I'm finding that several times a week (and twice today), the car prompts me to reposition my key fob under the dash between my knee and the door before the car will start.

Do many of you have to do this? And is it very often?

I can't work out what the reason is behind why this happens. It is quite random as far as I can work out.

Cheers,
Oz

 

Maybe the fob needs a new battery. Does the car do the same when you use your second fob?

 

Not sure - I'll try it and see, but it's only a couple of months old, so you'd expect not. Thx

 

Although not with this car, in the past, I have had key fobs that acted up due to a premature battery failure.
Larry

 

Replacing battery would be my first thought.

 

Back in the day when you had to put a key in an ignition switch, the battery in the key could be recharged as you drove.

So, in addition to the problems of where to put the key while in the car, and remembering to take it with you when you park, we have another Giant Leap for Mankind in useabilty.

I've decided to offer my services to Jaguar (and other manufacturers) as a Marketing Consultant. My role will be to slap the other Marketing Consultants - repeatedly - until they justify the added utility of their idea over the loss of utility in existing systems...

 

Back in the day keys worked on clean air and a little muscle and did not require any electrickery

Yes its a neat little trick to have keyless entry and start but I'm not sure that you actually gain any real utility in the end.

 

Spare smart key = $250+
Spare real key = $2
Not having to use a technical manual or go online to a forum to use the key = $priceless

 

On the other hand, I love never having to take it out of my pocket. Based on my experience with other keyless entry systems, I thought this would be stupid, but got it as part of the premium pack.

Love it. Fob stays in my pocket. Push the little button on the recessed door handle, and it pops out. Open, the door, get in, put your foot on the brake, and push the start button. The nuclear reactor fires up, and it's off to the races.

I think it's a great implementation. Assuming the battery doesn't die...

 

I'll try and be a little bit more helpfull than the others, i've very occasionally had it happen to me but only when i dont do the norm, ie open the door and put the fob in the cup holders.
It very occasionally doesn't start if the fob is my pocket or in my hand but 99% of the time it does, not sure this helps.

Tim

 

Could be a wonky interior key sensor.

 

Oz, have you tried replacing the battery yet?

 

One of the main ideas of the Fob is to allow you to keep it in your pocket at all times and I've noticed in past cars that when the battery got low it would not always work as intended. ie: in my pocket for instance. My concern was that if I left it in the cup holder, and the battery was low, it may allow me to lock the door with the key inside.
Also, I went through batteries faster than I thought it should.
Easy to change, most of them have two small coin shaped batteries.
Lawrence.

 

Ok. Mystery solved. The answer was... Human factors.

Sometimes I slip my key fob ring over my finger as I'm getting in to the car, usually because I have my phone and wallet in the other to put in to the centre console. So, I get in the car, drop my other stuff in the centre, then reach out to close the door with the hand that's got the fob in it AS I simultaneously put my foot on the brake and press the start button with my free hand.

The car does not detect the fob in the car, so displays the prompt to reposition it.

If I close the door and lock it, and then wait a few seconds, the car resets. Then you unlock it and the car will start normally.

Ta-da!!!

(Ok. Truthfully, feeling a bit silly now.)

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions.

 

Again, the problem is the loose nut behind the steering wheel. My vehicles are always succumbing to that flaw.

 

 

I would suggest trying the XF forum, rather than a 3 year-old thread in the F-type forum.

 

That's funny

 

Glad you have that resolved. I have to do my research here on the eco button. I lean my hand on it all the time and the car shuts off ( hate when that happens !