GTI+ Stolen, Recovered, Manhandled by Insurer's Garage - Need a VW Garage

[Andy Beats]

I miss keyless badly on both of our cars, I'd gladly take the risk to have it again.
I can understand my pretty basic Polo not having it, but the wife's Sportage is kitted out beyond belief and it's a strange omission from the spec.

[gnome]

The keyless on the Polo can be disabled temporarily, basically each time you get out of the car you can disable keyless entry i don’t remember the exact procedure but I read it in the manual, it’s something like holding the drivers door handle for a few seconds. This should be enough to prevent the relay theft. It’s the way i’ll be using the car, push button start great, keyless entry, meh!

[Griff74]

You can also permanently disable it using VAGcom or OBDeleven, you can tell the car it doesn't have the 2 modules for keyless entry and exit so you can only lock\unlock using the buttons on the keyfob, the start\stop button still works fine as it's a different module, I will probably do this with mine, less for security and more for convenience as having to stop and touch the door handle to lock the car seems annoying to me. I tried it yesterday on a GTi+ at my dealers and it is worse then just closing the door via the frame, walking away and pressing the button in you pocket, our i3 which doesn't have the optional "comfort access" works this way as it has a start button.

I also saw an advert the other day for a new device from somewhere in the Netherlands which goes inside your keyfob around the battery, there are 2 version, 1 which cuts power to the fob after it being still for 3 mins or one which you have to stop still and then tap your fob (or pocket\bag with it in) twice to switch your fab on, looked interesting until I saw they are 144 Euros EACH!

Oh just found it - https://keylessprotector.com

[l3rady]

I also saw an advert the other day for a new device from somewhere in the Netherlands which goes inside your keyfob around the battery, there are 2 version, 1 which cuts power to the fob after it being still for 3 mins or one which you have to stop still and then tap your fob (or pocket\bag with it in) twice to switch your fab on, looked interesting until I saw they are 144 Euros EACH!

Oh just found it - https://keylessprotector.com

That is pricey for such a small piece of electronics. What I don't understand is why car manufacturers cannot put this tech built into the key... It seems so basic to disable the key once still for a short time. Interesting to know if this device has any impact on the battery life of the key? cannot find anything on their website about it.

[gnome]

That is pricey for such a small piece of electronics. What I don't understand is why car manufacturers cannot put this tech built into the key... It seems so basic to disable the key once still for a short time. Interesting to know if this device has any impact on the battery life of the key? cannot find anything on their website about it.

Some new cars have key fobs with an accelerometer in them (I think its the latest BMW's) .. If there is no motion the keyless entry will not unlock the car. Simple solution which should be on all cars.

[SRGTD]

I also saw an advert the other day for a new device from somewhere in the Netherlands which goes inside your keyfob around the battery, there are 2 version, 1 which cuts power to the fob after it being still for 3 mins or one which you have to stop still and then tap your fob (or pocket\bag with it in) twice to switch your fab on, looked interesting until I saw they are 144 Euros EACH!

Oh just found it - https://keylessprotector.com

That is pricey for such a small piece of electronics. What I don't understand is why car manufacturers cannot put this tech built into the key... It seems so basic to disable the key once still for a short time. Interesting to know if this device has any impact on the battery life of the key? cannot find anything on their website about it.

I think Mercedes key fobs for their current range of cars with keyless entry do ‘shut down’ after a sensing a short period of no movement, stopping the signal being picked up by a would-be thief with signal amplification equipment and transmitted to the car. So this technology is starting to be used by car manufacturers, and not before time IMO.

[Andy Beats]

I think Mercedes key fobs for their current range of cars with keyless entry do ‘shut down’ after a sensing a short period of no movement, stopping the signal being picked up by a would-be thief with signal amplification equipment and transmitted to the car. So this technology is starting to be used by car manufacturers, and not before time IMO.

I take it the tech can't be hacked into thinking it's being moved, thereby bringing it to life again?

[Andy Beats]

This is interesting, the patent for a keyfob with accelerometer goes back to 2013.
Although it's only mentioned for extending battery life.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20140368313A1/en

[stevereeves]

So sad to read of the OP's problems, hope it gets sorted soon. Years ago thieves caused my 'retirement' from Moto-X; my bike, KX125, and all my tools & riding gear (less one glove) were stolen from my parent's garage and we found out the hard way the houshold insurance didn't cover the garage, it does now. Just had the engine rebuilt and had given the petrol tank a coat of primer too. Such a kicker when lowlifes can't leave folks' stuff alone ....

[SRGTD]

I think Mercedes key fobs for their current range of cars with keyless entry do ‘shut down’ after a sensing a short period of no movement, stopping the signal being picked up by a would-be thief with signal amplification equipment and transmitted to the car. So this technology is starting to be used by car manufacturers, and not before time IMO.

I take it the tech can't be hacked into thinking it's being moved, thereby bringing it to life again?

Sorry, I don’t know.

It’s not unknown for the unscrupulous to find ways around security safeguards that are built into tech (not just car security-related tech), so I dare say this is a possibility at some point in the future. The key (no pun intended!) is for car manufacturers to try to get (and stay) at least one step ahead of the car thief, and commit sufficient funding and resource to continually developing and improving vehicle security. Will they do this? If it doesn’t help to sell cars, they probably won’t, even though most - if not all - car manufacturers say they take vehicle security seriously.

[roywolfey]

I also saw an advert the other day for a new device from somewhere in the Netherlands which goes inside your keyfob around the battery, there are 2 version, 1 which cuts power to the fob after it being still for 3 mins or one which you have to stop still and then tap your fob (or pocket\bag with it in) twice to switch your fab on, looked interesting until I saw they are 144 Euros EACH!

Oh just found it - https://keylessprotector.com

For anyone interested, Shmee150 posted a demo of this recently. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9IhrMExnzM

[Griff74]

I also saw an advert the other day for a new device from somewhere in the Netherlands which goes inside your keyfob around the battery, there are 2 version, 1 which cuts power to the fob after it being still for 3 mins or one which you have to stop still and then tap your fob (or pocket\bag with it in) twice to switch your fab on, looked interesting until I saw they are 144 Euros EACH!

Oh just found it - https://keylessprotector.com

For anyone interested, Shmee150 posted a demo of this recently. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9IhrMExnzM

Yeah I've watched that, I'd advise anyone overly paranoid about their car having keyless entry NOT to watch this video!

[S_94]

For anyone with a GTI+ do you feel safe enough with disabling the keyless entry when you exit the car or do you take any further security precautions?

[monkeyhanger]

For anyone with a GTI+ do you feel safe enough with disabling the keyless entry when you exit the car or do you take any further security precautions?

I feel safe enough not disabling and using as intended. Depends where you live I suppose. North Tyneside is not known for car crime. Going off the forums, it would seem that if you have a Golf R or S3 and live in Coventry or Birmingham, you are highly likely to have your car stolen by burgling your house for the key.

[chris.tayler]

When I've been exiting the GTI+ I've been pushing the little notch on the handle in to stop the car listening for the keyless entry. Means the next time I go to the car I have to use the fob.

Gives me a little bit of comfort but still on edge with the whole keyless entry system and people boosting signals.

Now thats something i didnt know about. I use the indent to lock the car and just place my hand in to unlock.