc. because the one with the fob isn't back yet.

Is there a way to hide a Fob somewhere under the vehicle where it won't allow access to the vehicle?  Maybe wire a key under the vehicle and have a Fob in the vehicle with the battery out?  Is there something I can put the Fob in (faraday cage?) so the wireless transmission can't get out?

I have 2 gm vehicles that start with a Fob.  They have a "key" that slides out of the Fob that can be used manually but it needs the Fob to start.

What do you do???

[Mossy]

An old hunting partner of mine put his keys in a small plastic jar with a twist top, stashed it close to the vehicle so he didn’t lose them in the hills or if the other person gets back first. I do the same.

[jackelope]

If you're talking about a push button start vehicle, the car won't start unless the key is inside the cabin of the vehicle.

[jackelope]

Also...I don't know about GM vehicles, but Ford vehicles have a blade key inside the fobik key that will unlock doors. They also have a slot inside the center console you can insert the fobik into that will allow you to lock the fobik key inside the car. I bet GM vehicles have the same sort of setup.  Defer to your owner's manual on that one.
You could stash a blade key somewhere outside of the vehicle, or you could keep a blade key on yourself somewhere.

Note...
I have replaced dozens of keys over the years that were lost because they were stashed inside one of those little magnetic hide-a-key boxes under the vehicle somewhere and they rattled loose and fell out on the road somewhere. I wouldn't trust them.

[Alchase]

You could also get a second Fob, if you do not have one, and get it programed.
I bought one of Ebay, took it to the Nissan dealer and had them program it for me.

[KFhunter]

I like the bottle idea, going with that.

[jackelope]

The other thing with this is.... do GM vehicles have keypads on the doors like Fords do? Just give whoever the code if so. There's got to be a way to lock the fob inside the vehicle. (owner's manual)

[Igor]

The other thing with this is.... do GM vehicles have keypads on the doors like Fords do? Just give whoever the code if so. There's got to be a way to lock the fob inside the vehicle. (owner's manual)

My wife has a 2020 GMC Acadia AT4.......no key.......no keyhole......no keypad.  You must have the fob on your person for things to work.  My guess is that the new GMC trucks are the same way.

[frazierw]

The other thing with this is.... do GM vehicles have keypads on the doors like Fords do? Just give whoever the code if so. There's got to be a way to lock the fob inside the vehicle. (owner's manual)

My wife has a 2020 GMC Acadia AT4.......no key.......no keyhole......no keypad.  You must have the fob on your person for things to work.  My guess is that the new GMC trucks are the same way.

Have you tried opening the FOB?

[jackelope]

There has got to be a key and There’s got to be a keyhole somewhere. Our Fusions have a cover that pops off the outside door handle exposing the keyhole. Otherwise How does GM expect people to get in their cars if the fob craps out or if the car battery goes dead?

[timberfaller]

  All the more reason to keep the old rigs a running!!  rebuild and rebuild again!

[Boss .300 winmag]

The other thing with this is.... do GM vehicles have keypads on the doors like Fords do? Just give whoever the code if so. There's got to be a way to lock the fob inside the vehicle. (owner's manual)

My wife has a 2020 GMC Acadia AT4.......no key.......no keyhole......no keypad.  You must have the fob on your person for things to work.  My guess is that the new GMC trucks are the same way.

From the owners manual 😉

[Igor]

There has got to be a key and There’s got to be a keyhole somewhere. Our Fusions have a cover that pops off the outside door handle exposing the keyhole. Otherwise How does GM expect people to get in their cars if the fob craps out or if the car battery goes dead?

The stuff I learn by being a HuntWa member is simply mind-boggling.  There is indeed a small funky-looking "key" that is part of the fob.  It ain't easy to get apart. Once removed, there is actually a place to insert it in a small slot under the exterior door handle.  We bought this AT4 new in January 2020, and have never had occasion to worry about a real "key".  Amazingly, the dealership where we bought the Acadia never showed us this feature.

I think I owe someone here an IPA, or two !!!

[Stein]

I don't have a push button start fob, just the regular key that folds into the remote for unlocking and remote start.  I got a regular chipped key for a spare and it will do everything except the remote stuff.  It will unlock and start the car, just not remote unlock or remote start.  Much easier to fit into a magnetic holder thing and doesn't require batteries.

You can buy the keys and fobs online much cheaper and most walk in locksmith shops can program them for you for a fraction of the dealer cost.

[Boss .300 winmag]

A-1 Lock and Key on Burlington only charged $150 for a FOB for a 2020 Ram 1500 including programming.👍

[300rum]

Here is what I am looking for....

I know about the blade key in the Fob but that just unlocks the doors in the GM.  I want to have a spare Fob (push button start, fob is needed to start the vehicles). 

Basically if I am out somewhere, lose the Fob (no cell service), I want to be able to get in and go. 

Someone must know if I can wire a fob (without the battery in it) underneath the truck?  Will some kind of faraday cage keep the signal from getting to trucks brain so the doors won't unlock/start for someone else?
 

[Stein]

If the battery is out of the FOB, my understanding is that it won't start unless the FOB is in the super secret spot.  Thus, you could hide a FOB without battery in the vehicle (out of the rain/snow/salt/dust) and then hide a key below (or hide the FOB below hoping it will survive).  Use key to open door, retrieve backup FOB, put it in the super secret spot and start truck?

Granted I don't have one, but this is what the internet says.

https://dashboardsymbols.com/2015/01/general-motors-dead-key-fob-help-part-ii/

I also have a simple key on my neck lanyard along with a button compass, whistle and lighter.

[300rum]

This is what I am leaning towards.  I wonder if someone has tried a "faraday cage", something to put the fob in where it did allow any transmissions out of the bag.  This way I could just put the fob, battery ready, in the faraday cage bag, ready to go when I need it. I would think someone on this site has come up with a work around already and saved me the trial/error...

If the battery is out of the FOB, my understanding is that it won't start unless the FOB is in the super secret spot.  Thus, you could hide a FOB without battery in the vehicle (out of the rain/snow/salt/dust) and then hide a key below (or hide the FOB below hoping it will survive).  Use key to open door, retrieve backup FOB, put it in the super secret spot and start truck?

Granted I don't have one, but this is what the internet says.

https://dashboardsymbols.com/2015/01/general-motors-dead-key-fob-help-part-ii/

I also have a simple key on my neck lanyard along with a button compass, whistle and lighter.

[dyhardhuntr]

My buddy uses the faraday cage with great results. He uses it when fishing. He takes the key out of the fob and stashes it and then puts the fob in the faraday cage and hides it in the truck. The guy that shuttles his truck down river knows the situation ahead of time. Never an issue. Been doing it for years.


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[Stein]

It probably doesn't take much.  Take a sheet of aluminum foil, wrap it and see if you can start the truck.  Put that in several plastic bags and hide it somewhere.  You could even duct tape a magnet in there and use that to hold it.

[Widgeondeke]

The other thing with this is.... do GM vehicles have keypads on the doors like Fords do? Just give whoever the code if so. There's got to be a way to lock the fob inside the vehicle. (owner's manual)

This works GREAT! I would lock the "key" in the truck and the group knows my code to open the doors 

[jackelope]

Just buy a Ford. You don't need any cages or aluminum foil.  Just put the key in the littel slot inside the center console.

[Skyvalhunter]

Then call the tow truck because the FORD breaks down on you!!

[Mossy]

Then call the tow truck because the FORD breaks down on you!!

Original.....I suppose someone had to say it though

[300rum]

What does he use for a faraday cage?

My buddy uses the faraday cage with great results. He uses it when fishing. He takes the key out of the fob and stashes it and then puts the fob in the faraday cage and hides it in the truck. The guy that shuttles his truck down river knows the situation ahead of time. Never an issue. Been doing it for years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[300rum]

I am thinking about something like this...

https://www.amazon.com/Blocking-ONEVER-Protection-Anti-Tracking-Anti-Spying/dp/B07BQM75MH/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=cell+phone+faraday+cage&qid=1622295777&sr=8-6