Finding my key fob using its radio frequency?

[prasta]

TLDR Spare key has been "lost" somewhere in the truck for over 2 years, is there a way to find it using its radio frequency?

Yesterday I drove for about an hour, before receiving a call from my friend that my truck key fell out of my pocket in his car. I drove the remainder of the trip (5 hours) without shutting off the car, to make sure I could get home in time for a meeting and he's going to be mailing me the key. Upon arriving home, I finally shut off the car, but decided to try to restart the vehicle, it fired right up.



So either, I have an electrical issue -OR- after having thoroughly vacuuming and cleaning out the truck recently, I moved the "lost' key into transmission range of the starter radio. I'm going to be yanking all the mats out and checking under all the seats, hoping that it isnt in one of the ventilation ducts. For clarity, previously my truck required my PRIMARY key (the one I left behind) to be present in order to start the truck, so I'm scratching my head.

Aside from physically tearing the car apart, is there a way to track its location using its passive radio signal?

 

[jdha777]

You may have looked here already, but check beneath the carpet/flooring below the front edge of the driver seat. There are slits in the carpet that can allow small objects to pass through. I had an annoying clunk everytime I stopped or moved the car from standing position and it turned out to be a golf ball that found it's way in there.

 

[Sandroad]

You may have looked here already, but check beneath the carpet/flooring below the front edge of the driver seat. There are slits in the carpet that can allow small objects to pass through. I had an annoying clunk everytime I stopped or moved the car from standing position and it turned out to be a golf ball that found it's way in there.

^^^^^This.

The suspect cracks are between the driver/passenger seats and the center console. It’s a black hole for small items and it’s really hard to get them out. It’s extremely likely that’s where the fob is. I put foam stuffing in the cracks.

 

[doru]

If it started back it not only means the key is in the truck it also means the key is close to the start button, otherwise it will not start. So do a better search around the front seats.

 

[doru]

Obvious places glove box and coin holder under steering wheel. Some use the ashtray as storage. Not sure LC has glasses holder. Door pockets especially if you have lots of stuff. Front seats back pockets.

 

[bgladd]

I could have ended up underneath the carpet of one of the front seats.

 

[doru]

Aside from physically tearing the car apart, is there a way to track its location using its passive radio signal?

There are car thieves tools that sort of can, but they are not precise as you need it to be.

 

[HSTexan]

I would agree with the other posts to check in the slit below the drivers seat first. I have had my key fall out of my pocket twice and a pocket knife fall out once and they both ended up in that slit in the carpet. Move the driver's seat all the way forward and raise the rear all the way up as far as possible and it is relatively easy to access from the drivers side rear door area. The opening faces the transmission tunnel and is quite large.

 

[DallasTide]

^^^^^This.

The suspect cracks are between the driver/passenger seats and the center console. It’s a black hole for small items and it’s really hard to get them out. It’s extremely likely that’s where the fob is. I put foam stuffing in the cracks.

I've only been driving a 200 for 4 months now and I've already dropped things into these carpet slits on two separate occasions. It's honestly a terrible design. If you drop something between the driver's seat and center console it funnels right under the carpet into the void. Foam is a good idea.

 

[jivewalker]

The void is no joke. I found a whole cd in its case in there from the previous owner. Dolly Parton christmas.

 

[DallasTide]

The void is no joke. I found a whole cd in its case in there from the previous owner. Dolly Parton christmas.

There are worse christmas albums you could've found. I found a bunch of gas station and chick fil a receipts from the PO.

 

[KLF]

You guys need to pick up a set of Drop Stops. They work like a charm.

Drop Stop - The Original Patented Car Seat Gap Filler (AS SEEN ON Shark Tank) - Set of 2 and Slide Free Pad and Light https://a.co/d/60a0hyJ

 

[Sinister]

You guys need to pick up a set of Drop Stops. They work like a charm.

Drop Stop - The Original Patented Car Seat Gap Filler (AS SEEN ON Shark Tank) - Set of 2 and Slide Free Pad and Light https://a.co/d/60a0hyJ

Added to my cart, thanks.

 

[bloc]

If it started back it not only means the key is in the truck it also means the key is close to the start button, otherwise it will not start.

May be true, may not. Techstream can configure the vehicle to start with the key only in the front, or anywhere inside.

 

[clrussell]

May be true, may not. Techstream can configure the vehicle to start with the key only in the front, or anywhere inside.

I can confirm my 200 will start with my wife’s key fob anywhere in the vehicle.

My fob (with a yodamd case) is finicky. It has to be in the driver seat or in the console.

 

[DallasTide]

You guys need to pick up a set of Drop Stops. They work like a charm.

Drop Stop - The Original Patented Car Seat Gap Filler (AS SEEN ON Shark Tank) - Set of 2 and Slide Free Pad and Light https://a.co/d/60a0hyJ

I'm not going to buy this and next time I drop something under the seat I will be cursing myself lol

 

[MCtree]

You guys need to pick up a set of Drop Stops. They work like a charm.

Drop Stop - The Original Patented Car Seat Gap Filler (AS SEEN ON Shark Tank) - Set of 2 and Slide Free Pad and Light https://a.co/d/60a0hyJ

Agreed. These things are essential.

 

[Hoosier Daddy]

Wow, what a bizarre situation! I agree with everyone else about checking the most likely places. Failing that, I wonder if there might be a way to selectively shield certain areas of the interior with something (space blanket, layered aluminum foil, faraday fabric?) to help narrow down the location of the fob. That is, shield an area, and if the truck no longer starts, or says fob missing, then that's a clue.

 

[TLC2013]

Looking for any tips or suggestions, I misplaced one of my keys somewhere inside my 2013 LC. Car starts when pressing the ignition button which leads me to believe the key is somewhere close to the drivers seat. So far I have removed both front seats. Dug deep into the cavities beneath the seats but no luck. Searched 2nd and 3rd row and still nothing. At a loss, is there anything that can ping/communicate with the FOB?
Does the dealership have anything special to locate it or am I stuck getting a new keys programmed ?

 

[relaxing]

There’s no 2 way communication with the fob and no magic finder.

Using a space blanket to try to block the signal and narrow down the location is an intriguing idea, I’d try that.