Leaving key in ignition

[Haze]

I only take the key out when on a ride and stop to leave the bike unattended.
My Spyder is in a locked garage otherwise and the key stays in the ignition.

[Bensonoid]

Does anyone leave their keys in their car's ignition when it's parked in the garage? Why?

I do, in case the garage or vehicle catches fire I want to maybe have a chance to move it out as quickly as possible.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Can it cause problems? IT SURE CAN! But not because of the chip per se tho...

If you leave the key in the ignition, the little 'rain flap' that springs into place to protect the cylinder from any water entry while the key is out won't work & you'll likely be directing any rain &/or condensation that forms overnight down the open hatch & along the channels in the key directly into the works of the cylinder! And as surprising as that may seem, even the smallest amount of condensation &/or rain in the cylinder can create some fairly significant issues in there, or in the ignition wiring.....

plus I always take mine out after I park it ..... and leave it 6 inches from the Ignition switch .... I read here that removing and moving the key allows a complete Re-Boot of the ECU .....Mike

[pegasus1300]

Well I do leave my key in the ignition much of the time including when parked on a ride I just put mu gloves over them. In 6 years no one has bothered it. I also leave it in my driveway with the key in it and a cover over the Spyder and no problems.

[Mikey]

My key comes out when the bikes out in the weather, in my garage it stays in, even when the bike in winter storage, tender on battery, key in the ignition! No problems yet!!

[BryanSD]

Good discussion as I always wondered too about the whole key/chip possibly causing battery or startup issues. Good to know there is no impact. With regards to the practice of leaving the key in the ignition when in the garage...wouldn't recommend it if you have a child or grandchild in the house. Years ago we had an ATV stored in our third stall backed into the side of the wall and pointing to the side of my truck. We hadn't used it in awhile and I couldn't get started. While doing yard work in the back, my 12 year old son decided to "help me out" in hopes of surprising me that he could get the ATV started. Well you guessed it, he got the ATV started, revved it up, and somehow managed to pop it out of neutral. Damage to my side doors and door frame on my truck was $3500! Since then, I don't leave my keys in my Spyders and other toys.

Given the amount of force my son took off in that ATV, I'm just glad he wasn't hurt. We joke about it now (well he may not but I do) that he caused his car accident before he actually drove a car.

[vito1943]

Even a locked garage is less secure than a locked house. I never leave ignition keys in any of my vehicles.

[Lew L]

Even a locked garage is less secure than a locked house. I never leave ignition keys in any of my vehicles.

+1....

[Northofthesix]

Whenever my spyder is at home in the garage the key hangs on a lanyard (actually both keys, on seperate lanyards) inside the front door of the house. Never have to worry about looking for it when it has become such an ingrained habit. The keys for my car, along with those for my wife's and sons' cars all hang on hooks at the back door so that they are far away from the vehicles to avoid potental theft via RF crooks.

[RayBJ]

Not understanding how removing the key in a locked space would stop a thief. If a thief is gonna break into a locked garage or shed why would not having the key in the ignition prevent stealing ? Easy enough to release the parking brake without power on and not likely they would start the engine as they rolled it away.

I suppose if I lived in a sketchy area, I could see the need to wire 120v to the door handle.

[thereverend]

I do, and i like it.

[Longtimer]

I am wondering what the insurance company would say if it is stolen out of garge or other places with the key left in it unattended?? Just a thought

[2dogs]

I am wondering what the insurance company would say if it is stolen out of garge or other places with the key left in it unattended?? Just a thought

Can't believe how many people here on this site have never experienced a theft. One of the things a burglar looks for is where their victim keeps their vehicle keys. If I intend to leave my house for an overnight occasion, I lock my keys, all of them, in the safe.

[beerandchips]

Let us also not forget folks that most burglars are not smart enough to know how to actually start these things and get them to go.

Steve

[PGDoug]

I would be checking with my insurance company if they will honour the policy if the key is left in the ignition . Just my nickle on the subject .

[Bensonoid]

Let us also not forget folks that most burglars are not smart enough to know how to actually start these things and get them to go.

Steve

So true. When I drove my first spyder home from the dealer I stopped to fill the tank and had to push it away from the pumps because I couldn't figure out how to start it.

[Big F]

Ditto to what Pooch said..
BIG F
2018 RT Limited

[Peteoz]

I am wondering what the insurance company would say if it is stolen out of garge or other places with the key left in it unattended?? Just a thought

I doubt they would say anything, Longtimer. The insurance companies know it would be impossible to prove that the thief did not search for, and find the key in your “secret hiding place” in the house or garage, and then used it to steal the Spyder…..

Pete

[Peacekeeper6]

When you have been a victim of a robbery like I have, you tend to remove the keys out of the ignition in ALL of your 2,3,4 or 6 (motorhome) wheeled vehicles.

Yes, even the ones that float, lol.

[SeniorRider]

I have had a car, a truck and a motorcycle stolen from the Clear Lake area south of Houston

[Saluda]

A theft will definitely change your outlook.

[missouriboy]

So true. When I drove my first spyder home from the dealer I stopped to fill the tank and had to push it away from the pumps because I couldn't figure out how to start it.

HA! Been there, done that: on my first ryde, with a Harley-owner friend, we stopped at a bakery and when we came out I couldn't restart. I didn't even have a phone with me, but my friend did, and we called a neighbor back home for help. I had forgotten you must step on the brake!

[Peter Aawen]

I am wondering what the insurance company would say if it is stolen out of garge or other places with the key left in it unattended?? Just a thought

I doubt they would say anything, Longtimer. The insurance companies know it would be impossible to prove that the thief did not search for, and find the key in your “secret hiding place” in the house or garage, and then used it to steal the Spyder…..

Pete

Oh they certainly do say something Pete! . At least here in Oz, it can make a fairly substantial difference to any payout they might offer!! Why do you think they ask "Was it locked?" or "Did you leave the key in it?" when you file your claim?? . And even when the vehicle is wrecked/torched after someone's taken it for a joyride, there are usually some bloody obvious indicators the investigators check for juuust to see if the crim actually 'broke into & stole' your vehicle or if they just used the key! There's even different criminal charges that apply depending on how they managed to abscond with your vehicle - ever heard of crims being charged with 'illegal use of a vehicle' &/or 'vehicle theft'? They are actually different things & aren't necessarily always used together for some very valid reasons!

Sure, you can argue that leaving the key in or even secreted somewhere on or near the vehicle shouldn't make any difference to the insurance payout; the crim still stole it! And if your trashed/burned vehicle shows no signs of forced entry or evidence of a bypassed ignition, you could even argue that the crim might've found your key in its little secret hidey-hole somewhere nearby, or maybe they stole it out of your house; but it still all counts towards you as the owner taking something along the lines of 'less than adequate precautions to properly secure your vehicle' and THAT can cost you in the long run! . It happens, waaayyy more often than you might think! . And just as with sooo many other things, if you do want to argue, the Insurance company usually has waaayyy more time, lawyers, & $$ to back up their counter argument if it ever gets to court!

[Peteoz]

Peter, you have gone down a whole other rathole there, and although your response is definitely correct about “keys in ignition” in general, my comment was about a Spyder being stolen from a garage. Unless you are foolish enough to reply “yes” when asked if your key was in it, there is no way to determine whether the key was located by the thief in your secret hiding place and inserted in the Spyder, or whether it was actually left in the Spyder. I, personally, being a totally law abiding and honest citizen, remove my key from the ignition, but leave it very close by, so I can honestly reply that I did NOT leave my key in the ignition.

Pete

[Peter Aawen]

Peter, you have gone down a whole other rathole there, and although your response is definitely correct about “keys in ignition” in general, my comment was about a Spyder being stolen from a garage. Unless you are foolish enough to reply “yes” when asked if your key was in it, there is no way to determine whether the key was located by the thief in your secret hiding place and inserted in the Spyder, or whether it was actually left in the Spyder. I, personally, being a totally law abiding and honest citizen, remove my key from the ignition, but leave it very close by, so I can honestly reply that I did NOT leave my key in the ignition.

Pete

You'd be surprised how many do say 'Yes' in response to that first bolded bit/question, even after their vehicle has been stolen!! And just look at this thread - here in Oz all these 'yes' entries might/could be used by an Ins co to reduce their liability - and they DO sometimes go looking for just this sorta thing if they feel it warranted or they are just being nasty!

As for the second bolded bit, I wonder how many realise that here in some Ozzie States, 'leaving your vehicle with the key in it or otherwise unsecured' if you are more than 3 metres away from said vehicle can result in a fine &/or you being charged with an offence?!? (Nb - note the lack of reference to the key being 'in the ignition'?! ) I don't believe that offence has ever been applied when a vehicle was left in a locked garage, but just left in the carport &/or driveway is a whole 'nuther thing!