Manhattan, NY – In the shadow of the Empire State Building lies an “automotive Bermuda Triangle” – a five-block radius where vehicles mysteriously die.
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No one is sure what’s causing it, but all roads appear to lead to the looming giant in our midst – specifically, its Art Deco mast and 203-foot-long, antenna-laden spire.
“We get about 10 to 15 cars stuck near there every day,” said Isaac Leviev, manager of Citywide Towing, the AAA’s exclusive roadside assistance provider from 42nd St. to the Battery. “You pull the car four or five blocks to the west or east and the car starts right up
The 102-story building, at Fifth Ave. between 33rd and 34th Sts., has been home to broadcast equipment since its opening in 1931.
Since the 9/11 attacks destroyed the twin towers, the building has regained its status as the leading transmission site for commercial broadcast outfits, with 13 TV and 19 FM stations mounting antennas on its spire.
According to many doormen in the area, who say that very often. “pepole park here on the block and when they come back and try to leave, they can’t start their cars
Automotive experts and engineers believe the problem stems from radio frequency interference that’s “jamming” the remote keyless entry systems of cars.
The remote keyless entry systems operate on specific wavelengths assigned by the Federal Communications Commission, which governs the bands and bandwidths of TV, radio, telephone and other transmissions. [nydailynews]
Anon. 11:10AM What are the implications on the Human Health of this situation?!
If you have an alarm system where you have to use the electronic “beeper” to unlock the door but you can also use the hard key, here is what you must do. Open the door manually with the metal key, The alarm will go off. Put the key in the ignition and turn half way (the car will not start even if you turn all the awy because the ignition cut off is still active), reach under the dashboard for the cut off switch and press it once. Turn the ignition back to off and then again to on all the way. The car should start (because the cut off switch was deactivated ) and the alarm will go off. This has worked me for me a few times. This has been happening for the past 5 or more years. This is not new. Just getting some publicity finally.
this is totally true. years back my remote alarm did not work in that vicinity but worked everywhere else.