Smart Key (Keyless) Entry and Start Feature on Toyotas and Other Cars

Is any one familiar with the smart key (keyless) entry and start feature on Toyota and some other cars? If you have the fob in your hand or purse, the driver's side door unlocks when you approach the car without having to push a button on the fob or use a key. To start the car you push a button instead of using a key.

I was just about to go and finalize a deal to purchase a 2009 Toyota Corolla with the smart key feature, when I found out on the internet that there is a cautionary statement in Toyota manuals advising owners with pacemakers and defibrillators to consult their doctors if their car has this feature.

I have a Guidant pacemaker (implanted 3 months ago) so I did a little checking and found out that Guidant and the other manufacturers were studying the situation but I could not find out if their studies had been completed.

Is another mountain being made out of a mole hill here? Before I go to the trouble of calling Guidant, would anyone out there have any knowledge or insight as to the effect of the smart key system on my pacemaker ?
Thanks.
CanadianKirk

4 Comments

Conclusion...

by heckboy - 2008-02-22 05:02:01

From the article linked above...


A report by Boston Scientific Pacemakers found a problem with devices marketed in Japan, but not the U.S.

"They found a few pacemakers that if you were too close to the antenna in the car itself that it might inhibit your device, inhibit the pacemaker from inhibiting the electrical beat when it needed to," Lindsay explains.

Dr. Lindsay says the key fob itself won't affect pacemakers and defibrillators. He suggests that when getting in or out of a car, pacemaker patients should stay about 9 to 12 inches away from areas where Smart Key antennas are installed.

Also, the Smart Key system can be deactivated.

Could the antennas in the car affect a patient's pacemaker? Boston Scientific says it doesn't know and that's why testing continues.


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So there you go. Just stay at least a foot away from certain parts inside of your car. Phhhfft!

Read this...

by heckboy - 2008-02-22 05:02:12

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=7860776


Smartkey

by Janice - 2008-02-22 08:02:38

HI KIRK,
I'M ALSO FROM CANADA, BC.

I JUST BOUGHT A NEW PONITAC TORRANT. IT ALSO HAS THE SMARTKEY SYSTEM AND THE AUTO START. I DO HAVE TO HIT A BUTTON TO START THE ENGINE FROM INSIDE MY HOUSE. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS, I ALSO HAVE A GUIDANT. IT ALSO HAS SATELITE RADIO IN IT, AND AT FIRST, I THOUGHT THAT I FELT A LITTLE FLUTTERY WHEN I WAS PLAYING AROUND WITH THE STATIONS, BUT NOTHING SINCE. I DO TRY TO SIT BACK MORE WHEN I USE THE RADIO. AND I AM GETTING USED TO KEEPING MY KEYS, FOB ETC, CELLPHONE ON MY RIGHT SIDE, AWAY FROM THE PM. HOPES THIS HELPS A BIT.

JANICE

Conclusion

by MHCHAMPION - 2008-02-22 08:02:50

Thanks so much for the info. I'll keep it in mind when I go to trade my older Toyota in a few years.
What wonderful info. we read on this site.
Margaret

You know you're wired when...

You read consumer reports before upgrading to a new model.

Member Quotes

Hi, I am 47 and have had a pacemaker for 7 months and I’m doing great with it.