The Vent and Rant Thread

[Darqref]

Originally Posted by cromag

Our reasonably new Honda Odyssey has an undocumented "feature" -- if you press and release the "unlock" button on the remote, the van doors unlock. If you press and release the "unlock" button on the remote and then hold the button down, the van doors unlock and all of the windows roll down. It's not a feature I want and I can't imagine ever using it (deliberately) but it apparently can't be disabled.

Some time last night, while I was in the house and the van was in the driveway, I managed to do the magic button press. All of the windows rolled down. Right before the overnight rain.

The same thing happens with my Chevy Volt. When I researched this on the volt user forums, I found evidence that it CAN be fixed. There's a software change required, the service center needs to know it's possible and have the correct info available, but it's supposed to work to disable the "feature".

This happened to me a few times too, but only when the car was in the carport. I'm more worried about theft or vandalism, give the fact we've already had stuff stolen from a shed in our yard. For me, it seems to happen with pants that fit a certain way - that tends to hold the key fob in my pocket in a particular orientation.

[cromag]

Originally Posted by Darqref

The same thing happens with my Chevy Volt. When I researched this on the volt user forums, I found evidence that it CAN be fixed. There's a software change required, the service center needs to know it's possible and have the correct info available, but it's supposed to work to disable the "feature".

This happened to me a few times too, but only when the car was in the carport. I'm more worried about theft or vandalism, give the fact we've already had stuff stolen from a shed in our yard. For me, it seems to happen with pants that fit a certain way - that tends to hold the key fob in my pocket in a particular orientation.

Thanks, I'll look into it! I had already put a fake leather "skin" on the remote, which helped a lot. I also moved the remote to a less convenient pocket, but I must have been rummaging around and set it off.

[fum]

It's a comfort feature. All the cars i have had (with a remote) did the same thing. Toyota, wv and Skoda. But still annoying.

[John F]

My Nissan used to have that feature, and I liked it on hot days. None of my more recent cars have it: (Toyota, Honda).

[Hemmi]

I've never heard of a car doing that! My vehicle sits outside all the time, I certainly wouldn't like it if an accidental push of the remote rolled down all the windows and unlocked the doors.

[Bilbo1967]

The last 5-6 cars I have had have all done it (Audi and Mercedes).

An accidental push of the remote will always unlock the doors, although I've never done it. To roll down the windows takes a long press on the remote, so even less likely to happen on accident.

The thing that does annoy me is cars that beep the horn when you lock/unlock them. My last couple of cars did it until I found the in-car setting that disabled that function.

[badgoodDeb]

My MINI Cooper has that comfort feature, and I love it. It does require a long press, so it's unlikely to happen by accident. While approaching the car in a parking lot, I hold down the unlock button and the windows (and even sunroof) open. It gives you a few moments of extra cooling before you get in, and you don't fumble to "quick, open the windows" once you are in. It's very nice in hot weather.

[twowheels]

Originally Posted by cromag

It's not a feature I want and I can't imagine ever using it (deliberately) but it apparently can't be disabled.

You must not live where it's frequently > 100F (~38C) for weeks on end.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by twowheels

You must not live where it's frequently > 100F (~38C) for weeks on end.

Lots of people don't live in places like that! Though with the record heat in the western US right now this may be affecting more people than usual.

I don't live in such a hot place and I wouldn't want that feature. Being a klutz, I'd probably accidentally activate the windows when I was trying to lock or unlock the doors. I intend to keep my older car for a while longer so I won't have to worry about this anytime soon, though.

Maybe the dealership can turn the window function on or off if there's no user option for it?

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

Being a klutz, I'd probably accidentally activate the windows when I was trying to lock or unlock the doors.

On my MINI, it requires a *really* long press. You have to hold it for 4-5 seconds to make the windows open. 4-5 seconds is longer than you think.

[Darqref]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

On my MINI, it requires a *really* long press. You have to hold it for 4-5 seconds to make the windows open. 4-5 seconds is longer than you think.

Well, since EACH time it has happened to me, it has happened without deliberately doing it, so I think it IS a problem. I don't object to the feature, but to the ease with which it can be accidentally invoked. I've heard of other cars/systems that required pressing two buttons. Even in a hot climate, I would want it to work only when I want it, not when I sit down to dinner in the wrong pants.

[Rumpelteazer]

In our store we used to have consulting hour two days a week, on Thursday and Saturday between 10 and 11 am. People could come in with light fixtures and simple appliances that had problems and my father would try to diagnose the problem and if it was easily and quickly fixed he would do that. Unless it was really busy he would help all the people that came in before 11 am.

We cancelled the consulting hour when the pandemic started since we only can have 2 customers in the store at the same time. A couple of weeks ago we start consulting hour 2.0; four mornings a week, people can now make an appointment, have do it four mornings a week, one person a day. They have to make the appointment either be phone or in person in the store, it's at 10 am, they must come alone with one item. We set the rule for making appointments by phone or in person and not via Facebook because I'm the one taking care of the Facebook page and when I'm not in the store or living room I haven't got access to the store's online calendar.

Yesterday I got a FB message from someone who bought a second hand light fixture and she wanted to have warm light. The picture she send was taken from at least 5 meters distance, but from what I could see it has fluorescent tube. I told her I would need to know how much watt the tubes are and their length to check which are the warmest tubes available. I also noticed no ballast, and no space to have one inside the light fixture. So I told her that and recommended her to make an appointment by phone or in person for the consulting hour, that she could bring the light fixture and we would be able to check for a ballast and advice on light colour. I just realize now that she probably doesn't expect the light fixture to be bright, but it has six or seven tubes that are at least 18 watt each and dimming is expensive for fluorescent tubes. I also gave her the phone number.

I immediately get a message back asking if she could come on Wednesday morning. Sigh. I explained to her that she should call because I didn't have access to the calendar. I was actually in the living room, so I did have access. But we know from experience if you make an exception once for a customer they will always expect that. She wrote back she would call. This was about half an hour before closing time.

Ten minutes past closing time she calls, my mother picks up. My mother already had had several difficult customer on the phone today and she knew about the FB exchange I had. So she told the woman to call back after 10 am in the morning to make an appointment because the store was closed, the phone was patched through and she didn't have access to the calendar (she did, but was fed up).

I'm expecting her to call this morning either slightly before 10 am or right on the dot. A lot of customers call in the fifteen minutes before the store opens, probably expecting us to have more time and no interruptions of customers in the store. I find it annoying, my mother and I always tell them to call back after opening times, my father will help them.

[Deskisamess]

My husband has been working from home since March 15th. He isn't shirking duties, nor being lazy at home. He puts in his full 8-9 hour day. Work phone calls are being forwarded to his personal cell phone.

So his cell rang this morning before 8:00 a.m. and he recognized the number so he answered it. He was still eating breakfast, drinking coffee, but talked to the production manager about a large order they just got.

Went upstairs to the office, logged in etc. and got an email from his boss. Seems the production manager complained that my husband was "sleepy sounding" and didn't seem interested in the issue.

Guess who won't answer the phone before actual business hours again?

[ApK]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

My husband has been working from home since March 15th. He isn't shirking duties, nor being lazy at home. He puts in his full 8-9 hour day. Work phone calls are being forwarded to his personal cell phone.

So his cell rang this morning before 8:00 a.m. and he recognized the number so he answered it. He was still eating breakfast, drinking coffee, but talked to the production manager about a large order they just got.

Went upstairs to the office, logged in etc. and got an email from his boss. Seems the production manager complained that my husband was "sleepy sounding" and didn't seem interested in the issue.

Guess who won't answer the phone before actual business hours again?

Wait...the person who's call he ANSWERED and who he DID deal with before business hours is the person who complained? Wow, not only should he not answer outside of business hours (and he shouldn't...gotta have boundaries) but that person should be at the VERY BOTTOM of every prioritized todo list from now on. He will have his full, alert attention....AFTER everyone else who deserves it has it.

[Deskisamess]

Wait...the person who's call he ANSWERED and who he DID deal with before business hours is the person who complained?

Yep. My husband doesn't get really mad easily. He was hot, let me tell you. He has worked with these people for years, he's actually been at this same company now for 41 years. (New ownership 15-16 years ago)

The production manager was upset because he didn't get the exact answer he wanted immediately. Multiple machines, multiple lines, multiple vendors, etc. so the time frame from order to ship couldn't be calculated in a snap. Hubby said what he always says...let me run the numbers and check inventory, vendors, etc. and I will get back to you.

I think the other manager should have just kept it to himself. But no, he had to email Hubby about something that should have been a non-issue. He should have told the production manager that his call was before business hours, and he shouldn't have been surprised that my husband didn't seem in "work mode" yet.

The "Work from Home" thing is getting to everyone. I think if we had a bit more in the retirement fund, early retirement would be a distinct possibility. Hubby just turned 64 on Sunday.