My wife frequently can't start the MY. She has her foot on the brake and even when she has the app open it sometimes won't start, i.e. won't shift into D or R. She used to just keep the key card in the car and use that, but it disappeared recently after we had the car towed. I never have an issue starting the car. She has an iPhone 13 and I have an iPhone X. One difference that I'm curious about is that she has a rather bulky case on her phone while I don't have a case at all. I don't know if that could interfere some how, but she doesn't have any issue with other bluetooth devices like AirPods. I've checked her settings and they are set to leave the app running and always have location access. It doesn't seem like she has any trouble unlocking the car. Any suggestions on what to try?
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Wife can't start MY
- Thread starter kman42
- Start date
How does she unlock the car? Is she unlocking via the app or does it automatically unlock when she uses the handle?
Has she setup "phone key" on her device? You will need one of the key cards to setup "phone key" on a new device.
If you have lost a keycard you should remove it from the vehicle menu for security reasons.
Lastly, the driver should always have a keycard as a backup in case the phone is inoperable. If your wife still has trouble with the phone a traditional fob is also an option.
Has she setup "phone key" on her device? You will need one of the key cards to setup "phone key" on a new device.
If you have lost a keycard you should remove it from the vehicle menu for security reasons.
Lastly, the driver should always have a keycard as a backup in case the phone is inoperable. If your wife still has trouble with the phone a traditional fob is also an option.
...and find a replacement card. Someone that wants to use a Tesla should always have a key card as a backup even when using the phone as key.
zoomer0056
Active Member
That is puzzling that the car will unlock but won't turn on when the brake is pressed. This doesn't seem to be a phone connectivity problem because the car unlocks with phone as key. If you think the phone case could be a problem take it out of its case.
The case shouldn't be the problem. Phone as key is a bit finicky because of the cell phone's operating system always trying to save battery by putting applications to sleep or otherwise preventing communications. It has happened to me from time to time. Turning bluetooth off and back on in the cell phone normally fixes it. Assuming that works, you can then go in the phone's settings to try to find the option to "let things run and consume more battery".
The Lorax
Member
Well I'm sorry to say that it might be time for a new wife. Not sure how old your's is but you'll find that women born after about 1980 tend to be more technically savvy and less inclined to experience glitches like this. While switching to a newer a model may be more expensive in the short term (generally, you'll lose your house and about half of your money), you'll experience less headaches in the long run. You've purchased one of the best vehicles money can buy and now all you need to do is ensure that all of your accessories are compatible. Good luck!
zoomer0056
Active Member
Strange that the phone as key unlocks but then blue tooth quits. I wonder if the car then relocks if walk away lock is set? This must be unique to the iPhone? My Android has never had this issue.
What if she gets the car?
I do see a business mode" here. Perhaps Wifemax or Wifemana. I think "Find Your New Ride " as a slogan might be too much though. Trade-in assessments are another challenge. I suppose previous marriages are close enough to a carfax. Hard to get a warranty, although perhaps a pre-nup. Hm...
I've had this happen a few times over 3 years and I'm on Android. I agree that in general, bluetooth works or it's a complete failure. But then again bluetooth is not a great system... Once I had left my phone in my bedroom and I got in my car in the garage and drove away... the car only told me it didn't have a key (so wouldn't restart the next time) after I was a couple street corners away. It should never have let me drive without the phone in the car, yet it did. Normally that doesn't work but it did that one time.
She may be hitting the unlock button in the app and not have phone as a key setup. Also as another note, don't swipe up on the Tesla app. If you do that it will stop communicating with the car. This will cause a problem with phone as a key and also prevent the vehicle from auto locking when you walk away. Tesla app should always stay open in the background.
zoomer0056
Active Member
That's good blue tooth! Up to about 40ft of connection. That's how you can use your phone, walk around your house with your phone in one room and earbuds in your ears.
Yeah, except there's a way to measure the distance on that protocol and that is most probably used by the car. It's clearly failing in that situation 
Is her phone linked to a key card? I had a rental before and they gave me a key card and phone app access. I was able to unlock the car with Tesla app but it always asked for key card to drive. I had to link my phone to the key card in order to fully use my phone to operate the car.
zoomer0056
Active Member
Sounds like a Service Center visit is needed.Yeah, except there's a way to measure the distance on that protocol and that is most probably used by the car. It's clearly failing in that situation
zoomer0056
Active Member
howardnj
Member
Have your wife "reset network settings" on her IPhone.
Go to
Settings
General
Transfer or reset phone
Reset
Reset Network Settings
Maybe you have the same problem as these people, seems to point to a problem after a software update
teslamotorsclub.com
3/23 new software phone key issues
Since the last software update, my wife and I, with both of our Tesla Ys have been having persistent phone key problems. Our phones will unlock the car, but we are forced to use our valet card to drive. Very annoying. We've had one car 2 years, another 4 months. We have both reset our phones...
teslamotorsclub.com
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