If we pull into the garage, hit stop, get out and leave, but leave the key in the car, is that ok? Nothing stays on and wears the battery down if the car detects the key has never left I hope.

On another note, having read of the "self" starting cars in a garage, and our garage is right next to the kids room, I'm going to install TWO carbon monoxide detectors, one just outside the laundry/garage door and another just inside.

 

Why would you do that in the first place? What if someone gets into your garage and you have left the key in there? Bye bye Durango! You should never leave anything of importance in the vehicle over night, ie: wallet, purse, identification, keys, anything. Why not just take the key and put it on the kitchen table or hang it on a key ring in the house?

 

I guess I'm just not worried about it, not in our area. Otherwise, the keys would just be on the other side of the laundry door.

 

Agree with switchblade....even though not worried with your location/area, why make it easy for a burglar/thief to access and drive off of your D. I live in a quiet neighborhood too but security is of paramount importance for my family and property....I always keep my personal defense weapon nearby you never know a Ted Bundy/Charles Manson pycho type individual might get lost, roam around the neighborhood.

 

I Carry my Sig 239 everyday and have my Sig 229 in the night stand

 

Consider how easy it is to crack a garage door opener, I wouldn't even consider leaving the fob in the vehicle even if it was in Ft Knox. Specially with kids, and even in an area where "there is nothing to worry about" still has crime. Would your insurance cover you due to neglect?

 

Wow, didn't realize I would get scolded so much for leaving the keys in the car!!! Kids?? The kids can just as easily grab the keys off the key rack?

If the garage door is that easy to crack, should I move into a condo? Do I need to make my laundry room door stronger? But then there's all the windows... I thought these new rolling code garage doors were a lot harder? Not like the old days where I could just fiddle with my opener to figure out the neighbor's code.

 

Really when all is said and over with why take the chance? Like the old saying goes "Better to be safe then sorry" If you want to leave your keys on the car then go ahead, but you asked if it was ok for your to leave your key in the car and your going to get everyones opinion.

 

But I asked if leaving the key in the car is bad for the car battery. Does the car pre-turn things on? Nobody has answered that.

I agree with everything else everybody has said, I guess we've just never worried or thought about it that way.

Is it neglect? I don't think so. I think it's more dangerous when people drive 80 in a 65 or they install lockpick so they can watch movies while they are driving. Hmmm, lockpick, now there's another question I remember I wanted to ask...

 

I think when people drive 80 in a 65 they need to move over so i don't have to be stuck behind them.....

But not as far as i know the vehicle won't turn anything on if the key is left inside. My wife accidentally left her purse inside one night and had a spare in there and nothing seemed to have happened.