The manual cautions against doing this when the car is parked because it will "drain the battery". The car battery or the fob battery? Is it OK to remove the key and leave the key in the car when parked (in a locked garage)?

 

In what manual? What year and trim level of Crossfire has that statement in the own'ers manual? I've been here since 2009 and people often say this, but it is NOT true. I can't find that statement in ANY version of the owner's manual.

The SKREEM's receiver is always powered, sure, it takes about 5ma of current to power it. But the SKREEM's start-enable (which takes about 300 ma of current) is not triggered by the presence of the key, it is triggered by the closing of the ignition switch contacts that power fuse 37. What I am telling you is: the "ring" that talks to the key's RFID is not powered unless fuse 37 is powered.

Nither.

It's not a very smart idea, but if you want to risk it, fine. Your risk is two-fold: You make theft easy. You run the risk of being locked out of the car.

(This where you tell us: "Neither of those will ever happen to me." Please say it in this thread so we can remind you in a year or two when you ask for help getting in the car with the key locked inside when it happens. )

 

Page 9 of the 2006 owners manual.

 

Riveting !

 

I never read this or knew about this although I have never left the key in the ignition ever in the 16 years and 8 months I have owned a Crossfire

 

I am almost 100% certain that is baloney. I will test mine later this evening and find out for sure, once and for all.

 

Baloney or not the manufactures manual should always be followed.

 

My SLK's key got warm after leaving it in for a while so that told me not to do that.

 

The manual should only be followed where it is correct. Everyone knows the early manuals had inaccuracies.

 

I had it happen to me once, I had left the key in the car in the garage and was suprised that the battery was dead. I now always plug in the cable I ran to the driver side wiper area on a trickle charger. I pull the key out and if I want it in the ignition I slide it in JUST enough to let it hang, not inserted far at all....Go figure. Woody It might be a fluke but I dont do it any more.

 

For the life of me, I can't imagine why any owner would want to leave his/her car key in the car, locked garage or otherwise. The Crossfire is nearly impossible to steal due to the connectivity of the key switch to the SKREEM which requires a valid car key to function.

 

 

Pretty much sums it up.

 

The 2008 model year manual has the same caution about leaving the key in the ignition. Not an early manual

 

Nither. That is not like you to misspell a word or is that the American way?

 

It is NOT like me, but it IS the American way. Just look at Facebook.

I'm not spending a lot of time here anymore, Dave. My next post might explain why, not that it will surprise you. I check in, look things over when I can, maybe post once or twice, then I'm gone. I didn't' even proofread my post, which I usually do.

 

OK, I finally got around to it. My standby drain:

• Key not in ignition two minutes after shutting car off - 17mA.
• Key in ignition two minutes after shutting car off - 17mA.

Not a hard test to do and I already knew what the result would be, but it's always a good idea to verify before speaking.
I expected someone else to beat me to the punch, the fact no one did is part of why I dont' spend as much time here these days.

 

The real reason you do not spend so much time here is because there is nothing new.
Like you I just flip through the new posts and pass on. FB is more fun, silly questions or answers, questions that were answered here ten and more years ago.
The only way you can drain your battery with the key in the ignition is when it is turned to ACC but opening the door should remind you to take the key out anyway.
Locking yourself out of the car takes a little thought, turn of the car, get out of the car, lock the car with the fob and slip the fob through a slightly open window.
I have one How To to finish, which is fitting a 2 x DIN radio into a new custom bezel or putting he buttons in the centre console. Both of these are explained in a thread but I like to tidy them up in one place in a PDF. I have started but lack the enthusiasm to complete them, I cannot put photos in my threads but do them in Word and then convert them to PDFs.

 

 

Nothing new because there is not much modding going on is my observation. Steering, suspension, aero - not much at all compared with certain other sporty makes and models that have their all round performance improved many years after they were made, that's the way it is here.