henkinc

I now just lock the car so I can go through the sequence of unlocking and starting right up, even when pumping gas or leaving the car in my secure garage. (Don't ask - I have a history of failed starts with thsi thing.) Anyway, the owner's manual does not say how long you can leave the key in the ignition after turning engine off and then get in and just start as you would after removing key, locking, and then unlocking the doors. Can I leave the key there for 10, 30, 1000 minutes and then just get in and start? I am conducting an experiment for an hour right now.

Thanks.

97_993C2

Mine usually won't start after a normal fill-up - around five minutes? But I take the key out of the ignition. Don't know if it would make a difference in the time if I left the key in.

coltj

I know I've left my key in the ignition for over 8 hours(car in driveway) and it started right up without having to rearm/deactivate the immobilizer.

henkinc

After about 30 mimutes I opened the passenger door, opened the trunk, closed them both, got in and turned the key. NOTHING. So I took the key out, locked the doors. unlocked the doors and it then started fine.

Does it matter if you only open the driver door to pump gas, say, and leave the key in the ignition? But do not open the trunk or passeger door?

TMc993

As I understand it, there is no limit to how long they key can stay in the ignition without locking/unlocking. I often leave my key in the ignition for more than a week (In my secure garage) and it starts every time without any type of immobilizer deactivation sequence. The only time limit I'm aware of is the 1-2 minutes WITHOUT the key in the ignition activating the immobilizer.