On 4/2/2017 5:43 PM, l not -l wrote:
> On 2-Apr-2017, Nancy Young > wrote:
>
>> Came out of Costco today and was loading the haul into the
>> trunk when the Camry Hybrid next to us started up. We look
>> around, no one else in the area. We're thinking it's some kind
>> of remote start but ... where's the driver?
>>
>> I got close to it to make sure I wasn't hearing some other car
>> running. No, it's this car. I'm thinking Christine and hoping
>> it doesn't start backing out to drive around by itself with
>> revenge on its mind.
>>
>> After a minute or so, it turned off.
>>
>> okay, then.


> Since you don't know the year (or at least didn't specify), I can't speak
> with certainty about the car you saw. But, my 2014 Prius, and the 2009
> Camry Hybrid I had before that, would do that only if left "on" and I was
> nearby with the "fob".

The theory we came up with was that the car was left running and started
itself to charge the battery.

> While sitting, with ignition on, the Prius and
> Camry would cycle the gasoline engine on when the battery charge dropped
> below a certain level and would shut off once the charge met minimum level,
> generally running a couple of minutes or less.

That's what it was like.

> Both have a keyless ignition that relies on the proximity of a remote "fob";
> if it is not nearby, the car will shut-off and cannot be restarted until the
> remote reappears nearby. It works well and my insurance company loves it
> enough to give me a discount for having an anti-theft device.

I did walk away from my Camry once with the engine running and the fob
in my bag. It didn't go crazy beeping or anything. Note that I don't
have an electric car. It did beep inside the car but there weren't
lights and sirens.

> If I forget and start to walk away with the ignition on and the remote in my
> pocket, the car makes a racket to remind me I'm about to do something
> stupid. It also won't let me lock the car with the remote inside.

I closed my pocketbook in the trunk a couple of weeks ago and was Very
happy I could open it.

> I am reasonably certain the owner of that car, though not visible to you,
> was very near.

Unless they were hiding in the trunk, we were quite alone in a wide
area. We park far. There was no one around. That's what made it spooky.

Maybe it was a day late April Fool's joke. Heh.

nancy