Smart Key - What to do if going surfing/kayaking?

[fracisco]

I have a general question about the Smart Key, and if there is a workaround for securing the vehicle so that the fob does not need to be with the owner. Specifically, in my current vehicle, which has keyless entry remote (not Smart Key), I also have an old fashioned key. I can use it to secure the doors and set the alarm, and then put the key in my wetsuit or hide it under a fender.

It's not clear to me if I can do something similar with the Smart Key. Will I always need to take it with me? If so, does anybody have experience with a waterproof bag that would protect the Smart Key fob so I could put it in my wetsuit or dry bag?

[summerwind]

I would ask your dive shop.

You are going the right direction on protecting your key

[Dman1]

Originally Posted by fracisco

I have a general question about the Smart Key, and if there is a workaround for securing the vehicle so that the fob does not need to be with the owner. Specifically, in my current vehicle, which has keyless entry remote (not Smart Key), I also have an old fashioned key. I can use it to secure the doors and set the alarm, and then put the key in my wetsuit or hide it under a fender.

It's not clear to me if I can do something similar with the Smart Key. Will I always need to take it with me? If so, does anybody have experience with a waterproof bag that would protect the Smart Key fob so I could put it in my wetsuit or dry bag?

You could take the manual key out of the Smart Key fob and take that with you. The only problem is you cannot lock the fob inside of the car. I wonder if there would be a way to disable this feature that helps to prevent you from locking your keys in your car. If so, a dealer would likely need to do it for you for $$$$.

Oh, and to ToyotaNation.

[fracisco]

I received this suggestion from another forum:

http://www.aquapac.net/usstore/keyma...04-1651-0.html

This may be the way to go, although I was hoping for a 'valet key' type solution where I could leave the fob hidden inside a locked vehicle.

[fotomatt]

Try wrapping your Smart Key fob in aluminum foil - in essence creating a small Faraday cage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage) that would inhibit any signal between the fob and the car.

Another suggestion I read elsewhere in another forum was that you might be able to store the fob in the glove box and then lock it with the old fashioned key. No idea offhand if that idea would also apply to a Highlander.

Edit: To clarify, the glove box tip above should also mention that the suggestion I found elsewhere implied that the closed glove box would either act as a Faraday cage similar to the aluminum foil suggestion mentioned previously or that it was a "dead zone" incapable of sending/receiving signals between the car and the fob. If you try to store your Smart Key fob in the glove box and are still unable to lock the car, then you may need to resort to foil or one of the bags suggested by TrailDust, at which point you can stash it in your glove box, lock the glove box and the car with your old fashioned key, and go about your merry way.

Hope this helps. Let us know if you get either tip to work.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by fotomatt

Try wrapping your Smart Key fob in aluminum foil - in essence creating a small Faraday cage (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage) that would inhibit any signal between the fob and the car.

Agreed on that method. There are a number of products out there whereby computer cases, luggage, carrying bags, wallets, etc., are protected by a copper mesh sewn in. I've seen the small bags meant for key fobs before but don't have any URLs to offer. A Google search should turn up a few sites.