[stanwagon]

The key got comes with a removable key. Sometimes when I go on runs I would like to remove the small key and carry only that. That worked fine in my Prius, as I could lock and unlock with the metal key. But this one seems different. There is a slot on the bottom of the door handle which according to the manual should accept the physical key. But I can slide it in only partway. Am I doing something wrong? Does anyone know exactly how the metal key can be used to lock and unlock the car (with fob inside the car)? I imagine the fob is still essential to start the car, but my focus is on lock/unlock.

 

[GJETSON]

The key got comes with a removable key. Sometimes when I go on runs I would like to remove the small key and carry only that. That worked fine in my Prius, as I could lock and unlock with the metal key. But this one seems different. There is a slot on the bottom of the door handle which according to the manual should accept the physical key. But I can slide it in only partway. Am I doing something wrong? Does anyone know exactly how the metal key can be used to lock and unlock the car (with fob inside the car)? I imagine the fob is still essential to start the car, but my focus is on lock/unlock.

The slot in the door handle is for popping the cover off. Be careful, as some have broken the little cover. The actual lock tumbler is under the cover.

 

[GregBrew]

The slot in the door handle is for popping the cover off. Be careful, as some have broken the little cover. The actual lock tumbler is under the cover.

There's another thread here somewhere (started by a surfer) who wanted to leave the fob in the car, and carry the key only (because it can get wet w/o damage). The only solution seems to be to pop off the little cover to access the key slot. I popped off the cover only twice on my Premier, and could see the deformation damage to the little tabs. Popping off the cover is not a viable solution to getting in the car on a regular basis, unless you simply leave the little cover off. Problem is, it's ugly under there. Also, since the cover is painted to match, it's not like a replacement would be cheap or easy either.

Whichever GM industrial designer came up with this should be slapped about the head and face, for not considering actual usage scenarios. Really a dumb design.:|

 

[stanwagon]

OK. Many thanks. I guess I will live with carrying the key fob always, since it seems like the design is not like Toyota's where it was trivial to use just the metal key.

Hotter temperatures here leading to superb fuel economy. 5.2 mi/kWh for last 1000 miles.

 

[Delta Flyer]

Has anyone looked at the possibility of drilling a key-sized hole through the plastic cover? If you could align it properly, the hole wouldn’t need to be too big, and would eliminate the need to remove the cover each time.

 

[GregBrew]

Has anyone looked at the possibility of drilling a key-sized hole through the plastic cover? If you could align it properly, the hole wouldn’t need to be too big, and would eliminate the need to remove the cover each time.

That's an idea! Maybe there's a little black rubber hole plug that would fit the drilled hole, too. Just snug enough to not fall out, but still enable removal without pulling the entire cover off. Getting the cover off w/o damaging it to drill the hole, then popping it back on afterwards is a pucker-inducing project though. After seeing the deformed clips on mine after only two removals tell me I never want to do it again, unless it's an emergency.