C4 Picasso Theft Vulnerability

fyreshaman

Johno100 wrote: »

I think the chime and visual indicator that the key is not present might be a giveaway:D

It has already sounded various alarms and lit up STOP apparently at random. Perhaps it has a sense of humour.

WellKnownSid

Johno100 wrote: »

I think the chime and visual indicator that the key is not present might be a giveaway:D

Sorry I'd be far too busy making a mental note of the 'balance' and 'handling' of the vehicle so I can compare it to Neil's imaginary 3 series to notice any kind of chime or visual indicator.

nidO

As above, i'd be curious to know exactly what range we're talking about here.
My Volvo also has keyless entry and can be triggered by water when washing the car etc, except that the detection range for the key is only about 2 feet, and it's broken up into "zones" (ie the key has to be within 2 feet of the driver's door to open the driver's door, you can't have the key at the passenger side and unlock the car via the driver's door).

I too would be very unhappy if the doors could be locked/unlocked while the key was 20-30 feet away.

On the question of ending up in a service station to find your keys at home, again I can only speak for Volvos but leaving aside unlocking the car, the engine will only start in the first place if the key is inside the car - Therefore you would have to have the key in the car, start it, get out of the car taking the key with you, leave the key outside the car, get back in then drive off to find yourself somewhere with no key to restart it, and if you can manage all that, it's your own fault.

fyreshaman

dannyrst wrote: »

How close are you when the car is unlocking? Usually, if you're more than a couple of feet away it won't open. Also, they usually have a functionality built in so when you lock the car, you cannot unlock it again until around 5 seconds have passed, allowing you to check that the door is infact locked.

I'm only familiar with the Renault version of this software BTW.

I have opened it with the key more than 6 feet away just by splashing the handle with a hosepipe. First time I washed it I was totally bemused by it unlocking and locking itself seemingly by magic. The contacts are meant for a thumb or finger to operate, but rain works just as well.

fyreshaman

nidO wrote: »

As above, i'd be curious to know exactly what range we're talking about here.
My Volvo also has keyless entry and can be triggered by water when washing the car etc, except that the detection range for the key is only about 2 feet, and it's broken up into "zones" (ie the key has to be within 2 feet of the driver's door to open the driver's door, you can't have the key at the passenger side and unlock the car via the driver's door).

I too would be very unhappy if the doors could be locked/unlocked while the key was 20-30 feet away.

On the question of ending up in a service station to find your keys at home, again I can only speak for Volvos but leaving aside unlocking the car, the engine will only start in the first place if the key is inside the car - Therefore you would have to have the key in the car, start it, get out of the car taking the key with you, leave the key outside the car, get back in then drive off to find yourself somewhere with no key to restart it, and if you can manage all that, it's your own fault.

In the house, about 6 feet away, outside further away.
Maybe mine's just a sensitive soul. I'll never be stupid enough to leave the key anywhere close overnight, of course, but I have heard it unlock in the rain before I've even opened the back door.

movilogo

Even if you drive away the car (while key inside the house), after a short distance engine will no longer talk with the key and thus car will stop.

I recall few years back TopGear demonstrated this.

Put simply, you can't drive the car considerable distance without the key.

jase1

I really have a lot to learn with this car owning lark.

I don't think I've even driven a car with a start button, never mind any of this other fancy mullarkey

WellKnownSid

jase1 wrote: »

I really have a lot to learn with this car owning lark.

I don't think I've even driven a car with a start button, never mind any of this other fancy mullarkey

I'm only just getting the hang of single de-clutching... :eek:

alleycat`

movilogo wrote: »

Even if you drive away the car (while key inside the house), after a short distance engine will no longer talk with the key and thus car will stop.

I recall few years back TopGear demonstrated this.

Put simply, you can't drive the car considerable distance without the key.

Isn't true of my QQ.

Once the car is running you can drive until you press the stop/start button.

It just puts a "no key detected" yellow symbol on the dash if it loses contact.

I suspect it's designed such that if the fob battery dies when you are out and about that your car doesn't cut out on the motorway at high speed leaving you in serious brown trouser land..

I've certainly driven several miles without the key after the mrs took it with her (in her bag) when i dropped her off at the shops.

Having said all that it only allows you to open the door / start the car if you are within a couple of feet of the car at an appropriate door / boot.

It doesn't work from "6 feet away" as suggested for the C4 in this post.

I've never tried to unlock the car with things other than my "hand" but as fingers are very difficult to "check" for validity, due to variations in temperature impacting things like blood flow, electrical resistance, etc i would doubt it needs to be done with a hand at all.

Anything that can impact sufficient force should be viable to push a button (in my opinion) so long as the key is deemed to be in range.

The only reason i can imagine that this would work is if the signal was getting amplified well beyond its normal operational range as i can't believe it's designed to work in this manor.

As a matter of testing does this "trick" work away from your home?

dannyrst

fyreshaman wrote: »

I have opened it with the key more than 6 feet away just by splashing the handle with a hosepipe. First time I washed it I was totally bemused by it unlocking and locking itself seemingly by magic. The contacts are meant for a thumb or finger to operate, but rain works just as well.

See the Renault worked on a sensor, not a contact.

6 feet is possibly excessive. Mine never unlocked whilst the key was in our house and the car can't have been more than 4 feet away?

I never left the key that close though, I made a point of keeping the key at the back of the house just incase.