I was able to finally resolve my problems with the auto-locking on my new Mazda3 but I don't like what I found.
Here is what I learned - the new 2019 Mazda3 has a smaller range radio signals for advanced keyless entry and the remote controls go out of range faster than on the previous generation.
This is important, because the car uses 2 step algorithm for the auto-locking.
First it needs to confirm that all doors are closed and the remote control is registered on the outside of the vehicle.
Once that happens the car issues 1 single beep.
After that the car is waiting for the remote to leave the range of the signal and then the car confirms that with another beep and all doors lock and the lights blink shortly.
So imagine a situation that you step out of the car and leave quickly and the car cannot confirm that the remote left the car and that the remote is on the outside.
This will prevent the car from confirming the "doors closed" and there is going to be no initial beep. This will stop the auto-locking from engaging.
Mazda representative told me that I walk too fast.
It seems that my problem with auto-locking was such - that I left the range of the keyless system faster than the system was able to detect the key on the outside.
This however did not explain why my car would not detect the key sometimes and the car would not lock even if I stayed close to doors for several seconds and I even walked around to passenger side and still it did not work.
I believe this system is incorrectly designed. I question the need of the car to know that the key is outside.
In my opinion the car should only care if the key is not detected inside.
In addition - I think that there should be a timeout - so that the car locks out after it fails to auto-lock.
What do you think?
Here is what I learned - the new 2019 Mazda3 has a smaller range radio signals for advanced keyless entry and the remote controls go out of range faster than on the previous generation.
This is important, because the car uses 2 step algorithm for the auto-locking.
First it needs to confirm that all doors are closed and the remote control is registered on the outside of the vehicle.
Once that happens the car issues 1 single beep.
After that the car is waiting for the remote to leave the range of the signal and then the car confirms that with another beep and all doors lock and the lights blink shortly.
So imagine a situation that you step out of the car and leave quickly and the car cannot confirm that the remote left the car and that the remote is on the outside.
This will prevent the car from confirming the "doors closed" and there is going to be no initial beep. This will stop the auto-locking from engaging.
Mazda representative told me that I walk too fast.
It seems that my problem with auto-locking was such - that I left the range of the keyless system faster than the system was able to detect the key on the outside.
This however did not explain why my car would not detect the key sometimes and the car would not lock even if I stayed close to doors for several seconds and I even walked around to passenger side and still it did not work.
I believe this system is incorrectly designed. I question the need of the car to know that the key is outside.
In my opinion the car should only care if the key is not detected inside.
In addition - I think that there should be a timeout - so that the car locks out after it fails to auto-lock.
What do you think?