Mar 18 2011

Bang, Crack, No Key!

Category: Kazakh Driving,PersonalChrisM @ 2:13 am

Driving our new car around Astana these past three weeks has not been as scary or involved any insurance claims so far. Taking it easy when roads have ice without recent gritting, driving properly (leaving large enough gaps should I need to brake suddenly and never braking hard or accelerating whilst traversing a bend or turning at a crossroads), and flicking the all wheel drive system to full (rather than auto) when ice and snow are abound has meant that I haven’t been tearing out what little hair nature has left me.
However, as previously tweeted, we’ve already been reversed into (followed by an attempted drive off) whilst parked, and this past week I did clip a car’s wing mirror when trying to ensure I didn’t cross a double white (unbroken) line near a junction that is infamous for policemen being stationed at and threatening huge fines and/or driving licence removal.
The car has been behaving itself so far (touch wood), with just an occasional complaint that it can no longer detect the keyless key (!?!) as being close enough. Given that the ignition doesn’t use a key, the closest place to keep them whilst driving is in a cup holder under the car stereo. Keeping them in my pockets seems to cause more alerts, so I’m just hoping that the cold is somehow effecting the distance at which the car senses the keyfob, and that when Spring arrives properly, our Suzuki will not have panic attacks thinking that someone is stealing the car!

6 Responses to “Bang, Crack, No Key!”

  1. WLB says:

    Our key detector was equally sensitive about location. Worse in winter but even in the summer sometimes to even open the car you has to stand right in front of the detector thingy.

    • ChrisM says:

      Ah, good to see your journey went OK. Remote unlocking isn’t a problem so far, it is just WHILST driving the icon lights up occasionally. I don’t really want the alarm to set off when we’re moving, or even worse for it to cut the engine!

      • Walton says:

        That also happens occasionally to us. I don’t think it’s going to cut the engine. Have had issues with alarm going off while driving. I assume I accidentally turn on Valet mode or something. It is really annoying but stopping, shutting off the car, getting out and locking it and then unlocking it seems to do the trick.

  2. DanD says:

    what alerts happen when it thinks the key is too far away.. loud noises, beeping, vibrating seat 🙂 don’t know too much about them but imagine it won’t shut the engine down in mid drive!

    • ChrisM says:

      Icon on the dashboard flashing, hazards start flashing a little later, and I’d not be surprised if it eventually limited the revs down until engine completely stopped! Haven’t experimented weirdly enough 🙂