Tip for every driver with an unnecessarily heavy key chain: get rid of it.

[pnwmom]

An engineer I know says that the problem of accidental hits to the ignition won't be limited to GM and (now) Chrysler. So if you have a heavy metal thing attached to your keys, get rid of it, and replace it with a key chain connected to something light and soft, like leather or soft plastic. Or a key chain with keys only -- and hopefully not too many of them.

You don't want your key chain to swing at your ignition while you're driving, and accidentally shut off your power everything (power brakes, power steering.) It won't be fun.

[greatauntoftriplets]

1. Someone at a dealership told me that 20 years ago.

Took his advice and my car keys is on its own chain.

[enlightenment]

2. My key chain

is carabiner shaped, with 6 smaller "S" shaped carabiners attached. So I can easily detach my car key - or my usb drive (for lectures) - or other keys from the larger ring. Very useful.

Looks a bit like this one:

[randome]

6. Don't lecture us.

I'm kidding! I'm kidding!
[hr][font color="blue"][center]A ton of bricks, a ton of feathers, it's still gonna hurt.[/center][/font][hr]

[enlightenment]

13. Nah -

I don't get paid for lecturing you!

[tularetom]

3. Last time I took my truck in for service they told me sort of the same thing

But the problem wasn't with the key chain swinging around, it was that the extra weight hanging from the ignition key would eventually lead to play in the ignition switch causing it to shut off unexpectedly.

It sounded plausible to me so I bought a key thingie that pulled apart into two rings and kept the car and truck keys on one ring with all the house keys, mail box keys, swiss army knives, etc on the other one.

[pnwmom]

8. That makes sense, too. Anyway, the bottom line is the same. No heavy key chains. n/t

[closeupready]

4. I have a Navaho turquoise-silver key ring resembling this:

I bought it at the tacky tourist shop @ the Grand Canyon several years back, and I'm not getting rid of it!

[pnwmom]

11. Very pretty. I think that would make a very nice pendant.

[woodsprite]

5. We bought a 2013 Dodge Caravan and now have something that

looks like a cheap plastic USB as a key. There's no way it could support my keyring w/ my other keys and still stay in the slot. Actually, there is a regular metal key housed inside the plastic, but it will only open the door -- can't be used to start the car. We lose that key/case and we're screwed! Love our Ford Taurus w/ the plain old metal key and electronic key fob that will open the trunk, doors, etc...And if we forget our keys inside the vehicle, we can use the keypad on the door handle to punch in the access code.

Not 100% sure that the new car would actually lock if the key was inside the car and turned off, but I'm not going to even try it! As it is, the dealer providing a second key was a negotiating point when we bought the car. Guess I should have negotiated for 2 extra - one for hubby and one to keep in the house.

[bigwillq]

7. My Nissan has a keyless ignition

I love it. I never lose my keys this way because they're always in my pocket.

[pnwmom]

9. That only works if you have pockets.

[justiceischeap]

14. Mine too (2011 Juke driver)

But I do worry about when the little button on my door handle wears out.

[Atman]

10. My key chain has ONE key.

My ignition key. I don't even have a front door key. I have a secondary key chain with keys to the summer place. All of my "loyalty cards" are kept on my iPhone. My electronic key fob is twice the size of my actual car key.

[zipplewrath]

12. Likewise

Was told years ago, I think Click and Clack, to not hand a wad of keys from the ignition. I carry all other keys on one key chain, and the ignition on it's own, very light weight, key chain. (Mostly to make it easier to find in my pocket)