An Example...

... of why I'm not actually a fan of the electronification of frickin' everything:

Today I got ready to go to work, went out to my car, got in, turned the key... and nothing happened. Several more attempts and the alarm actually went off. The button on the "integrated key fob" turned the alarm back off, but that still didn't fix the issue of the car not starting.

Thankfully, I could retrieve the spare key from my room and it did work, but now I have a problem - and one that would have been a lot worse if I'd lost the key or it was with someone else. These integrated key fobs have buttons for door locks, trunk, and the alarm - which all still work. Apparently they also contain some data that syncs with the car to say it's a proper key and allow ignition, and I can only assume that's specifically the part that isn't working.

This sort of thing doesn't happen when keys are just mechanical. Grrr.

I thought maybe it was a symptom of a low battery in the key, but replacing that hasn't changed things. Now I have an email out to the local dealership asking (in nicer terms) "WTF?"

More and more, games require an internet connection, cars require computers, everyone is assumed to have a cell phone, and everything under the sun takes batteries and power (our GM last week had four or five devices all USB-powered through his plugged-in laptop). It's really getting to be ridiculous, but it's not slowing down at all.

Update 1: Fwee. So after talking with the local Ford dealer, I've an appointment to bring the car and keys by for "about an hour" Friday morning so they can hook everything up to the computers and re-code or replace the keys. The former is said to run around $70. No immediate mention of how much it would cost to actually replace one or both of them. Heh. Far cry from just getting a key copied at the local hardware store.

Comments

  1. kyn_elwynnApril 11, 2012 at 11:04 AM

    Now, now. Take your SOMA citizen and let the Computer handle everything minute and detailed and just go about your life. complaints will result in being assigned to Room 101 for retraining. Have a nice day, the Computer is your Friend. :)

    ReplyDelete

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