An Internet mystery: Can you unlock your car with a cellphone?

http://www.snopes.com/autos/techno/keyless.asp
 
Executive Summary:
You own a car with a Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) system.  You lock your RKE key fob in the car, or lose it somehow.  You use your cellphone to call your spouse who has the backup key fob.  The spouse holds the fob to their cell phone while you hold your cell phone next to the car.  Spouse clicks "unlock" on the fob, the signal is transmitted somehow through the cell phone transmission, and your car unlocks.
 
Does this really work?  If so, HOW does it work?
 
I\'ve never heard of this until today, and I instinctively disbelieve it because it doesn\'t make sense based on my understanding of RF keyless entry systems and cell phones.  I\'m willing to believe, but I need to see it for myself, or hear a reasonable theory for how it works.
 
There seem to be a few people out there who claim that it works, though they don\'t understand why.  One of my coworkers says she knows some people who use it all the time.  I naturally distrust third hand accounts like that, but I\'d like to find some better evidence that it DOESN\'T work before I call them liars.
 
Have any of you heard of this before?  Maybe you\'ve actually tried it?  Here are a couple more interesting links:
 
http://www.wsdmag.com/Article/ArticleID/13453/13453.html

http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/forum/forum_comments/1943/

you can open many car door locks with a hollow tennis ball w/ a small hole in it.

While it\'s locked, match the tennis ball\'s hole to the keyhole, press really hard and the lock will spring up.  Something about the sudden air pressure.

Doubt this keyless fob trick will work, I\'d need a youtube to confirm :}

[Cerberus]

They showed this can be done on tv ages ago on brainiac I think, either brainiac or top gear.

I thought it was put on, but then I read in the paper that it did actually work.

[GmanJoe]

you can open many car door locks with a hollow tennis ball w/ a small hole in it.

While it\'s locked, match the tennis ball\'s hole to the keyhole, press really hard and the lock will spring up.  Something about the sudden air pressure.

Doubt this keyless fob trick will work, I\'d need a youtube to confirm :}

This works with older Acuras and some Hondas. Most you\'ll likely get outta this method is denting your door.

Why do I suddenly want a hollowed-out tennis ball?

[GmanJoe]

Why do I suddenly want a hollowed-out tennis ball?

Because she\'s hot and you want to cream all over her glasses.



Notice the key area being dented into the door?

mythbusters disproved the cell phone / car keyfob rumor.

mythbusters disproved the cell phone / car keyfob rumor.

I was wondering about that. I will check into the old mythbusters episodes.
 
EDIT:  I just searched the Mythbusters episode guide, and didn\'t find it.  Are you sure?

[Cerberus]

I thought it was the cellphone petrol pump explosion myth they disproved.

They actually did a few related to cell phones, but not this one.

[Titan]

They proved you are more dangerous driving with the cell phone. I think that depends on the person though. I never had problems driving while talking on the cell phone. But then again, I can very easily split my attention while driving. Plus, my phone convos never really last more than 30 seconds anyway

They proved you are more dangerous driving with the cell phone. I think that depends on the person though. I never had problems driving while talking on the cell phone. But then again, I can very easily split my attention while driving.

And evading that car heading directly towards you is much easier with only one hand on the wheel

Plus, my phone convos never really last more than 30 seconds anyway

Much like your sexlife.

[Jumpman]

why isnt anyone posting today lol

The internet (and world) seems quiet today.

I was going to change my avatar to one of these (below) to spice things up, but they\'re too big (dimension and size).

[Titan]

And evading that car heading directly towards you is much easier with only one hand on the wheel

I drive one handed. I\'m better at it than driving with two hands Plus, there\'s a reason why there is power steering