The patent. Kind of obtuse - maybe some info to be gleaned..FOB integrated key

i'm still holding to my theory that the fobgina is there because we like to stick stuff in holes.

i'm going to consult with the nissan engineers on this one, brb.

Intelligent key port aka fobgina question............He said fob-gina

I was at my dealership when a couple came in about getting the battery changed and the guy told them he could do it and the battery costs alot or you can go buy one yuorself and and do it yourself and save some money.

When you took the battery out did you discharge any residual current remaining inside? I.e. press the buttons until they didn't work anymore? That would help determine if it uses passive or active RFID.

No, I did not do that.

I would think the RFID system pulls so little power that residual power could operate it for quite some time without a battery. Just a guess.

Could be. Dangit, I'm going to have to experiment again, aren't I?

Yes. :tup:

I would do it myself but I have to look into a possible brake line leak, dammit.

That hole is just a key holder, it does not charge the key. I don't get this thread.

No one said it charged the key (BMW's do that). The question is whether the Fobgina is "required" when the FOB is completely discharged.

I like to think of it this way , hopefully it will make sense to others too:

think of the RFID chip that they put in pets in case they run away. There's no batteries or whatnot in it, you just hold a scanner right above it and it will read it. The FOB is the same way. It does have power to allow it to transmit at a distance, but remove that power, and its the same thing as a pets RFID tag, meaning it can still transmit, just has to be very close to the reader.

I agree and I think this sounds like the only logical explanation. I'm gonna remove the battery on my spare FOB and make sure I press the buttons until it doesn't unlock doors etc... Then try and open the doors with it in my pocket using the button on the handle....Then I'll try and start the car with it in my pocket. Then I'll stick the FOB in the GINA and try to start. Maybe even stick it NEAR the fobgina and see if that works. I'll report back to settle my own question :icon17:

Here's the verdict:

Pulled battery.
Pressed buttons on dead fob to make sure it was dead.
With dead fob in hand pressed button on door: nothing
Used key to get in
Ugly computer displays "No Key"
With dead fob in hand tried ignition: nothing
Stuck my finger in fobgina :rofl2: while pressing ignition and holding the fob NEAR the fobgina :nothing

Interestingly, when I stuck my finger in the fobgina the computer displayed the "Clutch" screen but that was as far as it went.

I would bet that there is some sort of RFID in the fob.

Waiting with bells on ... :)

lol I should refresh before posting

:tup: +rep

Yes, it is an "active" RFID which requires power from somewhere.

Did it start when docked in the fobgina?

+1 rep, about time someone answered the 4 page long question!

Hahahaha thanks I know, I answered my own question. I figured someone would already know the answer.

And YES it started when docked in the fobgina with NO BATTERY in the fob.

Ok I just took 30 second for some experimentation to figure this out. This is how it works.

The Fob is required to transmit the electronic key wirelessly to the ECU. The car will not start unless it has a signal from the fob with the right electronic key or "password" if you will.

The Fob performs the remote functions such as locking/unlocking the doors, rolling the windows down or setting off the alarm. It needs the battery to perform that function.

With the battery in the Fob can transmit the electronic key (or "password") over several feet (have the fob in your pocket/purse/backpack, etc).

If the battery dies the fob is unable to transmit the electronic key because it is not a passive RFID - it requires power to transmit the electronic key. To prevent you from getting stuck Nissan has engineered the fob so that it has a loop of wire on the PCB (printed circuit board) opposite to the end that the keys attach (under the Nissan or Z logo). Open the fob and you'll see it. By placing the fob inside the fobgina the coil in the fobgina will induce a current in the coil in the fob giving it power to transmit the electronic key. Its simply a power port for the fob.

So for those of you wondering why the fob is needed its simply because the electronic key or "password" needs to be transmitted from the fob to the ECU. Without the correct "password" your car will not start. The fobgina is just a power outlet to power the fob up. You can use the fobgina with a good battery (which is pointless) a dead battery or no battery - the fobgina becomes the power source. There is no switch inside the fobgina to start the car (there is a switch to turn the power on to the fobgina's inductive coil though).

Also the coin cell in the fob is probably the most common coin cell in the world - a 2032. You should be able to get them anywhere, they are cheap and change it yourself in two seconds flat.

Do you guys have memory seats? I know in my G depending on which Key you place in the hole the seat settings would change to that key. For example, when I placed my key in the hole the seats would move to my setting and the 2 settings on the door would be the ones I set. If I place my spare key in the hole then the memory settings are the ones set for that key. I hope I was clear.

So, confusing.:confused:

What's confusing? I thought it was pretty clear now.

My last car had that, it would remember the stereo and and temp settings and all, it was pretty cool but it took me awhile to firgure it out. I thought my son was taking my car at times cuz ny settings were different, just turned out to be using two different keys.

No

I have not read the owner's manual but the saleswoman told me that it was to store the FOB in case I didn't want it in my pocket...

Right - but we already know most sales people are total and complete idiots.

I agree with you on that one. Its better to do your own research instead of relying on them. All they want to do is sell you the car and pretend they know a thing or 2 about cars or car related stuff.

Hi everyone,

I'm about to have a 370z and I was wondering something about the fob. What happens if I have the fob in my pocket and driving, And I get carjacked ? I'm out of the car with the fob in my pocket, the guy goes away with the car and then what ? The car stops ?

hey thats not cool im a sales person at a vw dealership. :'(

nope the guy can drive wherever he wants until either 1 of 3 things happens..
1.he gets caught by the popo.
2.he runs out of fuel.
3.he turns off the car but doesnt have the key to turn it back on

Well then lets hope you don't fall into the "most sales people" category then :p

As soon as he is in the car and has shut the door, press the panic button. That'll attract some attention while he's driving away in your car. May cause him to exit vehicle at his earliest convenience and hightail it outta there ... :)

i noticed something odd with the fob the other day: after work, i unlock the passenger door to throw my bag in, while doing so, I also toss my keys/fob into the cup holder thinking i could just walk over and hit the button to unlock the driver side door. walk around, hit the driver side button, nothing. i try a couple times just to make sure. still nothing. walk back over and grab my keys/fob from the passenger side and try it again, which worked. i guess the fob has to be outside of the car in order to engage the door buttons.

Yes, the fob has to be outside with you. This is to prevent someone from outside the vehicle unlocking the door while you are inside.

yeah, it made sense after the fact, im just glad i didn't lock myself out!

I think it is smart enough to prevent that. If it senses that the fob is inside the car then it won't let you lock the door using the outside buttons either. To lock yourself out you would have to press the lock switch on the inside of the door and then close it I guess.

It would be better if they can make in a way that if you ever get car jacked that if the fob key is not near buy oh say so many feet, the car would auto shut off.
So, if you did get car jacked start running away, so by the time he or she gets in the car and start to drive of the engine shuts off.
I would think that would be feasible.

That wouldn't be safe. What if the battery died while you were driving. If the car shut off it would put you in a potentially dangerous position. They could probably wire the panic button so it killed the engine but have a locking tab on it so it couldn't be accidentally depressed.

...ahhh...modern technology!

Yeah...We obviously need Onstar for those one in a billion chances of getting hijacked......or to just get out of a bad purchase decision....:tup:

http://images39.fotki.com/v1226/phot.../Onstar-vi.jpg