We're going to the river; can the valet key get wet? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

ArgentoAtl · 07-25-2014, 08:17 PM

The Title asks my question. Does it damage the key to get it wet? The service department is closed and we leave early in the morning.

Brian in Atlanta

Jrryjms07 · 07-25-2014, 08:20 PM

No Youll be good. Just dnt lose it! lol

WhiteFRS69 · 07-25-2014, 08:22 PM

yea will be fine, mine fell in the sink, got fully submerged

Turbo95eg6 · 07-25-2014, 08:22 PM

Just keep it dry?

ArgentoAtl · 07-25-2014, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbo95eg6

Just keep it dry?

That's the point. Must we keep it out of the water, mostly, at least? I gather that there is a chip in there, right?

Put another way, we are going to be snorkeling on the river with a naturalist. Do we have to leave it out of the water mostly so that we can reopen the car door and start the engine?

PRG3000 · 07-26-2014, 12:16 AM

For years now I've surfed with my valet key tied to my board shorts and wetsuit. Yes you can get it totally wet.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lonewolf · 07-26-2014, 12:45 AM

Why not see if you can find one of those small, waterproof pouches to hold the keys?

The pouch will keep the key dry, make it harder to lose, and easier to find in the event you lose it...

You can get decent ones for six bucks and I've used them while snorkeling to hold my keys, id, money, etc. with no issues...

whtchocla7e · 07-26-2014, 10:40 AM

Put it in a zip lock bag.

FRSNewb · 07-26-2014, 11:10 AM

The valet key can get wet because all it is is a key (I believe) and does not have a chip in it. The valet key is used to get into the car only; not start the car.

PNA · 07-26-2014, 11:48 AM

Agreed. I've gone swimming with mine. There's no electronics in it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

projek_01 · 07-26-2014, 12:38 PM

^I believe you are incorrect. The valet key would have a chip inside it. That is why a remote starter would still need a bypass module to work. The only difference in the valet key is that it is cut slightly different so it cannot manually open the trunk.

extrashaky · 07-26-2014, 02:49 PM

Let's clarify something:

If you have the keyed ignition system where you actually have to insert a key into the ignition to start the car, you are supposed to get two types of keys. One is the regular key with the clicker built into the head. The other is the "valet key" that is just an ignition key without buttons on the head. It doesn't open the trunk. It may or may not have an RFID chip in it, but if it does, it is almost certainly sealed inside the head of the key so that water can't hurt it. It has no button openings to let water in.

If you have the keyless ignition, you do not have a valet key. You get an electronic clicker (or rather, two of them) that has a mechanical key inside it. You push the little button on the side of the clicker to release the mechanical key, which stays on your key ring. That mechanical key is not a valet key, as it can only open the doors and trunk and cannot start the car. What good would that be to a valet? The mechanical key does not have a chip in it. It doesn't need one.

When you leave your car with a valet, you separate the mechanical key from the clicker and give the clicker to the valet so he can drive the car. YOU keep the mechanical key on your key ring. If you activate the valet button in the trunk, the valet will not be able to get into the trunk without the mechanical key (unless he knows the "secret" way to get into the trunk that makes the whole valet button a silly exercise in futility).

To help avoid confusion, let's all please remember not to refer to any part of the keyless ignition system as a valet key. You don't have one.

Lookit, here are pictures:

07-25-2014, 08:17 PM	#1
ArgentoAtl Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: Argento manual Location: Georgia Posts: 48 Thanks: 15 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	We're going to the river; can the valet key get wet? The Title asks my question. Does it damage the key to get it wet? The service department is closed and we leave early in the morning. Brian in Atlanta __________________

07-26-2014, 10:40 AM	#8
whtchocla7e Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2013 FR-S Hot Lava Location: CT Posts: 424 Thanks: 30 Thanked 222 Times in 81 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Put it in a zip lock bag. __________________ Live to drive another day

07-26-2014, 12:38 PM	#11
projek_01 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Drives: 1996 ST204, Series 10 FR-S Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 252 Thanks: 88 Thanked 206 Times in 86 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	^I believe you are incorrect. The valet key would have a chip inside it. That is why a remote starter would still need a bypass module to work. The only difference in the valet key is that it is cut slightly different so it cannot manually open the trunk. __________________

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Want a Valet to Drive Your Car?	White64Goat	Off-Topic Lounge [WARNING: NO POLITICS]	14	08-04-2014 09:00 PM
Valet Key Start?	mrhemi	BRZ First-Gen (2012+) — General Topics	1	06-07-2014 11:54 AM
FR-S down by the river	avusblue	BRZ Photos, Videos, Wallpapers, Gallery Forum	8	09-11-2012 01:08 PM
FR-S down by the river	avusblue	FR-S & 86 Photos, Videos, Wallpapers, Gallery Forum	13	09-09-2012 09:18 AM
Valet key	01s0uljah	BRZ First-Gen (2012+) — General Topics	13	08-25-2012 04:58 PM

07-25-2014, 08:20 PM	#2
Jrryjms07 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Drives: 2013 Firestorm Location: Madison, WI Posts: 279 Thanks: 1,378 Thanked 125 Times in 67 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	No Youll be good. Just dnt lose it! lol

07-25-2014, 08:22 PM	#3
WhiteFRS69 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Drives: 2014 Scion FRS Location: NNJ Posts: 2,289 Thanks: 1,808 Thanked 1,432 Times in 756 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	yea will be fine, mine fell in the sink, got fully submerged

07-25-2014, 08:22 PM	#4
Turbo95eg6 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: 2014 BRZ SWP LTD Location: The 503 Posts: 2,174 Thanks: 331 Thanked 2,266 Times in 858 Posts Mentioned: 18 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	Just keep it dry?

07-26-2014, 12:16 AM	#6
PRG3000 Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Drives: Scion Location: Fl Posts: 19 Thanks: 3 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	For years now I've surfed with my valet key tied to my board shorts and wetsuit. Yes you can get it totally wet. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07-26-2014, 12:45 AM	#7
Lonewolf Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: Moped Location: CA Posts: 4,300 Thanks: 4,905 Thanked 2,132 Times in 1,195 Posts Mentioned: 21 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Why not see if you can find one of those small, waterproof pouches to hold the keys? The pouch will keep the key dry, make it harder to lose, and easier to find in the event you lose it... You can get decent ones for six bucks and I've used them while snorkeling to hold my keys, id, money, etc. with no issues...

07-26-2014, 11:48 AM	#10
PNA Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: 2013 BRZ Sport-tech Location: Ottawa Posts: 60 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Agreed. I've gone swimming with mine. There's no electronics in it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07-26-2014, 02:49 PM	#12
extrashaky Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Drives: 2014 BRZ Limited Location: USA Posts: 4,045 Thanks: 1,100 Thanked 5,618 Times in 2,266 Posts Mentioned: 55 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	Let's clarify something: If you have the keyed ignition system where you actually have to insert a key into the ignition to start the car, you are supposed to get two types of keys. One is the regular key with the clicker built into the head. The other is the "valet key" that is just an ignition key without buttons on the head. It doesn't open the trunk. It may or may not have an RFID chip in it, but if it does, it is almost certainly sealed inside the head of the key so that water can't hurt it. It has no button openings to let water in. If you have the keyless ignition, you do not have a valet key. You get an electronic clicker (or rather, two of them) that has a mechanical key inside it. You push the little button on the side of the clicker to release the mechanical key, which stays on your key ring. That mechanical key is not a valet key, as it can only open the doors and trunk and cannot start the car. What good would that be to a valet? The mechanical key does not have a chip in it. It doesn't need one. When you leave your car with a valet, you separate the mechanical key from the clicker and give the clicker to the valet so he can drive the car. YOU keep the mechanical key on your key ring. If you activate the valet button in the trunk, the valet will not be able to get into the trunk without the mechanical key (unless he knows the "secret" way to get into the trunk that makes the whole valet button a silly exercise in futility). To help avoid confusion, let's all please remember not to refer to any part of the keyless ignition system as a valet key. You don't have one. Lookit, here are pictures:

User Name		Remember Me?
Password