Smart/Intelligent Ket Question/Problem

In my old truck with an aftermarket remote starter, there was a feature that allowed me to activate the remote starter while the car was on and then turn the ignition switch to off, take the key out and lock the car while the car was still running. In that case, the remote starters security took over and the car would shut down as soon as the break pedal was tapped (of course you couldn't move out of park). Some scenarios where it was beneficial:

1) It is supposedly better for the car not to continuously turn it on and off every few minutes (esp for gas mileage).

2) You run into a store for a few minutes and leave your dog in the car (but too hot to leave the window open).

3) It is very cold/hot. You are embarking on a few errands and the first one is only a minute away. While you run into store 1, you leave the car on to continue heating/cooling. By the time you are out of the first store, the temp is just right.

4) You pull into the driveway of a friend for a second and leave your 6 year old in the car while you walk 10 feet away (to pick up another kid/package, talk, whatever). You are in a safe driveway so no comments about leaving a kid in the car but it would be nicer if you didn't leave the kid in a car where he could cause trouble. Yet you want air/heat on.

5) You go to by milk in the summer and need to make another stop before you go home. Leave the air on while you are in the other place.

The list can go on and on, but you get the idea. Very convenient feature. The smartkey makes us almost half way there without a remote starter (you can lock the car with it running) but you don't have the security features and it won't shut down automatically after X minutes.

gadgetfreak said:

1) It is supposedly better for the car not to continuously turn it on and off every few minutes (esp for gas mileage).

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Leaving a car running will absolutely not, in any circumstance, help you get better gas mileage.

I think you are trying to use the I-key for a purpose for which it was not intended. They purpose of the key is to allow you to enter the car, and start the car, without having to dig through your pockets for the key. It is intended to provide the convenience of setting the seats and mirrors to the position that the individual driver prefers.

I believe that leaving your car running unattended is illegal in many jurisdictions, and would certainly piss off your insurance company (if not completely void your coverage for theft) if your ride gets jacked. Some remote starters get around this by having shut-offs when car is put in gear/brake is pressed, but clearly yours doesn't function correctly.

Your car would take about one minute to sufficiently warm up the motor (or less in your moderate climate) and about a minute to cool down the interior.

There is more than enough lubrication in the engine, particularly an engine that is so well designed, to prevent any noticeable adverse effects from turning the motor on and off-. In fact, any long term costs would almost certainly be offset by the savings at the pump from eliminating all the idling.

IMO, there is nothing wrong with the way the intelligent key functions wrt your circumstances.

The only issue I have seen that is a problem is with the poster who drove to work without the key, and had to have his wife deliver the key so he could get home. IIRC, wasn't that poster also using a remote starter? If so, then clearly the intelligent key system is not to be faulted.

I think we are getting confused here. The original question was whether the intel key would leave the car on like a remote start with the security. Answer: NO. You can lock the car but someone who gets it can shift out of park and move it. Doesn't make sense to me that Nissan would allow that, but so be it.

There are different issues with a remote start. I bought one through the dealer who simply took it to an alarm place down the block. I paid $600 through the dealer so that I wouldn't void my warranty (the alarm place probably charges only $300). In any case, it is back at the alarm place now. Here is where we stand. I can start the car by pressing unlock 3 times on the intel key and stop it the same way. Two issues though:

1) When I start it by pressing unlock 3 times, the car is unlocked and running (though security features such as brake shutoff are enabled). I can press lock on the keyfob (would be my 4th button press) to lock the car but nothing flashes or beeps to tell me it is locked.

2) If I remote start when it is dark and the auto lights go on, if I remotely shut it down or let it shut down on its own after 25 minutes, the lights will NEVER go off. Aparantly, you need to open and close the door for the countdown for auto light to go off to begin.

Alarm shop is working on the issues now. I hope the figure something out. For $600, losing auto headlight functionality is not worth it.