My last car was a 2007. I just got a loaded 2016.

Can someone help me understand the basics of the fob as it pertains to locking/unlocking doors and such? I did some reading in the manual but am not sure if I am missing something.

I know that if it is in my pocket, I can just touch the black button on the driver's door handle and it will unlock/open.

If I keep it in my pocket....when I park and get out of the vehicle, does it lock itself?

What is the deal with the secret key holder underneath the center console? If I leave a key in there, will anyone who walks up to the vehicle be able to just touch the black spot on the door handle and open it up?

 

The black button on the outside of handle is to lock not unlock, to unlock place hand inside handle as if you were opening.

 

ok, so with FOB in pocket, get out of truck, touch black button on handle and walk away. excellent.

I assume there is a setting somewhere to determine whether this will unlock all doors or just the driver's door?

 

the secret key holder is to program mykey. and no the doors wont open for people if you leave your key here. but if your door is already open than anyone could just jump in and press the start button.

 

It's also useful when your FOB battery dies and you are left stranded. Mine died the other day while out for dinner. You'll get the "No Key Detected" message when this happens. Use your door keypad to unlock and put your fob in the holder so you can start your vehicle and get home.

 

very good to know! the types of problems we never had with old school keys, hadnt even thought of this

Do some people and/or is one intended use to leave a key in that spot "permanently" and unlock using keypad on door? "Never" bringing a key with you?

 

No, it's only intended for programming and emergency use (dead battery). Although I leave my key in the vehicle most of the time, it's not always recommended. Someone could easily break a window, unlock and drive away.

You can always unlock with the door keypad with or without the fob nearby. You just can't drive the vehicle away without a fob in the vehicle.

EDIT: forgot to add you can "lock" your fob in the vehicle by leaving it in a cupholder or something, getting out, and hitting the bottom two buttons on the door keypad at the same time to lock.

 

The setting for all doors vs driver door is in your instrument cluster settings menu...specifically vehicle settings I believe.

i don't have it on truck but the edge I had you had to make sure you didn't "grasp" the entire handle when trying to unlock otherwise you were doing lock at the same time as trying to unlock.

two part motion:
stick hand down behind handle = unlock.
Grab handle don't press black button?(for me it was three little ridges on the edge of handle). That is the "lock"

once you get the hang of it never needing to dig for your keys is actually extremely nice. You'll be surprised at how soon you train yourself to go for a button push rather than key turn!

 

Ain't that the truth! My wife gives me crap all the time because I'm trying to push-to-start the non-existent button on her Acadia.

 

Does the button on the door handle only lock the car if the fob is outside of it? And when inside you need to use the 2 keypad buttons?