How Can This Happen? Ghosts? (alarm, mileage, batteries, Lexus)

[burdell]

I don't really see how but this happened to a friend's car:

2005 Lexus ES330, low mileage car with no issues. Owner went down under the house where the car is parked in a car port type area and all 4 windows and sun-roof were open, both car keys accounted for and not used and the location seems to make it highly unlikely it was a practical joke. Everything on the car functions normally and I just can't think of anything that could malfunction and cause this to happen. Is there some type of control unit involved I'm not aware of or? It happened and I have no idea why/how?

[cab591]

On some cars if you hold the unlock button, it'll roll down the windows... I've had instances where something else in my pocket got pressed against the key and presses buttons. Alarm goes off, trunk opens, windows roll down... whatever button happens to get pressed.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by cab591

On some cars if you hold the unlock button, it'll roll down the windows... I've had instances where something else in my pocket got pressed against the key and presses buttons. Alarm goes off, trunk opens, windows roll down... whatever button happens to get pressed.

Thanks for the reply! I understand what you're saying but it doesn't appear to be the case here, the only 2 keys for the car were in drawers and not being used and I have no reason to doubt I've heard the whole story. The people involved just aren't prone to playing games which is what piqued my interest. You've got me thinking though, I wonder if batteries running down in the key could cause errant signals to be sent with no human contact?

[victimofGM]

Could someone have picked the signal code and activated this feature to look for things to steal?

[burdell]

Originally Posted by victimofGM

Could someone have picked the signal code and activated this feature to look for things to steal?

Considering the amount of hacking and other activities that goes on these days I suppose anything's possible but to me it seems like it'd be a lot of trouble for only the possibility of a reward. I looked at a Lexus forum and it's apparently not uncommon for this to happen with the remote in someone's pocket, doesn't seem to be the case here but I'd think a remote could fail and send erroneous signals. The remotes were indoors above the parking area though and I kinda doubt they'd have that kind of range through a floor. I believe they're generally line of sight?

[iTsLiKeAnEgG]

I don't think it's unreasonable to consider that the owner accidentally held a button down on the fob which opened all of the windows. Many cars do this although I can't say for certain with that Lexus.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by iTsLiKeAnEgG

I don't think it's unreasonable to consider that the owner accidentally held a button down on the fob which opened all of the windows. Many cars do this although I can't say for certain with that Lexus.

The fobs were in the house at the time as they were using a different car but I'm leaning towards one of them being the cause. I'm going to wait 'til I'm over there again in a day or two and see if we can duplicate the event from inside the house, it definitely had some heads being scratched.

[oceangaia]

Originally Posted by burdell

The fobs were in the house at the time as they were using a different car

How do you know when the windows went down? Maybe he put the keys in his pocket and the button got depressed as he was walking away, and didn't notice it. Or maybe he's pulling one over on you.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by oceangaia

How do you know when the windows went down? Maybe he put the keys in his pocket and the button got depressed as he was walking away, and didn't notice it.

Or maybe he's pulling one over on you.

If I thought that was a possibility I wouldn't even have asked. I may not know exactly what happened but I'm sure what didn't.

[Eastcoasting]

Have the car battery checked. I have encountered may a gremlin related to weak and dying batteries.