[Rfong]

Wife and I drove to a gas station and stopped to fill up, I got out of the car with FOB in my pocket, and doors self locked as programmed. When done, I pulled the gas nozzle out of the filler cap, the nozzle accidentally lightly tapped on the filler cap and set off the alarm.

Wife tried to open passenger door, but she was locked in (so were the windows, although she didn’t try them. She could have pulled up on the manual lever on the floor to open the door). I opened the driver’s door from the outside and that stopped the alarm siren.

What caused the alarm? The tap on the filler cap?

Is there a work around to prevent this situation? I guess you could leave a door open to avoid self locking.

 

[Dasyatis]

Maybe the price of gas?

Sorry, couldn't help myself...

 

[jsvette]

I believe your wife set it off Ron. The 2LT and 3LT have a bit more sophisticated alarm, similar to what I had in my Porsche convertible (I don't know if your 911 has it). It is an internal sensor or 'radar' that detects movement in the cabin and trips the alarm. It is pretty sensitive- I have gotten caught a few times reaching into RedHot with the roof panel off. I do believe you can intentionally defeat it but don't recall the procedure at this time.

 

[jsvette]

Ok, just found in the manual two ways to avoid the internal sensor. First apparently is to just on exiting lock the door with the key and that will prevent the alarm from setting. Second (and I think a better method) is to shut off the engine, press the button on the lower dash next to the hatch release button. That will turn off the internal sensor AND the inclination sensor until the next alarm cycle.

 

[Rfong]

Thanks Jeff, then the tap on the filler cap and the alarm going off was just a coincidence and my wife actually set it off being inside the car? But I'm not going to blame her for it, I'll just use Dasyatis' explanation that it was the price of gas : ) Safer for me that way.

I'll try that button next to the hatch button next time.

 

[jsvette]

Thanks Jeff, then the tap on the filler cap and the alarm going off was just a coincidence and my wife actually set it off being inside the car? But I'm not going to blame her for it, I'll just use Dasyatis' explanation that it was the price of gas : ) Safer for me that way.

I'll try that button next to the hatch button next time.

Wise decision for sure

 

[elegant]

Is there a third way to avoid the alarm, i.e., to change the setting from auto-lock to manual (though this means that every time you walk away from your car, you have to reach in your pocket, find your fob and hit the lock button)? Not that I like this option, but some might choose it for a 1LT car which doesn't have the proximity warning/motion sensing system.

 

[jsvette]

Is there a third way to avoid the alarm, i.e., to change the setting from auto-lock to manual (though this means that every time you walk away from your car, you have to reach in your pocket, find your fob and hit the lock button)? Not that I like this option, but some might choose it for a 1LT car which doesn't have the proximity warning/motion sensing system.

That should work, but I am not sure that 1LT has the interior alarm system, just the exterior. Don't know.

 

[2vetteed]

Maybe the price of gas?

Sorry, couldn't help myself...

Now that is funny. You score 1 point.

 

[Redc7]

Now my Caddy self locks as well when I exit, leaving wife in car. If she open the door the alarm goes off. My way around it is to unlock the doors after they lock and they will stay unlock

So I guess the question can you do the same on the C7, when you get out and the doors lock just unlock them from the FOB?

 

[mjw930]

I would disable the auto lock, I hate that feature. Pushing the button on the fob is a positive action that lets me know it's locked. Then again, that's just me.

 

[Chip]

I don't know about you folks, but in my view the direction that is now taken with "systems" that require you to act on them as opposed to them being adaptive to YOU is not where I want to see them headed. Call me "old school", or "just too dammed old," as you will, all I want is to drive these things without becoming a "systems specialist". I understand the advantage for some of the systems on today's cars, but at some point we are being headed to the point where we just get in and ride...Not what I buy a sports car to do! This so called automotive evolution is taking on the storyline of A Clockwork Orange. Hal, please start my car for me, I'm in a hurry...Sorry too much coffee this morning.

 

[Chip]

You use to show up at the dealership to pick up your car by just signing some papers and driving off. Soon when you show up they are going to make you take a computer class before you can leave.

Exactly! I just shake my head when I see the ad's touting a new car's ability to "think & act" for a driver.

 

[glen e]

I disagree...this car is not that hard to figure out...get the infotainment manual, Spring mountain sales guide and owner's manual, read them all while sitting in the seat with a beer or two...try EVERY option in the display while reading the book..other than the things that GM has changed since the book was released. It was easy to figure out.

Too many just start messing with the display without the docs in front of them and then get frustrated....- no need for that...(I'm 63)

 

[Texas2Gun]

I’ve been bad… so far I have not read anything!

I just get in and drive it! LOL

 

[glen e]

I guess I agree and disagree here, many older folks (sorry not picking on just older folks as I am one like glen_e but also a computer engineer) may not understand the concept of menus and sub-menus even when reading the manual or even what the option might do. They get lost just using a smart phone. My uncle bought a new house with a programmable thermostat and had it replace with a simple rotating one not because he was stupid only that he couldn't grab the concept wasn't in his time. So manual or not you are going to find some owners getting very frustrated and confused when it comes to having so many options to choose from and I will bet many will not make any changes and I'll bet some with always leave it in its default state when they start it each time.

and the point is, they will be left behind...

that's all there is too it...the public is demanding features that sync their lives and if old geezers can't educate themselves to how things work, stay with a Camry or something simple. The same thing happened the first time we moved to any new technology level, such as from flip phones to smartphones, cassettes to CD's or even just cell phones. Their is no alternative....My pet peeve is the old geezers that give the salesman or GM a bad score on their survey because they can't understand it....I know of dealers that will raise the price to have a guy go somehwere else because he's gonna destroy them on the survey due to his refusal to move forward and learn. I've done it myself when I was a general manager.....

 

[Chip]

Glen; You of all people know that today's market in most cases this is not lead by consumers, but rather marketing firms trying to create buzz and additional "fluff" content. I dare say the infotainment system on the C-7 is unmitigated fluff, and will in time lead to expensive out of warranty repairs to future owners. Look at Ford, their approach to driver / vehicle interface last year created both headaches for owners and a marketing nightmare for the brand. Funny how a simple functional knob wins out over a menu driven touch screen. People want clean, clear, and simple interfaces with their cars. Somehow the message has been sent that cars need to be wiz-bang to sell. Maybe, but wait until the price of repairing these systems is experienced. At some point there will be a major revolt when these driver aids fail and the courts become clogged with lawsuits of "who is to be blamed?" Car, Manufacturer, or who knows maybe even the driver...

 

[glen e]

Glen; You of all people know that today's market in most cases this is not lead by consumers, but rather marketing firms trying to create buzz and additional "fluff" content. I dare say the infotainment system on the C-7 is unmitigated fluff, and will in time lead to expensive out of warranty repairs to future owners. Look at Ford, their approach to driver / vehicle interface last year created both headaches for owners and a marketing nightmare for the brand. Funny how a simple functional knob wins out over a menu driven touch screen. People want clean, clear, and simple interfaces with their cars. Somehow the message has been sent that cars need to be wiz-bang to sell. Maybe, but wait until the price of repairing these systems is experienced. At some point there will be a major revolt when these driver aids fail and the courts become clogged with lawsuits of "who is to be blamed?" Car, Manufacturer, or who knows maybe even the driver...

Chip - I disagree and agree - the demands of each mfr are driven by "focus groups" on consumers of all ages and they are demanding a huge amount of do dads or they will not buy the car. As you know, my consulting job is training for BMW and I do 600-800 sales guys a year on just this stuff: features and controls. And if you talk to them, they have the sought after under 30 group turn and walk out, when they realize a car does not have things like blind spot, text or facebook interface. The problem is the industry is stripping it's gears as marketing is running the show now, and they are putting things in the cars now that are half baked because they rushed the R&D ....I agree the UI has to be better, from working with about 10 of these mfrs, believe me the GM interface is not that bad...

 

[Chip]

Ron; Sorry if we hijacked your thread and initial question, but it is an interesting topic! Hey Glen; Ba Humbug to focus groups!

 

[glen e]

Ron; Sorry if we hijacked your thread and initial question, but it is an interesting topic! Hey Glen; Ba Humbug to focus groups!

We agree there!