[adoreizi]

I’m looking for a way to lock my gen 2 Volt while I go off to surf. The problem is I cannot take the key with me since I’m in the ocean and the keyfob won’t like that. Unfortunately, the keyfob won’t lock the Volt and will allow anyone to unlock the Volt should I walk away then return the key under the car if they press the door lock/unlock button.

Is there a way where I can lock the Volt and leave the key in a hidden hide-a-key lockbox under the car or in a locked keypad near the car? I’m also looking for a method that does not remove the battery from the keyfob if possible.

Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[Dutch]

maybe put the fob in a "faraday bag" and then tuck it someplace under the car?

 

[RePo]

Perhaps put the fob in a ziplock and bury it in the sand. Security by obscurity.

 

[freshcut]

my initial thought too was to use a ziploc and carry the key as you would any other normal key. The other option would be to perhaps search for waterproof key cases. Perhaps something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/WITZ-Surfsaf...MDG6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1515609953&sr=8-3

 

[ClarksonCote]

If you place the key in a spot that's not near a door or hatch, it shouldn't let people simply press the unlock button. For example, under/near a wheel well, or at the front of the car near the hood. Test it out, you should be able to find several places that don't allow the doors to simply open when pressed. Heck, half the time my doors don't unlock if I'm not standing in just the right spot.

 

[Barry]

This has come up before and I think one solution that seemed popular was to get a lock box that mounts on the window like they use at car dealerships. Not sure if the RF blocking is built in, but they seem to work for the dealerships, and you could get a separate RF blocking bag to use inside the box if needed.

I am pretty sure you can also get a plain metal key (without transmitter) to carry with you while surfing. You can lock the real fob in the car and it will not allow someone to unlock the car because it is inside and not outside of the car. I think when you unlock the car with the plain metal key, the alarm goes off until you deactivate it.

 

[snic]

Such a California problem! Meanwhile, it's 20 degrees here in NY.

If I'm not mistaken, if the key fob is *inside* the car, pressing the unlock button outside won't unlock the door. So you could remove the mechanical key from the fob (yes, there is one - use a pen or something to press the little square chrome button on the side, then pull off the top), hide the fob inside the car, close the car door, and lock it with the mechanical key. Then see if unlocking with the button works.

Of course it's safer if you remove the fob from the vicinity of the car entirely, but not so safe if the fob drowns or escapes to join its friends the fob fishes.

 

[UtahK]

The metal container is pricey, but well made
and effective.

http://www.ramayes.com/FOBLOK_EMI_RFI_Shielded_Proximity_Key_Case.htm

 

[adoreizi]

Such a California problem! Meanwhile, it's 20 degrees here in NY.

If I'm not mistaken, if the key fob is *inside* the car, pressing the unlock button outside won't unlock the door. So you could remove the mechanical key from the fob (yes, there is one - use a pen or something to press the little square chrome button on the side, then pull off the top), hide the fob inside the car, close the car door, and lock it with the mechanical key. Then see if unlocking with the button works.

Of course it's safer if you remove the fob from the vicinity of the car entirely, but not so safe if the fob drowns or escapes to join its friends the fob fishes.

Hey we just had historical wildfires quickly followed by flash floods. Nevertheless, you are correct.

I’ll try your idea later today and see if it’s a go. I’m thinking it might not since the car will know the keyfob is inside the car and therefore allow someone to unlock the door with the button

 

[flyingsherpa]

...
I am pretty sure you can also get a plain metal key (without transmitter) to carry with you while surfing. You can lock the real fob in the car and it will not allow someone to unlock the car because it is inside and not outside of the car. I think when you unlock the car with the plain metal key, the alarm goes off until you deactivate it.

This is what I've done in the past, just get a bare metal key. Then either take it with you or hide it on the undercarriage with a magnetic hide-a-key box. I wish more cars had the 4 buttons on the sill like Ford does... very handy.

 

[2VoltFamily]

Another surfer had the same problem a few years ago. Might want to search the Gen 1 area for solutions that he came up with.

 

[jcanoe]

One option is to wear an Apple Watch while you go surfing (the Apple Watch is waterproof) and use the MyChevrolet App on the watch to lock/unlock the Volt's doors. You will also need to have an iPhone (the Apple Watch only works with the iPhone) that is charged, left inside the Volt. You can place the key fob in a shielded pouch or just remove the fob's battery (what a pain, right.) The Apple Watch MyChevrolet App requires that the watch be within Bluetooth (BT) range of the iPhone. A simpler solution and also as a backup, if you get an Apple Watch with LTE you can use the watch as a phone to call OnStar and if your provide the OnStar representative with your Id and Password OnStar can remotely unlock your vehicle. Note, even though the Apple Watch supports LTE and wifi in addition to BT the MyChevrolet App on the Apple Watch can currently only communicate with the iPhone using BT.

 

[calvinist]

Wrap the key tightly in aluminum foil. Then, hold it next to the door to verify that it does not unlock the door. Now you can place the key in your hide-a-key.
In theory, a small steel box should work also, but in practice that often fails. There is not always good electrical contact around the rim of the lid, and signal can leak out. Aluminum foil works better.

Honestly, I would find a way to keep it on my person while in the water. A hide-a-key is basically security through obscurity and not the best practice.

 

[Upper5Percent]

Lock your key in your car and call Onstar to unlock your car when you are ready to leave...

 

[boberonicus]

When I go running, I remove the key from the fob, then leave the fob in the car. I get out of the car and lock the car with the key. The car makes three short honks, I put the key into a zippered pocket, and I go for a run.

What am I missing? Wouldn't this work if our surfer had a zippered pocket?

 

[jcanoe]

When I go running, I remove the key from the fob, then leave the fob in the car. I get out of the car and lock the car with the key. The car makes three short honks, I put the key into a zippered pocket, and I go for a run.

What am I missing? Wouldn't this work if our surfer had a zippered pocket?

On the Gen 2 Volt the key slot is normally covered by the door handle trim. You have to pry the trim from the handle to use the key. This is intended for emergency use, repeated removal of the plastic trim piece would quickly wear out or break the plastic parts.

 

[ackattacker]

On the Gen 2 Volt the key slot is normally covered by the door handle trim. You have to pry the trim from the handle to use the key. This is intended for emergency use, repeated removal of the plastic trim piece would quickly wear out or break the plastic parts.

If you're going to do it all the time, I'd just leave the trim piece off. Ugly but probably the most practical solution. From a security perspective, nothing is great. If you leave the key fob in the car and somebody gets wise to it then they can break a window and drive off. If you use an RFID blocking hide-a-key then they just have to find it (or observe you placing it). Most secure is a waterproof bag on your person. I wouldn't trust a ziplock at all, you'd have to use something more secure like a tiny otterbox or drybag.

Edit: just occurred to me, maybe use one of those vacuum-seal food saver devices to encase the key fob in heavy duty plastic. Should be very waterproof without being bulky.

 

[JRRF]

I used to keep an old style car key in my pocket on a floatie when going sailing. After dumping the boat once I found myself keyless when I got back to the car. Apparently the floatie floated the key right out of my pocket After that I just hid it, but that was in the good 'ol days before remotes.

 

[stilcrazee]

Remove the battery, hide both the battery and fob different locations. Put battery back in when you return

 

[jcanoe]

Remove the battery, hide both the battery and fob different locations. Put battery back in when you return

How would you unlock the vehicle?