Marc Favreau

The author has 25 years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph's College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY

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Author's posts

Recall Trend Highlights Electronic and Safety Systems

Recall Trend

Pre Collision System OffA disturbing trend appeared in the recalls (2015) we tracked since our last newsletter. Six recalls were issued involving automated electronic systems, including safety systems directly and indirectly. And they simply got more troublesome through the course of the month.

  • First, GM recalled 51,000 Spark, Sonic models for radio, warning glitch. The warning glitch included chimes that would warn of the keys left in the ignition or of a seat belt that is not in use.
  • Next, Nissan recalled 14,595 vehicles for a sticky start/stop button. In hot temperatures, the engine start/stop button in affected vehicles may stick inside the button housing.
  • Ford then recalled 433,000 vehicles for a faulty body control module that can prevent affected vehicles from turning off, even if the key is removed from the ignition or stop/start button has been pressed.
  • Ford followed that up with a 393,623 vehicle recall for electric power steering assist systems that may shut down due to a sensor fault.
  • EyeSight Off Indicator SymbolSubaru then recalled 72,000 cars with its EyeSight active safety system for a brake light switch that can interfere with the software that triggers the automatic braking.
  • And finally, as we were putting this item together, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles issued a recall to address remote hacking of some of its vehicles – after hackers took control of Jeep remotely!

Right now, manufacturers expect drivers to put their safety in their hands in an ever expanding universe of new electronic systems. Over time, car makers fully expect that drivers will eventually agree to cede all control of their cars to the car itself, and thus to its manufacturer.

Power steering that could shut off? Braking that is to rely on the car “seeing” what is ahead? Cars that can’t be shut off or a start/stop button that is stuck? Cars that fall under the control of hackers??

A Call to Action

The industry had better get this right, and while the recalls in these cases are supposed to set things right, things need to be a whole lot righter than they are now. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is actively involved in research into in-vehicle crash avoidance systems, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications that support crash avoidance applications, and self-driving vehicles themselves. We truly hope they have their eye on the ball. These kinds of problems need to be addressed before systems hit the streets – before recalls are needed!

And here’s a question we have not seen asked: When your car gets to truly driving itself, will this mean that the manufacturer will then hold accident liability? Hell, do they now for current automated safety systems? Will we get to cancel our auto policies down the road?

We’ll find out soon enough.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2015/07/recall-trend-highlights-electronic-and-safety-systems/

Tragic Incident Points to a Need to Build to Intuition

Intuition Needed

Our mission at DashboardSymbols.com is to make new auto technologies simpler to understand and use so that you can feel safe and secure. Electronics rarely have intuitive solutions when problems arise. We have long railed about car companies making getting in a push-button start car difficult when an electronic issue strikes, but we didn’t recognize that those same problems could lead to difficulties getting out.

And now one of those problems has cost a man his life.

A Life Lost

Inside_release2A Consumer Reports article recently cited the death of a man, and his dog, of heat exhaustion in Texas when he was unable to open his 2007 Chevrolet Corvette after an electronic malfunction. He was unaware of a mechanical release located near the floor below the door, as shown in the image to the left The article begins beautifully, stating “tragedy demonstrates time and time again, there is true value in conventionally designed controls for vehicles.” Their conclusion troubles us, however. But first, a review of this and other recent incidents that we have touched on.

The man, 72 year old James Rogers, stepped out of a local restaurant to check on his dog, leaving his cell phone behind. It is thought that the electronic lock failed due to a loose battery cable. He and the dog had already died by the time they were noticed and freed from the car. Sadly, other news reports stated that his daughter believes he may have been trying to consult the owner’s manual when he succumbed.

Hours Lost

Earlier this year, we reported on an item out of New Zealand where an older couple had spent 13 hours locked inside their new keyless Mazda, and nearly died. They had left the key fob outside the car and mistakenly thought that it was the only way to unlock the car. The overriding assumption was that the root cause of the problem was that either the dealer did not fully explain the features of the car, or that the couple was confused by new technology because of their age (65 and 68).

Related: Wait, you were locked In the car?

BMW Inside Lock SwitchNope, Its Not Age!

In that same article, we related another lock-out story involving a keyless, or push button start car, this time a BMW. Their friends had used the remote to lock the car as a joke, and try as they might, those inside, a man and a woman in their 20s, could not find a way out and swore that there was none! The unlock switch, while plainly marked with the image of a door with a key in it and shown here, is placed surprisingly in the center of the dashboard just below the emergency flasher switch! Not on the doors, where our twenty somethings assumed it should be. And frankly where we had assumed it would be.

Inside_release3This image is an expanded view of the Corvette’s door release lever and icon. While the image does indicate the function of the lever, it would not be easily seen while sitting in the driver’s seat of the cramped coupe. Also, it is located where we have learned to expect to find a trunk or fuel door release, so it is quite likely that that Rogers never thought to even look towards the floor. It should be noted that this lock technology is shared by the Cadillac CTS, XLR and ELR Coupes.

Consumer Report’s states that their own reliability data shows that “problems with door locks and latches are among the most common complaints.” Their article concludes that “there isn’t any worrisome trends among Corvettes.”

Looking purely at data – developed by definition after problems occur – this is certainly true. We, however, see several worrisome trends surrounding the growing love affair with electronics and the auto industry itself. We’ve cited three incidents of drivers who believed they locked in their cars. This leads us to,

  1. short of a photographic memory, ‘showing’ and ‘explaining’ new features to drivers and expecting them to read and remember everything new in an owner’s manual have never – repeat never – worked in the auto industry. Ever. No one in the industry seems capable of learning this lesson no matter how many times it is repeated. This makes the New Zealand incident the most troublesome to address and it continues the “blame the driver”, or the salesperson, mentality. That said,
  2. there is nothing intuitive about a door release on the floor below the door. GM, take responsibility for it and change it, period. The electronic lock does nothing for the owner and only satisfies something at GM. Make it part of the arm rest. Better yet, lose the unnecessary electronic release altogether and return the mechanical release as the primary, or only, release. And it follows that,
  3. there is also nothing intuitive about a lock switch located in the center of the dashboard. BMW, it too should be returned to the armrest, even though it then means a second switch is needed on the passenger door.

If you could change the behavior of the one or the behavior of the millions, which would have the greater chance of success?

Changing the one, the manufacturer, eliminates the need for the millions (drivers) to read, and frankly memorize, crucial new features or the owner’s manual. It also eliminates the need for other millions (salespeople) to somehow become effective teachers. Someone else’s dad, mom, brother, sister, son, daughter husband or wife will not have to die over something that seems simple – to those of us in the industry.

Build to intuition. Let’s not wait for data to act.

Update: We got hold of a Cadillac CTS Coupe and can add this gif (below) of the lever in action. We used it from outside the car, so we could see it well!

GM Coupe Escape Lever

And we’ve added this video discussing the growing trend towards electronic locks and latches.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2015/06/tragic-incident-points-to-a-need-to-build-to-intuition/

Beyond Airbag Recalls: The Danger of Sitting Too Close

Don’t Sit Too Close

We retweet important automotive recall notices for the safety of our followers. Lately the vast majority revolve around the widening recall of Takata air bags. Millions of cars and drivers are affected, and in light of this, I couldn’t ignore something that I had seen some months ago.

While driving a busy four lane highway, I was passed by a young woman in an SUV traveling at a pretty high rate of speed, clearly in a hurry to get wherever she needed to get. But what got my attention was her position behind the wheel. She was sitting bolt upright, using her arms to hold herself forward with her chin literally riding above the steering wheel.

Simply put, if this is her typical sitting posture when driving, and it quite likely is, in the event of the deployment of the driver’s air bag, this young woman stands no chance of survival. Not with a good air bag and certainly not one that has been recalled. She is too close to the wheel.

Air bags save lives and prevent injuries by cushioning occupants as they move forward in a front-end crash. To do this, an air bag must deploy quickly and forcefully. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the force is greatest in the first 2 to 3 inches after the air bag bursts through its cover and begins to inflate.

How Close Is Too Close?

The NHTSA calls those 2 to 3 inches the “risk zone” where an occupant can be hit with enough force to suffer serious injury or death. Conversely, a properly restrained driver or passenger sitting 10 inches away from the air bag cover will “contact the air bag only after it has completely or almost completely inflated.”

The driver I saw was nearly leaning directly against the steering wheel.

This is a failure of us all: driving instructors, license testers, friends, family, anyone who has ever driven with someone who sits too close to the steering wheel and said nothing.

Driving is a learned behavior as is the position and posture we get comfortable with behind the wheel. Changing any of it is not an easy thing, nor will be bringing it to someone’s attention.

But if you know someone who sits too close to the steering wheel, try anyway. Show them the NHTSA website. Show them this article. The life you save might be your loved one.

And start with this: it might be a simple as changing the seat or steering wheel settings.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2015/05/beyond-airbag-recalls-the-danger-of-sitting-too-close/

Wait, you were locked IN the car?

Locked IN??

A few months ago, an item out of New Zealand relayed a story of an older couple who spent 13 hours locked inside their new keyless start Mazda, and nearly died. They had left the key fob outside the car and mistakenly thought that it was the only way to unlock the car. I initially let the story pass without comment feeling it would be a relatively rare occurrence.

However, I recently overheard a lunchtime conversation, again about someone locked inside a keyless, or push button start, BMW. Only this time those locked in were in their twenties! Their friends had used the remote to lock the car as a joke, and try as they might, those inside could not find a way out. In fact, they swore there was no way out!

A Closer Look

Mazda Inside Lock SwitchLets get something out of the way first: there is always an unlock option inside the car. Any car. Keep looking! In fact, in most cases any door can simply be opened from the inside regardless of a locked condition. If the manual is in the glove box, consult it! The switch for the Mazda is shown to the right with open and closed padlock images.

Now to the New Zealand case. The overriding assumption is that the root cause of the problem was twofold. First, that the dealer did not fully explain the features of the car, and second, that the couple were confused by new technology because of their age (65 and 68).

Its Not About Age

Both assumptions are completely false. We’ve said this here before and it bears repeating: people learn by doing not by having things explained to them. The dealer could easily have gone over the locks with the older couple as well as a dozen other features that would have been new to them. Learning comes with experience, hopefully not as extreme as what these folks went through. And for the record, they had left the manual in their house.

As to age, anyone is capable of being confused by new technology. Anyone. Our twenty-somethings put the lie to age being an excuse. And while the car did not belong to them, the car’s owners, who are only a few years older, also could not find an unlock mechanism inside the car!

We know that confusion and assumptions kept our New Zealanders inside their car. But just what was the problem with the BMW? A 2009 X3 to be exact.

BMW Inside Lock SwitchWell, looking through the owner’s manual, we find the answer. The unlock switch, while plainly marked with the image of a door with a key in it, is placed surprisingly in the center of the dashboard just below the emergency flasher switch! Not on the doors, where our twenty somethings assumed it should be! And frankly where I had assumed it would be. If this is a driver’s first BMW, the lock switch is in a truly mysterious location.

There are a number of possible reasons for placing an unlock switch in the center of the car. Perhaps to give both front seat occupants access. Perhaps avoid the reflexive lock action many drivers employ that can override the outside handle button if the fob is accidentally left inside, even if it is in range.

Regardless, that’s where it is in newer BMW models, and there is one somewhere in every other car made.

If you think you’re locked inside, please keep looking!

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2015/03/wait-you-were-locked-in-the-car/

A Tale of Four Drivers – And the Car Dealers That Failed Them

Four Drivers

Car dealers found themselves on the wrong side of three customers who contacted us over the last week or so. They, plus a fourth who skipped his dealer, have something to teach those of us in the auto industry.

Key Warning IndicatorNumber 1

Our first case involved a dying key fob. Fortunately, her car continued to start but the locks had begun to misbehave. She’s a personal friend and relayed the problem in casual conversation. I recommended a new battery for the fob, and as she was bringing the car in for a recall the next day, she would note the problem. When she dropped off the car, she asked to have the fob’s battery replaced.

They took care of the recall and failed to replace the battery, so back to the dealer she went. Its truly small consolation – they had the car! – but she did get the battery for free.

Our next two revolve around instrument panels. Not traditional warning lights, but rather messaging that has become so prevalent over the last several years. In each case, these drivers contacted their dealers asking what they were seeing.

Service personnel had no idea. So they took to the web and found us.

Smart instrument panelNumber 2

The first car, a Smart Pulse, had begun a daily countdown past a missed service interval, which to an untrained eye looked rather intimidating. Add to this that the dealer didn’t know what the countdown meant, and the result was a very anxious driver. An example is shown to the right, has a wrench and a -3 (days). Its a bit difficult to see, but it took only a few minutes in the vehicles owner’s manual to decipher the answer.

Fiat instument panelNumber 3

Our second instrument panel from a Fiat had also begun displaying information that the car’s owner had not previously seen. In this case, the driver had accidentally changed the display herself. The panel was now showing average miles to the gallon, mpg, which was in lower case. The “g” in the font used really looked like a “9”. She sent a photo shown to the right. Again, a few minutes in the owner’s manual turned up the answer.

Number 4

Our fourth driver didn’t actually have a problem, but when I relayed the stories, he laughed and said he would have called AAA! He spends that money every year, and by gosh they would be his first choice.

So what do we take from these incidents?

The first and best lesson is that only one of these drivers, the Smart owner, consulted their owner’s manuals. And he did not dig deep enough or understand what he read (he didn’t say). The first three started all made calls to their dealer. The fourth would have gone to AAA. Every new system added by auto manufacturers is backed up by an equally new entry in the manual and it is assumed that this is where a driver will turn. And understand.

They don’t…

Manufacturers are in a continual struggle to bring their customers up to speed on their vehicles, and from our perspective continue to fail. Showing a new owner a feature will never replace experiencing it for the first, second or third time. In our examples here, changeable instrument panel displays are a good idea on paper but less so in practice.

For all the training and experience, service personnel are only human. And in these incidents, their failings are left in full display. And at first blush, they may not take the time to problem solve. I say at first blush because they are not identified and do not have the opportunity to tell their side.

Which is the second lesson. Manufacturers also continue to struggle to keep their own personnel up to speed. Our largest concern in these examples is the failure to replace a key fob battery. We are moving inexorably towards all cars being equipped with push button start capability, and a non-working key fob is in our minds a safety concern. It will likely take a lawsuit from a stranded motorist to drive this point home. Every service person across the industry must make sure that their customers have new key fob batteries once a year.

And third, while a manual was available, the Internet was chosen for a search for an answer instead! This is where drivers increasingly turn for help.

We, and others like us, are happy to help.

In the meantime, automakers surely want to simplify their products. Add all the features you want, but with an eye towards making them simple to use, experience and understand.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2015/03/a-tale-of-four-drivers-and-the-dealers-that-failed-them/

Start a Toyota, Scion or Lexus with a Dead Key Fob

How to Start a Toyota, Scion or Lexus with a Dead Key Fob

Starting Your Toyota, Scion or Lexus

For the majority of Toyota Motor Co. vehicles, the requirement is simple. Hold the Smart Key fob against the Start / Stop toyota_startignition button with the Toyota, Scion or Lexus logo facing the button or switch. Press the Start / Stop button, keeping the brake pedal depressed. You can even press the button with the fob itself.

In truth, a buzzer will sound when the fob is touched to the Start / Stop button. If the button is pressed within five seconds of the buzzer sounding, the vehicle will start, assuming the brake pedal remains depressed.

BMW StartThe new (2020) Toyota Supra is an exception. There is an image of a key with lines radiating from it on the side of the steering column. Hold the back of the remote control (NOT the tip like the image) against the marked area on the steering column and press the Start/Stop button within 10 seconds while depressing the brake.

Prius SlotAnother exception is the Toyota Prius in the 2004 through 2009 model years. These cars have a slot beneath the Start/Stop button that will accept the key fob. Insert the fob, buttons up, then press the Start/Stop button while depressing the brake pedal as normal.

Early LS ignitioA final exception (right) is found in early Lexus LS models. It uses a key fob with a tapered end and a start cylinder that is turned to start the car. In this case, the taped end of the fob is inserted into the start cylinder. The car will recognize the key fob, which can then be used to turn the cylinder.

Note: If you have made an attempt to start the vehicle without success, there may be residual pressure in the brake system and a new warning light may appear (left) or text Engine Start Operation Indicatormessage to Step on the Brake. Press the brake pedal very, very hard when trying to start the vehicle again to be sure that the release switch behind the pedal is engaged. Or wait a few minutes and try again.

Click here for video help with these models and key fobs.

Models covered include the Lexus CT, ES, GS, GX, IS, LS, LX, NX, RC, RX, RZ, TX, UX, and Toyota FR-S, iA, iM, tC, 4Runner, Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Mirai, RAV4, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, Yaris, 86, C-HR, Supra, and Prius.

…. Return to Part I, Getting In

Open a Toyota, Scion or Lexus with a Dead Key Fob

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Permanent link to this article: https://dashboardsymbols.com/2015/01/toyota-scion-or-lexus-dead-key-fob-help-part-ii/

Start a Chevrolet with a Dead Key Fob

How to Start a Chevrolet with a Dead Key Fob

Starting Your Chevrolet

Chevrolet vehicles uses all three of the key fob styles made by General Motors. There are also way too many back up start variations, but we have them all here. And you can find a whole lot of videos here.

Inside door releaseHere’s the deal: Buckle up, find your model, and if your start battery is still good, we’ll get you underway. Note that they are generally presented as sedans, then SUVs then pick ups.

Corvette

The Coupes made by GM will show up early in this list, including the Corvette (C6, C7 and C8 models). So, note immediately that the latches are electronic and if the main 12-volt battery is dead and you’ve closed the door, the lever to the right is your only escape. You will find it below the door on the floor where you would expect to find a trunk release (right). Pull it up and the door will open. There’s another on the passenger side for that door.

The rectangular style key fob is used in most GM vehicles prior to 2014. GM start 3In Corvette models built before 2014 (C6), the pocket is on the left of the inside of the glove box. Place the transmitter in the pocket with the buttons facing the glove box storage area (right). Then, with the vehicle in P (Park) or N (Neutral), press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.

In the 2014 (C7) Corvette, the transmitter pocket is moved to the right side of the steering column, as shown to the left. Place the Corvette start 2transmitter in the pocket with the buttons facing up. Again, with the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal. Find a helpful video here. See below for the C8.

Newer, rounded “flip key” key fob and a rounded fob with a built in or pull away mechanical key, take over from here.

Camaro, later Corvette

Camaro slotPush button or keyless start is introduced to the Camaro in 2016. It also uses the cup holder as a back up slot, but to their credit, Chevrolet made this one simple. Make sure there is nothing, particularly coins, in the rear cup holder, and simply drop the fob into it. The car will recognize the key and a press of the brake pedal and Start / Stop ignition button will have you on your way. Corvettes (C8), 2020 – 2023, use this spot as well. In 2024, the Corvette spot is moved to the front cup holder.

Impala

Impala back up slotThe Impala uses a back up pocket located in the front of the center console (right). The model is using the flip key thus far through 2018. Drop transmitter into the pocket with the key ring up and the buttons facing out. With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.

Look for video help here.

Volt

With the first generation Volt, open the instrument panel GM start 5storage area located above the infotainment screen and remove the rubber mat. Extend the key blade and place the blade into the slot (right).

With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the POWER button on the center stack to start the vehicle.

Starting with model year 2016, the back-up location for the Volt is Volt fob pocketmoved to the center console, as shown. The rubber mat at the bottom of the console will need to be removed, and so anything actually in the console.

Bolt

This is also the location used by the new Bolt EV and Bolt EUV, which will be found beneath a pull-out tray.

The pocket for the fob or transmitter is beneath the pad or tray and to the front. It is also roughly the shape of the fob. Place the fob in the pocket and with the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the POWER button on the center stack to start the vehicle. We have a video of the process here.

Cruze

GM start 6The last flip key back-up start option belongs to the Cruze. You must remove the plastic trim piece from the small storage area next to the accessory power outlet near the front of the console. Extend the key blade and insert it into the transmitter slot (right). With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.

Check out the video here.

Cruze back up spot 2The 2017 Cruze gets the new key and a new back up location, which is the front cup holder, as seen to the right. Sonic, Equinox and Blazer models now use this spot as well.

Simply drop the key fob into the front cup holder, buttons up, and start the car as normal, stepping on the brake and pushing the Start / Stop ignition button.

Blazer EV

Blazer EV back up spotThe 2024 Blazer Electric Vehicle (EV) is a different animal. Its back up spot is at the bottom of the center console storage area. Drop the key fob on the spot shown (right) with the buttons up.

And it starts differently as well. Once the key fob is in its spot, simply step on the brake. The instrument panel will tell you if you have been successful.

Trax

Trax back upThe Trax, which first saw push button start in 2017, also uses the front cup holder as its back up slot. However, there are three cup holders in the center console area, with the front one being separated from the two behind it. Be sure to use the one in the very front. See the image to right.

Drop the key fob into the front cup holder, buttons up, and start the car as normal, using the Start / Stop button while stepping on the brake pedal.

Check out a videos for all these models here.

Trailblazer

Trailblazer pocketThe new Trailblazer model has the back up pocket in front of the center console storage area and behind the the two cup holders on the console (image at right). Drop the key fob into the pocket or depression, The manual states that the buttons should be facing the front, but we don’t believe this is possible given the shape of the pocket. We also believe that it will not likely matter. With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal.

Tahoe, Suburban

Until 2021, the large SUV’s from GM, including the Tahoe and Suburban, feature a transmitter Tahoe Escalade Suburban back-uppocket also located in the face of the front of the inside of the center console. However, the pocket points down, as shown to the right. Slide the transmitter into the pocket with the key ring facing out, buttons forward (in the Suburban we had on hand, the engine started with the buttons facing either way). It is a loose fit, so don’t be concerned. With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal. Check out the video here.

Traverse

Traverse back up slotIn the Chevrolet Traverse, through 2023, the transmitter pocket is at the bottom of the center console storage area, as seen in the image to the right. The outline of the transmitter will be visible to the front of the console. The 2024 Traverse uses the left or driver’s side cup holder, exactly like the Silverado EV below. Once the fob is in place, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal to start the vehicle.

Spark

Spark models also have what is called a transmitter pocket in the center console, but no image defining a location is Spark consoleshown in the manual. There are three storage spots in the console (see the red arrows), and one of them will be the “pocket” but none of them are actually marked. Drop the transmitter or key fob in the front storage spot first and attempt to start the car normally, with your foot on the brake and pressing the Start / Stop button.

If this does not work, move to the storage spot furthest back and try starting again. If the car again fails to start, try the longer storage spot alongside the emergency brake. If the starting problem is associated with a dead battery in the key fob, one of the three locations will work!

Silverado, Malibu

Malibu Impala back-upIn the Silverado pick up (note that the electric version is discussed below) and the Malibu sedan, the pocket for the transmitter is located in the face of the rear of the inside of the center console. Silverado gets push button start for the first time in 2019. Slide the transmitter into the pocket with the key ring facing up, and the buttons out (or however it will fit!).

The Silverado’s pocket is larger, as is the center console, which is actually the center seat in the bench seat. With the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and Silverado bucket pocketthe Start / Stop ignition button as normal. The pocket in 2021 Tahoe and Suburban models with a bench seat is also moved to this location, at the back of the console.

Tahoe, Suburban, later Silverado

If the Silverado, Tahoe or Suburban models have bucket seats, the pocket is found in or near the the two cup holders. In the Silverado, slip the key fob or transmitter into the insert between the cup holders (first image to the right). In the Tahoe or Suburban, as well as the Silverado EV, drop the Tahoe bucket pockettransmitter into the left side cup holder (second image below right).

Once again, with the vehicle in Park or Neutral, press the brake pedal and the Start / Stop ignition button as normal. The Silverado EV starts when the brake pedal is depressed.

And we have a video of the process here.

Note: If you have made an attempt to start the vehicle without success, there may be residual pressure in the brake system and a new warning light may appear (left) or text Engine Start Operation Indicatormessage to Step on the Brake. Press the brake pedal very, very hard when trying to start the vehicle again to be sure that the release switch behind the pedal is engaged. Or wait a few minutes and try again.

… Return to Part I, Getting In

Open Chevrolet Models with a Dead Key Fob

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

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