Article about the keyfob/key card issues for Gravity

[Allnatt]

Bob: On your loaner AIR, my guess is that you had auto-unlock turned on. In my case that would trigger many times a day as I work in my garage workshop. It would also eat the FOB battery in a month or two.

My wife's Air is parked in our garage and as you say if I walk out with my phone the handles cycle repeatedly. It's not been an issue though because after about 3 cycles I get a message that they've been temporarily disabled because of repeated cycles. This prevents the battery from getting eaten. That's from my phone. I assume but don't know that it would work the same from the fob.

 

[Bobby]

My wife's Air is parked in our garage and as you say if I walk out with my phone the handles cycle repeatedly. It's not been an issue though because after about 3 cycles I get a message that they've been temporarily disabled because of repeated cycles. This prevents the battery from getting eaten. That's from my phone. I assume but don't know that it would work the same from the fob.

It seems that this would be very simple to solve with a “turn off passive unlock when at home location” function.

 

[VeryPowerful]

I'll share my keyfob experience since I don't think I came across anyone having one of my issues.
I accepted delivery of my Gravity GT on 9/30. Surprising is that I got 2 keyfobs and 2 key card.

Key fob detection issues. Both came with less than perfect battery levels (2.948V and 2.935V). One of the key fobs (back in the Lucid Service Center) would freak out the car as it would send alert after alert saying no key detected. I had one new battery so I replaced it for one of the key fobs. It is possible that this issue was resolved by replacing the battery in the key fob and installing 3.3.2 update as I didn't see this issue in the fob with new battery. But after occupying the car for long period of time without going into the Drive gear, the car wouldn't detect the key fob (the one with new battery). I had to shake it for good 10+ seconds for it to eventually detect it.

No reaction or very delayed reaction to button presses on the either of two key fobs. New battery didn't help. Sometimes I press unlock and it will unlock doors 3-5 seconds later. Many times it won't do anything. The best thing for me is keep pressing lock/unlock button repeatedly until it works. Sometimes it will work after 3 presses, but often I had to press it 10-20 times to register. Holding the button (at least the lock one) is not an option because it triggers the panic alarm (often with 5 seconds delay) that I have trouble disabling because it again doesn't react to my unlock button presses so it screams at me for extended period of time

• I updated the car to version 3.3.2, but that didn't help. I hard rebooted the car (20+s holding break pedal, Cancel, and Microphone buttons) with no improvement. I restarted both fobs (remove battery foe 30s, hold unlock button down, put battery back in, release unlock button), but that also didn't help.
• During delivery appointment I asked whether fobs have the newest firmware (required for 3.3.1), but I was just told the issue with fobs was fixed...
• Good news is that key cards seems to work consistently. Phone app wakes up the car fairly quickly and consistently unlocks and locks the car.
• The fob with new battery was consistently detected, because I had no trouble opening and closing the doors by pressing driver's handle.

Within few days I started talking with service center and eventually scheduled an appointment for the end of this month as I have a few other mechanical issues they need to fix (like stuck privacy shade in one door and frunk failing to open every now and then). They recommended to reset the fob (which I already tried). But I decided to try it again and funny enough the issue was resolved. Car was responding to all fob presses. I took 2nd keyfob, but I didn't restart it and it worked perfectly too, so I don't think the issue was with the fob but with the car and probably combination of a few hard reboots and car going to sleep resolved it.

It was perfect until yesterday. The issue came back. 10-20 pressed to get the car to lock or unlock. Both fobs are affected. Tried hard reboot like 8 times in 2 days (I also started seeing many DreamDrive unavailable, sensors blocked etc. errors). Tried key fob restarts, on the fob I keep using, 4+ times now. Issue persist. Even after leaving the car to let it sleep for the night didn't help as I had the issues all day today. Also, it has issues detecting the key now. I was shaking the key for good minute and then gave up and successfully used the key car. Funny is that it happened when I was going to drop off my team after a lunch... But I conditioned them beforehand and told them the car is buggy so we just all laughed at that.

This is the most frustrating issue I have with the car. Just standing and pressing the keys 20 times for the car to register. I'll probably go back to pressing driver's door handle since it worked in the past.

Oh, I checked the battery in "my" keyfob today. It was 3.009V, so it is still (should be) fine. But surprised that after just 2 weeks the voltage dropped from 3.24V to 3.009V. I have automatic lock and unlock disabled and I keep the fobs far from the car in faraday pouch (that I confirmed works with those fobs, they block UWB just fine) in a place that is rarely "moved" so the fobs should stay asleep for long period of times.

I'm really baffled and I'm not sure what is the problem. Is it software? Is it hardware?

 

[borski]

During delivery appointment I asked whether fobs have the newest firmware (required for 3.3.1), but I was just told the issue with fobs was fixed...

They lied to you. You need to get the fob firmware updated. Service can do that for you, via mobile if needed.

If your keycards stop working at all, you may have a center console issue. But if those work, you need your fobs updated.

 

[VeryPowerful]

They lied to you. You need to get the fob firmware updated. Service can do that for you, via mobile if needed.

If your keycards stop working at all, you may have a center console issue. But if those work, you need your fobs updated.

I resurrected my email thread with my local Service Center and I got a response saying that my car was delivered with key fobs firmware up to date. I'm surprised they consider my issues "known". I don't remember anyone complaining about car unresponsive to key fob button presses.
"Looking at the pre-delivery work order, it does look like we have updated the key fobs to the latest firmware prior to you taking delivery. This is a known issue regarding the key fobs and they are actively working on getting this corrected through an over the air software update."

 

[borski]

I resurrected my email thread with my local Service Center and I got a response saying that my car was delivered with key fobs firmware up to date. I'm surprised they consider my issues "known". I don't remember anyone complaining about car unresponsive to key fob button presses.
"Looking at the pre-delivery work order, it does look like we have updated the key fobs to the latest firmware prior to you taking delivery. This is a known issue regarding the key fobs and they are actively working on getting this corrected through an over the air software update."

Well, there is an update planned shortly, they did say... but if that doesn't fix it you may just have a bum fob... or do both do it?

 

[Ron_Burgundy]

What surprises me most about this is that Lucid would give these folks a Gravity with such persistent issues when there ARE Gravity that don’t have the issue. OR, just don’t give a reviewer the car yet. It’s a really absurd move on their part. What a bummer.

Did InsideEV end-up writing an actual review of the car yet?

 

[Atlantian]

I wanted to say that after installing firmware v3.3.5 the fob has been working great and our key cards can once again start the vehicle.

 

[Ron_Burgundy]

I wanted to say that after installing firmware v3.3.5 the fob has been working great and our key cards can once again start the vehicle.

That’s fantastic to hear. I’ve not heard anyone else say they got the fob update that goes with 3.3.5. I am hopeful this fixes my issues as well, but our SC is insisting on mobile visits, so it looks like it will be weeks, at best, for me. I’d be more than happy to drive to SC and have them do it, but they said “no”. Ugh.

I do believe Lucid will get it right, just not sure anyone will be interested in buying a Lucid by that point. Bummer as the car itself is fantabulous. But cars need to turn on before that can be used…

 

[Leftlane]

Wasn’t it said on here by a Lucid person directly that no appointment is needed at the SC, but for some reason you should call ahead, and it only takes a few minutes to do the update? Did they tell the service centers this yet?

 

[TahoeMichael]

Wasn’t it said on here by a Lucid person directly that no appointment is needed at the SC, but for some reason you should call ahead, and it only takes a few minutes to do the update? Did they tell the service centers this yet?

Yes, that was said. Internal communication out to the service centers is apparently a problem.

 

[Ron_Burgundy]

Wasn’t it said on here by a Lucid person directly that no appointment is needed at the SC, but for some reason you should call ahead, and it only takes a few minutes to do the update? Did they tell the service centers this yet?

I think there is no “they” to tell the service centers. It appears there isn’t one person to whom all SC managers report or something similar. Who knows. As folks said, communication is a problem as it appears non-existent.

It really feels as if someone needs to take the lead there and manage communications. At this point, they seriously should have managed a crisis management firm to support them.

As folks have mentioned many times before, folks on the forum tend to have more knowledge than many folks at SCs, forum members know solutions, etc.

Lucid will get there. They’ll get it done, I am confident. But my goal wasn’t to own a modern-day DeLorean….

 

[borski]

folks on the forum tend to have more knowledge than many folks at SCs

That's not true. More knowledge than many SAs (studio advisors / sales), yes. More knowledge than service? Rarely, except in software, but service doesn't "do" software.

 

[Ron_Burgundy]

That's not true. More knowledge than many SAs (studio advisors / sales), yes. More knowledge than service? Rarely, except in software, but service doesn't "do" software.

That’s fair. Clearly an actual service tech should know more. With Gravity, I am not sure this is the case. Whether it’s been my frunk latch issues, window seals, or the current fob update, I found myself speaking directly with service folks who did not know there were broader issues and/or not aware of solutions.

 

[borski]

That’s fair. Clearly an actual service tech should know more. With Gravity, I am not sure this is the case. Whether it’s been my frunk latch issues, window seals, or the current fob update, I found myself speaking directly with service folks who did not know there were broader issues and/or not aware of solutions.

You’re right; my point was that there aren’t owners that know more than service, except the very rare case.

Most owners don’t know much about Gravity service / troubleshooting either. And by the time service has done a few cases, it won’t be comparable. (Again, with the exception of software)

SAs are a whole ‘nother matter.