I drove 3 miles without my keys

[BroncocnorB]

Long story short I was on beach today and left my keys on back bumper as I was unfolding beach chairs. I packed up and left. Started the bronco and drove about 2 miles. Wife wanted something in back, I put ‘er in park (not wife) and she died. I could restart with Fordpass, but not get out of park. I basically jogged back to beach and amazingly someone found keys and turned them in to the hostess at the tiki bar. Thank God Pinellas State police watched my Bronco for me on the road and picked me up so I didn’t have to jog back. Lulz. The damn keys allowed me to start and drive about 2 miles after falling off about 10 feet from where I started. I love technology - I don’t like running so much, anymore.

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[Toccoa]

Good thing it was only a couple miles. That could have turned out much worse.

 

[Tex]

I've always wondered how far you could get without keys before it shuts itself down (i.e., someone hops into the Bronco and takes off with me standing there not paying attention), but it seems like the only thing the keys do is disable the vehicle after it's driven away. Weird protocol, for sure.

 

[Lifeliberty]

I've wondered about pumping gas and someone jumping in and driving away. Sounds possible if your keys were by the rear. I've been locking my doors while pumping gas

 

[Area51BS]

I don’t think there is a distance or time. Next start cycle. I did similar in wife’s car years ago. She had the key in her purse. I dropped her off. Drove away. Went to get gas and as I shut the car down an alert popped up saying no key detected. So I didn’t shut it off realizing what happened. Thanks GM. The Bronco didn’t have any warning?

 

[Deleted User 5719102]

Got your exercise in for the day. Glad you got keys back.

BTW, its Florida State Troopers, and Pinellas Sheriff Dept.

 

[Combustion_King]

I've wondered about pumping gas and someone jumping in and driving away. Sounds possible if your keys were by the rear. I've been locking my doors while pumping gas

You leave your car running while getting gas? My keys are in my pocket bc touches entry and it’s off when fueling,

 

[Roger123]

Didn't you get some sort of "no key detected" dash warning?

 

[BroncocnorB]

Didn't you get some sort of "no key detected" dash warning?

No warning. I stopped at a traffic light, put it in park, and when I opened the door the horn started sounding and I got the dash warning. But who knows I might’ve been able to drive all the way home. I probably was lucky in view of things. The cops were awesome, and the restaurant across street brought a small snack out to my wife while I was running back across the Dunedin causeway. Good times. I guess it’s just amazing to me that cars today allow this to happen.

I was able to use my phone to restart, but I couldn’t get it out of park.

 

[MnLakeBum]

IMO it’s too bad you need the key FOB to drive it. I’d like it if you could just use the app to start and drive. My 2015 Tesla allows that and occasionally it’s useful such as in your situation. I often leave my keys in my Bronco and use the keypad to lock/unlock.

 

[BostonSasquatch]

I've wondered about pumping gas and someone jumping in and driving away. Sounds possible if your keys were by the rear. I've been locking my doors while pumping gas

If anybody ever tries to carjack me, I hope I have the presence of mind to act defensively--and effectively--as this guy!

 

[cbrenthus]

No warning. I stopped at a traffic light, put it in park, and when I opened the door the horn started sounding and I got the dash warning. But who knows I might’ve been able to drive all the way home. I probably was lucky in view of things. The cops were awesome, and the restaurant across street brought a small snack out to my wife while I was running back across the Dunedin causeway. Good times. I guess it’s just amazing to me that cars today allow this to happen.

I was able to use my phone to restart, but I couldn’t get it out of park.

That's my old stomping grounds. Got married on Honeymoon island, surfed honeymoon every chance I could, paddled st jospehs sound many times, etc. What restaurant gave your wife a snack?

 

[BroncocnorB]

That's my old stomping grounds. Got married on Honeymoon island, surfed honeymoon every chance I could, paddled st jospehs sound many times, etc. What restaurant gave your wife a snack?

Frenchy’s. We were at the looong traffic light right by the restaurant. They felt bad for HER and brought out a nice container of pasta salad. Everyone was great, the cops, the tiki bar staff, and Frenchys. In the end it was a great experience at the end of the day, and I’m glad I got my keys back. And thank god someone found them in the sand. Whoever they are.

 

[Silver-Bolt]

You could have driven until you ran out of gas. Once it started with the key present it's off to the races.

 

[P52Ranch]

I think that even if you keep it running, once you shift into Park then you aren't moving anywhere unless the key fob is present. That happens with my wife's Audi and with my F150 Lightning.

No concerns about the 7MT Bronco though.

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