Hello, I've had my new 2021 LR Defender 110 for about 3 weeks now and I'm trying to get used to all the vehicle's features. I had an LR4 for a number of years, and then switched to a Ford Explorer when the LR4 was discontinued. Now that I am back to JLR, I'm noticing a few features missing that I had on the Explorer that I found quite useful.

Specifically, I am wondering if there is a hack or work around to be able to LOCK the Defender while the car is running? I drive across the country (US) from FL to CA 2x a year in the summer with my dogs. Since I take a southern route, it is well over 100 degrees outside, and when I have to stop for bathroom breaks, etc, I would like to able to leave the dogs in car with AC running for 15 min or so, which is what I have done with the Explorer.

Currently I cannot lock the Defender while it is running, so my choices are 1. turn off car and worry about dogs or 2. worry about possible car theft (with dogs in car) if I leave it running and unlocked

It never crossed my mind to inquire about this before purchase. Wonder is anyone has encountered this and found a hack or work around? It's very stressful leaving the dogs in a hot car, even with windows open. Hoping to find a solution before I set off on June 30.

Thank you.

 

I don't know of a hack, but as a workaround you could always shut down, exit the vehicle and lock it. Then start it with the remote app.

 

There are some inserts to vent the windows and provide break-in security on one of the websites of one of the vendors listed in the "aftermarket accessories" thread. As the K9 units in the U.S. use with their partner dogs. I think the idea was to use the Defender one while sleeping in the vehicle, maybe?

I do not recall which website, but I thought it was a good idea.

We have purchased the sun - roof for this exact reason -- to leave it open for 15 minutes to not cook the pups, while cracking the windows a couple of inches.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong - I'm fairly certain I'm not. Cant you keep it running but take the key fob with you. The truck will not allow it to be driven until it can sense the fob is back in the car.

 

Don't have my Defender yet, but on my wife's 2019 Benz you can leave the car with it running and the key in your pocket and someone else can still engage drive. But I don't think you can lock the car with the engine running and no key inside of it.

 

This is what I do in my mazda. I frequently drive around with family and during summer mercury hits the ceiling here fairly often. Not sure if this’d work on defender but you may give it a try.

DISCLAIMER: I take no responsibility if you lock yourself out of the vehicle. This is proven to work on other regular models, so may work in JLR cars too, please try at your own risk.

- start the car
- take the physical key out of the fob
- leave the fob inside the vehicle, only take the physical key out with you
- roll the driver side window down
- hop off and from the window lock all doors
- from the outside, roll up the driver side window

the car should now be running with all its door locked and no way to access it from the outside other than with the physical key.

insert the manual key in the keyhole and unlock, should unlock all doors.

 

Yeah, the method I described didnt work. I was able to shift into reverse and drive and move the vehicle without the fob in the car - meanwhile its telling me the fob isnt there, so whats the point of that? Seems like an easy fix for JLR to make the presence of the fob necessary to move the vehicle.

 

The OP is inquiring about his Defender and people are posting about what works in a Benz or Mazda.....who cares what word in this vehicles???/

 

I think the safest method, for your dogs as well as your car, would be to use the InControl remote app, as suggested above. Turn off the engine, exit and lock the car as usual. Then use the Climate Control section on the remote app to set the desired cabin temperature for your "boys" and start the engine. I believe it will only run for 30 or 40 minutes that way though, then shut down automatically if you don't unlock the doors.

PS: Wherever you do this, you need cell phone reception for the app to connect to and operate your vehicle remotely.

 

In my Escalade, I keep the engine running and turn off the motion sensor inside the car and lock it using my phone app. I haven't tried it in my 110X yet though.