[Shercts2012]

I went to a valet car wash today on my lunch hour. Pretty sure I left my fob with them. When my car was ready I jumped in drove to the gas station to come out and be locked out of my car. Called the car wash they checked and did not find anything. Called a lock smith to get me in. The car started up but after 20 different people looking in the car for the fob we can not find it. I keep the window down in case it locks. Everything I have read says the fob has to be in the car to start. Anyone experience this?

 

[Long]

Welcome to Cadillac Forums.
What year and model Cadillac do you have?

 

[tinman]

The fob indeed must be in the vehicle for it to start. Try looking in the console, then the glove box, then follow up with the usual places like seat cracks and between the seats. And what Long said, what year and model?

 

[Icecream-Cadillac]

If your immobilizer/FOB function parameters mirror that of my 2016 CTS V-Sport, then yes, the fob must be within detectable distance for the car to start/unlock.

What an odd problem to have, good luck to you!

 

[Excalibur]

As Long said, the model and year of your car would help us.

Just to set things clearly...you went to the wash, the staff would need the fob in order to move the car (do you recall giving the fob to them, or did you just leave it in the car?), when finished you got in and drove to the gas station, while filling up the car locked, smith was called to open the car, you got in and it started, a search of the car found no fob inside.

Do you have passive lock on your car set (I assume your MY has it)...I'm wondering why the car locked while you were getting gas, or did you purposefully or accidentally lock it when you got out to get gas?

Has the car locked on you since?

As others have said, the fob must be in the vehicle for it to start. - so it is either in the car or on your person (purse?).

 

[Shercts2012]

Welcome to Cadillac Forums.
What year and model Cadillac do you have?

2012 CTS Coupe

As Long said, the model and year of your car would help us.

Just to set things clearly...you went to the wash, the staff would need the fob in order to move the car (do you recall giving the fob to them, or did you just leave it in the car?), when finished you got in and drove to the gas station, while filling up the car locked, smith was called to open the car, you got in and it started, a search of the car found no fob inside.

Do you have passive lock on your car set (I assume your MY has it)...I'm wondering why the car locked while you were getting gas, or did you purposefully or accidentally lock it when you got out to get gas?

Has the car locked on you since?

As others have said, the fob must be in the vehicle for it to start. - so it is either in the car or on your person (purse?).

You are correct, I have checked every place possible. No, it has not locked since but I am keeping my window down in case it does. What is passive lock? The car beeps like I am leaving the key in the car. Just spoke with the dealer and they said it would have to be in the car.

 

[AAIIIC]

2012 CTS Coupe

Thread moved to the V6 CTS forum from the V8 CTS-V forum. Not that the specific model really matters in regards to this issue, but you'll more eyes viewing the thread in this forum.

As for resolving The Case of the Missing Fob, I'm not sure what anyone here on the forum can do to help you. Keep looking. Get someone else to look - fresh set of eyes.

 

[jzchen]

I lost a light bulb in a different vehicle once. Believe it or not but look in the dark with a flashlight. The narrow beam will narrow your focus. (Worked for me)...

Sent from my REVVL V+ 5G using Tapatalk

 

[tinman]

I lost a light bulb in a different vehicle once. Believe it or not but look in the dark with a flashlight. The narrow beam will narrow your focus. (Worked for me)...

Sent from my REVVL V+ 5G using Tapatalk

True that as it may be black on black.

 

[NorthernSRX]

Weird that the car locked with the key inside.

My only advice: think like a valet - they usually put the key above the sun visor.

 

[Excalibur]

2012 CTS Coupe


You are correct, I have checked every place possible. No, it has not locked since but I am keeping my window down in case it does. What is passive lock? The car beeps like I am leaving the key in the car. Just spoke with the dealer and they said it would have to be in the car.

First I'm not sure if you have it, but passive lock is a setting where you walk away from the car (you have the fob on your person), and a few seconds later the car locks, but from what you now have said ie. the car has not locked since, I don't think it is set (even if you have that option).

 

[HurstGN]

Did you leave the car running when you gave it to the valet? If so, it will run without the fob while being washed.
Did the valet shut the car off when it was finished? Most don't, so it will still run even without the fob. Did the DIC have a message that the fob was not detected?
Did you check your purse, laptop bag, jacket, coat, anything you may be taking into the car? For it to lock automatically, it cannot detect the fob inside. But to start, the fob must be inside the car. So it seems to me that the fob is going in and out of the car with you.

 

[Long]

For it to lock automatically, it cannot detect the fob inside.

By design, yes. It's not supposed to happen.

I have been locked out of my CTS with the FOB inside and the vehicle running. Luckily the sunroof was open and I used a broomstick to hit the unlock button.
IIRC this happened to @wcthunder as well.

I no longer leave the FOB with the car.

 

[FTSS]

They do say a different set of eyes always sees different things, but you mentioned already trying many others to help. I would ask even more to look again. And there sounds like aspects of the design indicating the FOB must both in the car and must be somewhere on your person. So, while the carwash says they don't have it, one of the few things not mentioned yet is try to canvas the kids to find where each one usually sticks it?

You say it starts every time you try. Does it work when you're nowhere near and someone else tries?

Places no one would think they should ever have to look = under mat, ashtray, sunroof lid, that kid's pocket

PS - some (at least old school) car washes shampooed the floor mats and threw them in the trunk after vacuuming it. = another search area.

Do report back for others if/after finding it.

 

[silversport]

perhaps also asking at the car wash where the valet might put the remote when they clean the inside (vacuum, etc) as they may have a certain place to place it (like the sun visor as mentioned above)...good luck...the remote should be somewhere in the car...

had an issue with the GF's car that had the switchblade Chevy remote fob...the blade separated from the fob and after searching everywhere (so I thought) many times, I had a fresh set of eyes looking and asking questions of me...there was the "blade"/key in the ignition slot overlooked by me several times as I thought for sure I saw the silver portion fall when the remote fob separated...

good luck with your search

 

[jzchen]

2012 CTS Coupe

You are correct, I have checked every place possible. No, it has not locked since but I am keeping my window down in case it does. What is passive lock? The car beeps like I am leaving the key in the car. Just spoke with the dealer and they said it would have to be in the car.

Does it lock if you try to lock it with the other remote/key? Other sound that may sound as you leave is if you leave the headlights on.

If you left and got locked out the key must have been on your person and left the car with you, or with someone/something else, ie pet.... (Either that or you have the very unlucky case where your key battery is weak and goes in and out of car recognizing it)...

Sent from my REVVL V+ 5G using Tapatalk

 

[CSIMME01]

When my wife (and her purse with fob) stay in my car at fuel stops it give me the triple beep about 90% of the time, leaving itself unlocked. About 10% of the time it doesn't and locks itself.
I think it depends on just how close her purse is to the drivers side of the car.

That might give you a hint

 

[TheFlash]

The FOB is in the car somewhere. keep looking till you find it.

 

[Super 8]

Mine honks the horn as you walk away from the vehicle while the key fob is on me, No honk while it stays in the car.
Yes, have been locked out of mine 3 different times with the fob inside, once still running. Usually due to a low battery in key fob but did quit using the more troublesome one of the 2 I have.

 

[Joslynmaliky]

I went to a valet car wash today on my lunch hour. Pretty sure I left my fob with them. When my car was ready I jumped in drove to the gas station to come out and be locked out of my car. Called the car wash they checked and did not find anything. Called a lock smith to get me in. The car started up but after 20 different people looking in the car for the fob we can not find it. I keep the window down in case it locks. Everything I have read says the fob has to be in the car to start. Anyone experience this?

There is a setting in my vehicle (08 CTS4) on the dash that allows me to start my car without the key fob being detected. Had to use it when I dropped and broke my key fob, while at the grocery store.

Did you look in your trunk?

If they detailed your car they would have cleaned the trunk also. Your back passenger seat will also lift up and out, maybe it fell under the back seat?