How long does the car stay 'on' when you don't lock it?

[Chris H]

Quite often I don't bother locking the car after I get out (we have a private drive on a quiet road). I take the key with me inside, which is out of range of the car.
A few days ago I did this in the evening, then went outside again for something about 20 minutes later to find that my headlights were still blazing across the road and the radio playing. I was a bit disconcerted, wondering do they ever turn off?
Today I did the same but during the day. It was more than an hour after I had exited the car and was going to walk down the road, when I noticed the windscreen wipers in the car go. I looked inside and saw both screens were also on and active.
How long does it stay on? Until it runs the battery flat?
I know I can just lock it every time I exit the car but it's not something I've had to worry about for the 30 years I've lived here. What if it's left overnight, with the headlights on? It's a security concern too because if some thief is passing by they can see that the car is 'active' and just drive off in it, even without the key being near.

 

[Ian Key]

I suspect it will stay on until the traction battery runs out even switching the lights on when it gets dark.

You'll need to switch it off on the infotainment screen if you insist on not locking it.

 

[Alb]

Just think of the ICE equivalent:

"I've walked away from my car with the engine running and the doors unlocked. How long before it decides to shut down?"

Answer - When it runs out of petrol!

 

[PS70]

It's a security concern too because if some thief is passing by they can see that the car is 'active' and just drive off in it, even without the key being near.

In my S6 the car drops out of READY when I open the driver's door and needs the key to go back in, so can't be driven anywhere.

 

[Amun]

I left for over three hours once. It helpfully turned the lights on when it got dark.

First world problem - just lock your car.

 

[dx4100]

Just lock it like normal people

 

[TimothyN]

An alternative view; I use V2L to heat my office, use the oven and tumble dryer and even then, it gets through about 30% per day.

Your LED headlights will stay on a very, very long time!

 

[securespark]

Not sure about headlights as it's daytime, but I'm sat in the car now and we arrived at 8:09. At 8.39, the heating switched off, there was a relay clunk, followed a few seconds later by the screens going blank.

 

[AmarShahi]

I experienced the same. I parked and got out of the car but forgot to lock the car, the car was there for 3-4 hours until a neighbor called and asked me if I intentionally left the headlight on. Wish it would turn off after x number of minutes when the key is out of range.

 

[Lovemyev]

I experienced the same. I parked and got out of the car but forgot to lock the car, the car was there for 3-4 hours until a neighbor called and asked me if I intentionally left the headlight on. Wish it would turn off after x number of minutes when the key is out of range.

The same has happened to me twice.
Once with the keys removed, once when I left the key in the car after I had cleaned it.
Had a call from my neighbour when the headlights turned on !.
I think the traction battery disengages after a reasonable length of time ( hence why the heater shuts down ) but the 12 volt side appears to stay active.
Not great if you have the headlights set to AUTO as when it goes dark, it brings the headlights on !.
This will deplete the battery very quickly I would think.