How To Start A Car With A Flat Head Screwdriver? The 7 Latest Answer

The ignition lock cylinder is a crucial component of your car. As important as it is, most car owners pay too much attention to it. You take it for granted until it wears out over time and then you can no longer use it properly or start your vehicle. Then you may need to replace it.

Once you have the key, removing it is relatively easy. Without them, the process requires a few extra steps.

Tools you need to change an ignition key lock without a key

To successfully complete the process of removing an ignition lock cylinder without a key, you must ensure that you have the following tools:

drilling machine

drill

flathead screwdriver

Step One – Battery Disconnect

The first part of removing or replacing a keyless ignition cylinder involves disconnecting the battery. This is a safety precaution to ensure you don’t short out or get an electric shock in your car.

To do this, you need to remove the negative cable clamp.

Step Two – Remove steering wheel

Next you need to remove your car’s steering wheel so you have full access to the lock cylinder. Remove all the screws from the top and bottom covers of the steering wheel and after removing the covers, lift the steering wheel up and pull the middle cover. You can now disconnect the wires to the car horn.

Be sure to set the nuts and washers securely, then pull the steering wheel completely off its axis.

Step Three – Remove the windshield wipers and turn signal switches

These are easy to find using your car’s owner’s manual and just need to be removed from their place.

Step 4 – Removal of the steering column sleeve

Inside the car’s steering wheel column you should be able to find the spacer columns. Once you find them, slide them up.

Step 5 – Disconnect the electrical system from the ignition switch

Locate and loosen the ignition switch mounting screws, and then pull out the ignition switch.

You must be careful to disconnect all wires from the appropriate connector on the underside of the ignition switch. Release the tabs and pull the switch out.

Step Six – Remove the mounting screws

Use either a screwdriver or socket wrench to remove the mounting studs or screws from the ignition switch. Completely detach the housing and switch assembly holding the lock barrel.

You will find that most car models have interchangeable universal lock cylinders. These are easy enough to remove by using a pin in the pinhole to operate the release mechanism.

Step Seven – Check the ignition switch housing mounting screws

You will find that some car models, depending on the manufacturer, have easy-to-remove breakaway security screw heads. This component is designed to prevent thieves from breaking into your car and changing the ignition switch so they can drive your vehicle without a key. You may need to use a drill with special pullers designed to remove the screws on the ignition switch to remove it from the steering wheel column.

Step Eight – Key Cylinder Lock

Take the ignition lock cylinder and a straightened paper clip and insert the clip into the slot and then twist counterclockwise. This will lock the cylinder and not start the ignition.

Step Nine – Screwdriver

Take your screwdriver and insert it into the ignition lock cylinder. Turn it clockwise as far as possible. Then drag the paper clip to the right as far as possible. The switch should then pull out easily.

That’s all there really is to it. If you have an older vehicle and this is the first time you’ve tinkered with the ignition lock cylinder, this may not be the easiest thing to do. This is because a lot of dust and dirt has accumulated in and around the cylinder.

Step 10 – Replacing the ignition lock cylinder

Whether cleaning and replacing a keyless ignition lock cylinder is necessary depends on the individual components and their condition. You can use the same keys and rebuild it if everything looks fine and seems to be working fine after a good cleaning and oiling. However, it may be time to buy a brand new ignition switch.

You have to keep in mind that unless you know for sure that a generic ignition lock cylinder (or the individual components you need to replace ) work in your car how to get spare keys. Be sure to include the exact model, year and make of your vehicle along with the VIN number to ensure you receive the correct part.

How to start a car with a bad starter (walkthrough)

Let’s say you’re late for work.

You sprint to your car and try to turn on the ignition, but your car won’t budge.

Chances are your starter is behaving.

But don’t worry, you can do something about it!

As a motorist, knowing how to start a car with a bad starter is a handy skill.

In this article we will tell you how to start a car with a bad starter.

We also tell you what problems to look for if your car still won’t start.

We will then go through some of the most common FAQs including the signs of a bad starter and how to bypass a starter relay.

This article contains:

(Click on a link to jump to that section)

Let’s start your car.

How to start a car with a bad starter

If you have a bad starter, there are two ways to crank your engine:

However, before you start working on a starter problem, you must have the following tools.

jumper cable

A hammer

gloves

A screwdriver

If you don’t have these, your best bet is to call a mechanic to investigate the fault.

If you have the tools, you can try starting your car using either of these two methods:

Jump start your car

In most cases, your car may not start due to a dead or weak battery. Providing enough amps to the starter can help it operate normally, which in turn cranks the engine.

To jump start a car, you can either use another car’s battery and jumper cables or you can use a portable jump starter.

Here’s what you need to do next:

Open the hood of your car and locate the car battery. If you cannot find it, refer to the vehicle’s manual. If your car battery looks bloated or is leaking, don’t work on it. Instead call a mechanic as you may need to replace the battery.

If the car battery looks fine, use the positive lead (red jumper lead) to connect the positive terminal of your weak battery to the positive terminal of the spare battery or jumper cable.

Use the black jumper wire to connect the charged battery’s negative terminal to any bare metal on the car.

Now switch on the ignition and wait a few minutes for the battery to charge.

A dead battery can take approximately 5-20 minutes to charge, depending on battery condition, Depth of Discharge (DOD) and engine type.

Once you’ve managed to start your car, unplug the jumper cables. First the (-ve) terminal, then the (+ve) terminal. Also, make sure these cables are not touching each other.

Note: If your battery has a charge and your car still won’t start, this could indicate a bad starter. In this case you can bypass the starter relay.

However, there is another, simpler technique you can use as well:

Push your engine

Push-starting, also known as bump starting, is an old-fashioned but effective way to start a car with a bad starter. However, it only works if you have a manual transmission vehicle.

That’s how it’s done:

Leave the ignition on and put your car’s manual transmission into first or second gear. It is advisable to leave your car in second gear as this allows you to push gently. It also reduces damage to your car’s system. However, use first gear if you have a much shorter way to push.

Get someone strong enough to push your car from behind to get a speed of 5-10 mph.

Once you get that speed, release the clutch. The speed achieved is enough to start the car.

Repeat the process if the first attempt fails.

If you have tried and failed the above methods of starting a car with a bad starter, you may want to check your car’s other components.

What should I check if my car still won’t start?

There are countless reasons why your starter motor is not working.

This is one of the reasons why it is always better to have a professional mechanic look at the starter problem. You can go through all possible scenarios to locate the error.

However, you can also look at some of these components to assess what is causing your startup problems.

Check the connections

Make sure there are no loose connections in the starter battery path.

If the connection looks good, check the other ends of the positive battery cable. This positive wire forks in two. One end goes to the alternator and the other end goes to the starter. If the alternator and starter connections look good, try the jump starting method again.

Check the engine ground

Sometimes a faulty transmission ground or engine ground wire can affect the overall starter ground as well.

Check these two grounds for rust or damage as they can create an open circuit and prevent the starter from running.

You can also work around this problem by using a jumper cable to provide a direct ground from the battery negative terminal to the starter frame.

Examine the starter solenoid wire

The starter solenoid connects the starter to your car’s transmission. If you hear the starter spinning freely when you turn on the ignition, the problem could be with the magneto.

To identify a bad starter solenoid, check the solenoid wire for dirt or rust.

If rust is the problem, you can bypass the faulty starter solenoid cable.

To do this, use a 12V wire to deliver power from the car battery directly to the point where the starter and solenoid connect. You will hear a clicking sound indicating the connection has been established. Now switch on your ignition system.

As soon as the engine starts, you should immediately remove the 12V cable. If not, the starter gear (pinion gear) will not engage and could be damaged by remaining meshed with the flywheel, which spins at a much higher speed.

Examine the engine flywheel

The pinion in the starter engages the ring gear of the flywheel to crank the engine. Sometimes the flywheel could also be the reason why your car won’t start.

To check the flywheel:

First remove the electric motor. Now put the car transmission in neutral. Have someone turn the crankshaft pulley center bolt using a ratchet or pry bar. This pulley assists in the operation of the alternator, steering pump, and other components. Now look for any damaged or missing teeth in the flywheel that may be preventing it from engaging the starter gear. If you find any inconsistencies, you may need to replace your flywheel ring gear.

Note: It is better to leave this work to a qualified technician.

Check for corrosion

Corrosion is one of the most common problems with car starters. To avoid this, make sure your battery cable and terminals are free of acid deposits.

Acid deposits appear as a white, green, or bluish coating around each battery post, post, or battery cable.

How to clean the corrosion:

Prepare a 1:1 solution of sodium bicarbonate and water. Pour the mixture over the affected battery terminals. Leave it for some time and then rinse the connections with hot water

You can also read this corrosion guide for more detailed instructions.

Also check the engine, starter solenoid, ground wire, and engine connections for dust, rust, or acid buildup. Remove the deposits with a metal brush.

Tap on the launcher

Over time, the motor tends to develop dead spots between the armature and the field coils.

Tapping the failed starter lightly with a hammer can clear these dead spots and get the starter’s motor running.

Check the battery voltage

You can also use a voltmeter or multimeter to check if the starter solenoid is getting enough power from the battery or if you have a dead battery.

To check if the battery is low:

Set the meter’s dial to read 20V (higher than your battery’s voltage). Turn on the meter. Connect the meter’s (-ve) and (+ve) leads to the appropriate pins. Now turn on the headlights of your car and write down the reading. A reading between 12.7 – 13.2 volts indicates your battery is charged and the problem lies elsewhere. Any reading below 12.4 volts means you need to charge your battery to start the engine.

If the meter reading is around 12.6V and the problem persists, a bad alternator may be causing the problem.

Now that you know the possible reasons for a faulty starter, let’s go through some commonly asked questions about autostarters.

5 Frequently Asked Questions for Beginners

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about starter motors:

1. What is a starter?

A starter is an electric motor used to start an internal combustion engine to initiate engine operation.

When you turn on your car’s ignition system, power is supplied to the starter motor. The electromagnet in the starter motor engages the pinion of the starter drive with the ring gear of the transmission, causing the engine to start.

2. What are the signs that I have a bad auto starter?

Several signs could point to a bad start.

These include:

The car will not start even with a fully charged battery

This is perhaps the most common sign of a bad starter. To quickly check if the battery is fully charged, turn on your car’s headlights or music system.

If they work fine, you probably have a faulty starter.

Strange clicking noises

A clear clicking noise can indicate a defective starter. The noise can also come from a dead battery. However, if it is a grinding noise, this could indicate a locking problem between the starter gear and the engine flywheel ring gear.

Check your battery first to rule out this cause. If the battery is charged, it means you have a bad starter.

Slow start speed

If your car takes several attempts or longer than usual to start, this could indicate a faulty relay or starter motor.

Dimming the interior lighting

If your interior lights dim when you start the vehicle, this may indicate a short in the starter motor. This causes the starter to draw excess current, leaving even less current for the rest of the vehicle’s systems.

Also, listen for a chugging noise.

It signals a failure of the bearings in the starter motor’s electric motor, which means you need to have your faulty starter motor repaired.

The starter continues to run even after the engine has started

If it sounds like the starter is still running after you have released the ignition switch, this could indicate a larger problem with your car’s electrical system.

In such a case, call a mechanic for help immediately.

An oil soaked starter

Sometimes an oil leak from the engine can lead to a bad starter.

If you find that your auto starter is soaked in oil, you will need to call a professional mechanic to fix this problem.

3. How do I check if my starter motor fuse is blown?

Checking the fuse is the least intrusive way to test a bad starter.

That’s how it’s done:

Disconnect the ground wire from your battery. Find your car’s fuse box. It’s located either near your car’s battery or on the driver’s side of the dashboard. Look for the starter fuse. It is usually referred to as “IG”. You can consult your vehicle’s manual to identify the correct fuse. Check the fuse for the metal link inside. If it is defective, this indicates a blown fuse. Replace the blown fuse with a new one of the same amperage.

4. How do I bridge the starter relay?

If you try to turn on the ignition and the vehicle will not start, the problem may be a defective starter relay.

Before attempting to bypass the faulty relay, check your battery voltage. When your battery is fully charged, you can proceed to bypass the faulty starter relay.

Get a screwdriver with an insulated handle. To bypass the faulty relay, place the shaft of the screwdriver onto the solenoid’s “S” terminal and touch the tip of the screwdriver to the solenoid’s battery terminal. Have someone turn the ignition on.

If the battery voltage is in range, the ignition should start your car.

Note: If attempting to bypass a faulty starter relay, remove the screwdriver as soon as the engine is cranked to avoid damaging your starter drive pinion gear.

5. How do I start my automatic car with a bad starter?

If your car has an automatic transmission, you can jump start your car and also look for other reasons to identify a faulty starter.

However, the push method will not work with an automatic car because you need a manual transmission to push your vehicle.

Final Thoughts

While a car not starting is a fairly common problem faced by car owners, it can be difficult to fix a bad starter yourself. Sometimes starting problems can be due to other things like misfiring spark plugs or even a faulty fuel pump.

For this reason, hiring a professional to check your auto starter problems is the most hassle-free option.

And you don’t have to look far. Just contact RepairSmith.

RepairSmith is a convenient mobile auto repair and maintenance solution that offers competitive upfront pricing.

Your ASE-certified professionals will be at your driveway in no time, ready to assist or troubleshoot starter problems. RepairSmith also offers a 12-month | 12,000 mile service guarantee on all repairs.

Fill out this form to get an accurate quote for a starter replacement and other repairs!

If you’ve misplaced the keys to a lock and can’t get to what’s protecting it, you may have no choice but to pick it open. Luckily, it’s possible to bypass almost any commercially available lock with ease, provided you have the right tools and a little know-how. For example, a standard padlock can only be picked with a hammer, a screwdriver, or a pair of open-end wrenches. There are also more creative solutions to dealing with extra tough locks like those used to secure bikes, like freezing the lock with a can of compressed air and hammering it in with a hammer.

You’ve probably seen a lot of movies where a car thief breaks into a car, pulls out the ignition wires and it starts effortlessly. This is known as “hot wiring” a car and is usually done when thieves (in the real world) steal people’s cars. But with the invention of push-button ignitions and more sophisticated safety devices, is it still possible to short-circuit a modern car?

Can car thieves steal a modern car by short-circuiting it?

Safety deficiencies in key fobs | Getty

RELATED: Is a ‘Kill Switch’ Effective in Preventing Car Theft?

No, they cannot. Thanks to the modern systems found in cars manufactured after the 90’s, most thieves will not be able to easily hot-wire a modern car and drive away with it. Jalopnik reports that most modern cars have ignition immobilizers that make them much more difficult to hot-wire. However, it is not impossible.

But if you have a newer car model with a push button ignition that requires a wireless remote to start, you can rest a little easier at night knowing your car will be there in the morning. According to How Stuff Works, push-button ignition cars work more like computers and there’s no ignition lock cylinder — the thing you put your key in — that can be bypassed.

Frank Scafidi, director of public affairs at the National Insurance Crime Bureau, told How Stuff Works: “In newer vehicles with keyless ignition, hot wiring is a thing of the past. But even with older vehicles, hot-wiring is still an effective method, no question.”

How thieves steal modern cars

If thieves can’t just hot-wire a new model car with push-button ignition, how do they steal it? According to Scafidi, many newer model car owners have become complacent about having a proximity key fob and tend to leave it in the car. As you can imagine, in this case everyone can just get in and take the car.

Barring negligent negligence on the part of the owner, thieves steal newer models of cars by hacking into them. More specifically, they are conducting what is known as a “relay attack,” which involves using a device that amplifies the car key’s RFID signal. When the signal is amplified, the car thinks the key is in close proximity and the car thief can simply gain access to the car, start it and drive away. No wire drawing or cutting is required.

Tips for protecting your latest model car

Close-up of engine start and stop button. | Collection Smith/Gado/Getty Images

If you currently own a car with a push button ignition, it is imperative that you take the necessary precautions to keep it safe. Firstly, do not leave the remote control key anywhere in or near the car, even when you are at home. If you park your car outside or in the driveway, thieves can amplify the key’s signal inside your house. In this case, keep the key away from the walls or windows that face the driveway or the front of the house.

If you want to keep the key extra protected, you can keep the fridge or freezer in it, because the construction of the device can block the signal. However, be aware that the cold temperatures can ruin the key’s battery life.

Finally, if you have a garage, park your car in it. While this garage space is great for storing random stuff and gym equipment you’ll never use, it’s even better for storing your car. After all, “out of sight, out of mind”. So if a thief can’t see your car, they probably won’t want to steal it.

RELATED: 10 reasons your car is broken into or stolen

Have you ever seen a movie or a show and a thief used a screwdriver to drive away in a car that didn’t belong to you? It looks so easy in the movie, but is it actually possible to hot-wire a new car? There is a lot of misinformation out there so I want to clear things up in this article.

Most new cars cannot be shorted using traditional methods. This is mainly due to additional immobilizers and the removal of physical key slots. However, there are still a number of ways a car thief can steal your vehicle, no matter how new it is. Most modern cars opt for electronic security systems that are easier to defeat.

I’ll explain what hotwiring is, how it works, the modern car security features and I’ll talk about 10 theft prevention tips to help you avoid becoming a victim of car theft.

Disclaimer: I’m not telling you to wire cars

Just want to get this out of the way: I don’t encourage anyone to short circuit cars. I also don’t give out information to people who want to hot-wire cars for criminal purposes. This is purely an informative article to help you stay safe out there.

What is hot wiring?

I should start by explaining what hotwiring is. We all know it from the movies: someone fiddles with a screwdriver, pushes some wires together, then the car starts and the culprit drives away.

Hotwiring is when someone starts a car without having the keys. Typically, it is a car thief who wants to steal a vehicle and sell it somewhere else.

How does someone start a car without a key? It has to do with bypassing the process that a car key performs. Hotwiring works around the ignition lock cylinder, preventing a car from starting until the correct key is detected.

Typically, the thief will remove the panel under the steering wheel, exposing the wiring that goes into the ignition switch cylinder. With a little manipulation, you can cross the right wires and start your car without a key.

It’s hard to believe, but the movies are right about what this process looks like. However, there is one major caveat: immobilizers.

What is an immobilizer?

Immobilizer is one way automakers stopped wiring cars up as easily. Before them, it was all about crossing wires. After them everything changed.

This is a device that checks your key’s “fingerprint”. It uses an electronic signal to communicate with the key fob in your hand. Your trailer has identification built in and the immobilizer will ensure the car’s engine will not start until it recognizes the identification.

This became commonplace around the mid-1990s. The vast majority of 2000’s and newer cars have one built in, making traditional short wiring much more difficult.

This means that most pre-mid 90’s cars can be easily shorted out using the traditional method of a screwdriver and playing with the wires.

It’s still possible to short-circuit a newer car as long as it doesn’t have an immobilizer. With an immobilizer it is not possible to short-circuit a car.

Push-to-start cars are impossible for Hotwire

This whole process revolves around having a physical key slot in your car. This is where the ignition lock is located, and it also gives access to the immobilizer. In push-to-start cars, the possibility of short-circuiting completely disappears.

Why? Because there is nothing that can be physically grasped and overridden.

If you combine an immobilizer and a push-to-start, it’s totally impossible to short-circuit a car using the method I described a second ago. However, there is a modern solution for hot wiring that does not involve any cable crossings at all.

The Modern “Hotwire” As I mentioned before, there is a small fingerprint in your key fob that your car is looking for. The big problem with all anti-theft devices for modern cars is that they rely on electronics. This is a problem because unlike physical components, electronics are easy to counterfeit and bypass. It is well known that an electronic based security system is usually easier to crack than a physical one (in many industries and applications). Another big difference is how long the hot-wiring process takes. With old-school hotwiring, the thief would need uninterrupted access to your car for minutes. With modern hot wiring, this can be done in no time right before your eyes without you noticing.

Using a forgotten key fob

Isn’t it so convenient to start your car in the morning with a key fob? Some people are forgetful and hate going back inside to get their hitch, so they just leave it in the car.

If you do this, you are only giving your car to a thief. With the key fob in the car, the doors are unlocked and the car can be started and driven off. For the thief this is no effort at all. You should at least make it difficult for them!

Yet a surprising number of car thefts each year are due to owners leaving their keys in the vehicle. The first form of modern hotwiring is simply using a forgotten key fob.

Spoofing your spoofing

Another way to steal your car is to fake your fob. You can go to Amazon and pick up a key fob for pretty cheap.

If they get close enough to you, they can hijack the signal your key sends when you press the unlock button and start your car. The criminal’s device will remember your key’s signal, which is essentially the password to start your car, and the key will use it later.

The car cannot tell the criminal’s fake key from your real key. The car really thinks it’s you in the driver’s seat, even though it’s the criminal.

Because they have a working version of your key, they can unlock, start and drive your car at any time. No alarm goes off if they do, and they don’t have to break a window to get inside.

The whole process takes just as long as it takes you to get in your car and start it.

Yes – I told you that electronic security devices are frighteningly easy to breach.

Car towing theft

The last method a modern day car thief might use is “car towing”. This is much harder to prevent.

You simply roll your car onto the back of a tow truck and drive away. People who see it might not say anything as it seems normal for a car to be towed.

Once elsewhere, the thief has uninterrupted access to your car, they can use any number of methods to break into your vehicle and steal everything.

10 Theft Prevention Tips Now that you realize how easy it is to steal a car these days, you might be freaking out a bit. Don’t worry, I’m here to help. I have a few tips to prevent a car thief from getting away with your vehicle.

1. Don’t leave your keys in the car

The biggest anti-theft tip I have for you is to never leave your keys in the car. je. In fact, I can’t think of a scenario where you should leave your keys in a car that you’re not in.

If your keys are in your car, all a thief has to do is come, open your door and press your car’s start button. So they are the new proud owners of a car that does not belong to them.

It doesn’t matter if you hide the keys. Some people try to dress up and leave their keys in the glove box so a thief won’t know they’re inside. I promise the thief will test if your keys are in the car by turning your vehicle on or opening your doors before looking for the physical keys.

After all, they don’t even have to touch your keys to get away with your car if the key fob is somewhere in your vehicle.

Please just throw them on a key hook somewhere in your house.

2. Park away from cameras, lights and other people

If you must park outside, it’s best to park close to three things: cameras, lights, and other people.

Why? These will deter potential thieves from breaking into your car. The added benefit of cameras is that they can help find the criminal even after they hot-wire your vehicle.

I’m not saying parking in the right spot makes it impossible for a thief, but it makes it a lot harder.

3. Keep your Windows running

If your windows are even cracked, it becomes much easier for someone to break in. With a cracked window, a thief can use their weight to force the window down and get into your car.

If the window is at the bottom, then it’s even easier.

It is best to keep your windows rolled up at all times when you are not in the car.

4. Keep your spare key hidden around your house

Another common mistake is that people put their spare key somewhere in their car. It helps a lot when you lose your master key phrase or can’t find it.

The big problem is that backup keys work just like your master keys. This means a car thief can use your hidden spare keys to unlock and start your car. Hiding your spare keys in your glove box is the same as putting your regular keys in the glove box.

Keep your spare keys somewhere in your house. Ideally it’s in a room further away from your garage to ensure the range is beyond what it takes to unlock the doors. A safe in the bedroom closet is a great place for those keys.

5. Lock your dang doors

It doesn’t matter how safe or affluent the area your car is parked in is – lock your damn doors. The first thing a car thief will check is to see if your doors are unlocked. Once unlocked, they’ll open your doors, steal everything in your car, and then maybe try to short-circuit it.

In fact, groups of criminals have been known to drive to rich and “safe” areas of the city to make more money by getting in cars and stealing them. It’s always a good idea to click the lock button on your key when exiting your car, even if it’s parked in your garage.

A locked door won’t stop a criminal if they really want to break it down, but it makes it more difficult and might discourage them. Some thieves just look for unlocked doors to get a quick buck.

6. Grab an anti-theft device

Many modern cars are equipped with anti-theft devices. This sounds an alarm if the car door is opened without a key or if a break-in attempt is made.

If your car is not equipped with one of these devices, you can purchase and install an aftermarket version. Some of the more involved setups require you to go to a mechanic to have them installed.

7. Old car owners: Install an aftermarket immobilizer

Another item that you can add to your car is an aftermarket immobilizer. This is for anyone whose car is older and doesn’t have an inbuilt one.

As a reminder, the immobilizer is an additional security check that is carried out before you start your car. With an immobilizer it is almost impossible to short-circuit a car in the conventional way. It looks for your key fob’s fingerprint before it even starts your car’s engine.

These can get expensive to install, but they’re definitely worth it, especially in areas where auto theft is high.

8. Get a GPS tracker

Some drivers like the added peace of mind of knowing where their vehicle is at all times. For them, a GPS tracker is perfect.

There are a number of different trackers on the market, but they all work the same way: they use GPS signals to locate your car. There is a small receiver somewhere on your vehicle and an app or website on the internet will show you where the tracker is. As a result, you know where your car is.

This is not anti-theft protection as it does not prevent theft, but it will help you locate and recover your car after it has been stolen. However, you should never try to get the car back alone.

You should use GPS tracker so police know where your car is so they can get it. You never know how angry and angry a car thief will be and it’s not worth risking your life trying to get the car on your own.

9. Never leave valuables in your car

My parents always said, “If a thief can see it, he can steal it”. A good rule of thumb is to keep valuables completely out of your car. If this is not possible, you will have to hide them in your locked glove compartment.

If you leave valuables on your seats, ask someone to steal the valuables and then your car. Even with tinted windows, people can see inside and see what your car has to offer.

The best option? Leave all your valuables in your home. With your car, a good rule of thumb is to only leave things you don’t mind getting stolen – especially if you park on the curb overnight.

10. Always park in a garage (if possible)

If you have a garage that you only use for storage, it’s time for a spring cleaning. The garage is the safest place for your car.

Make sure you lock your garage every day if it’s a manual garage. If your garage has a front door that leads outside, lock that as well.

For some apartment complexes, garage spaces are optional add-ons for extra money every month. You’ll have to decide if this extra is worth the added security (plus, it does wonders for keeping your car’s paintwork looking fresh and keeping rust at bay).

Conclusion

There are many ways to keep your car safe when you’re not in it. I’ve covered 10 tips that will help you with that. Although modern cars cannot be traditionally shorted out, there are still ways for a thief to break into and steal your vehicle. If you want to see more answers to your biggest car questions, check out the rest of my blog. Also, consider getting some car products that will enhance your car ownership experience.

If you had a replacement car key made at your local locksmith, you may be wondering why the car won’t start even though the key is the same as the original. Even if your original key does not have a remote locking function, there is still a transponder chip hidden behind the plastic, which serves as additional protection against theft.

Unfortunately there is no real way to start a car without the transponder chip. However, if you want to use multiple keys but only have one chip, there is a way to get them all to work.

What is a transponder key

Transponder keys, chip keys or key fobs, as they are sometimes called, are the classic metal keys with an anti-theft chip attached to the plastic case.

Vehicle security systems come in layers, with the key itself being one. Naturally, the easiest way to steal a car is to use the original key. As in the movies, thieves would momentarily snatch keys and take prints to replicate later.

To prevent this, manufacturers have introduced transponder chips. Without it, even a perfect copy of a key will not start because there is no chip that emits the RFID – Radio Frequency Identification.

When the key is inserted into the lock, the car checks whether the unique RFID frequency can be recognized – the chip inside a transponder key emits a very weak signal that can only be registered in the immediate vicinity of the lock. If your car has a remote control key, a thief has no choice but to steal your keys, which you will notice more quickly and react in time to prevent theft.

How do I start my car without a chip key?

Transponder chips are designed so that they cannot be bypassed in any way, meaning you cannot start a car without the chip. An authorized dealer can read the required frequency from your vehicle and create a replacement. However, there is a workaround you can try if you have a transponder chip available.

Remove the plastic cover from your key. You may need to use a screwdriver or pliers to apply leverage as the gasket is very tight. Remove the transponder chip. It looks like a very small black square or a clear tube. Place the chip on a piece of tape and then attach it near the ignition switch. Try starting the key with your disassembled key or a spare key without a chip. If the car doesn’t start, reposition the tape and try again. Once you find a spot for the chip that works, attach it with super glue.

Since the transponder chip is always next to the ignition lock, every copy of your key works as if it had a chip.

The obvious downside is that you lose a layer of security. However, car security systems act as a deterrent – ​​while locked doors and immobilizers prevent casual thieves from driving away in your vehicle, they rarely stop professionals.

Ironically, it can even act as a better security system in some cases, since the proximity of two transponder chips causes interference. You should therefore not use a key with a transponder chip if you stick it next to the ignition lock.

Maybe the previous section wasn’t what you were looking for, so I will expand this guide with other important problems and solutions.

How to start a car without a key fob

The technology in the transponder chip evolved into modern day keyless fobs that just need to be brought close to the ignition to start the engine. It’s normal for these battery powered chips to stop working, so manufacturers have made sure you have an easy alternative to unlock the vehicle and start the engine.

Since you’ve never had to use it, you may not be aware that the key fob contains a compact physical key. There is usually a small cover on one side of the key fob – peel it off and you have a metal L-shaped key. Insert it backwards into the key fob and it can be used like a regular key to open the door and start the engine until you can get spare batteries.

Another alternative to the key fob is to use the mobile app to unlock and start the vehicle. Depending on the manufacturer, you will need to sign up for one of the following apps:

Audi: MMI Connect

Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Fiat, Alfa Romeo: Uconnect

Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC, Buick: OnStar Remote Link

Ford & Lincoln: Sync Connect

BMW: Connected drive

Hyundai: Blue Link

Nissan: Nissan Connect

Infinite: Infinite InTouch

Lexus: Lexus Enform

Subaru: Starlink

How to program a transponder key without the original

You’ve probably seen many answers asking you to do something like the following method:

Put the key in the ignition and turn it to the on position. Leave it in the on position for about 10 minutes and then turn it back to off. Repeat the process two more times. Remove the key.

This is a great way to squander half an hour and a decent chunk of your battery charge. Despite what some say, RFID chips are not that easy to program. In fact, you can’t program them yourself at all. Even if you still have a transponder key, you cannot copy the chip code to another without an authorized dealer or independent locksmith.

I won’t go into detail on how to program the transponder chip as I’m not sure myself, but the problem is that you need the right tools to copy the frequency from one and store it in the other. Working without an original will require the locksmith to access the database and find your car’s radio frequency ID or use special tools to get it out of the car.

This is complicated by the fact that the car doesn’t transmit, it receives, so there’s no way to pick up the frequency and identify what it’s trying to read.

Always have a transponder key backup

You should read this section even if you still have a fully functional key, as it’s only a matter of time before it becomes useful and saves you hundreds of dollars. Firstly, if you still have a transponder key, have it copied immediately.

Copying an existing key is much easier than creating a new key: copying the key is cheap and quick, and you can program the remotes yourself. RFID chips have become popular as gate or building entrance locks, so many locksmiths now have the option of replicating them for your car key as well. I would even go so far as to create another RFID chip, be it a car or a gate chip, just so I have an extra backup for future copying.

Cheapest way to get a new transponder key

If you’ve already lost all your duplicate keys, you’ll need to hire someone to make a new one for you. Expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $600 depending on who you hire.

Going to the dealer makes a lot of sense on the surface. After all, that’s where you bought your car, so it makes sense that they have the quickest and cheapest way to reproduce the key. The truth is quite the opposite – not only do you have to have your car towed there, but you also have to pay over $400 to have a new key made.

On the other hand, an independent locksmith can do the job for less than half the cost, with some even traveling to your destination. Call all the locksmiths in your area and find the best deal. However, set the terms so that you only pay if they successfully complete the job. Some locksmiths will try and fail to replicate the key and pretend your car is at fault.

frequently asked Questions

Can I start my car without a chip key?

It is not possible to start a car without the chip key. Try starting it with a mobile app or call your car manufacturer’s roadside assistance service. The only other options are towing the vehicle home or to the nearest dealership, depending on how the new key is created.

How can you tell if your car key contains a chip?

Read the owner’s manual or disassemble the key to look for a small chip in the shape of a tube or black square.

How do you start a car with the push of a button without a key fob?

In case you lost all your key fobs, all you can do is try to remotely open and start the vehicle via a phone app. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to get a spare key. However, if you are asking this question because your keyless fob battery is dead, there is one more thing you can do.

Find the corner of the remote that looks like it can be pulled off. Most people are unaware of the fact that a keyless remote can still contain a metal key as a backup. Once you take it out, plug it into the remote upside down to create a traditional key.

Is the push button or start better?

The technology used for push-button start has improved significantly, but the trade-off still remains the same. With a push button you get convenience and security, while a traditional key start is still considered more reliable. As we learned in this article, ignition locks can also fail, so I think the push button is a better option overall.

summary

Starting without a transponder chip will not be possible, but at least you now know the alternative methods of entering your vehicle. If you found this article useful, then I suggest checking out our other guides and reviews for more useful car maintenance and repair tips, as well as smart ways to save money!

Check out these keychain-related articles:

What to do when your keyless remote battery is low?

Why isn’t my Ford Key Fob working after a battery change?

How to program a Dodge key fob without a working one

I’m sorry to hear about your purse! Hopefully you can get your car keys back within a few days or so. If not, with a bit of luck, starting the car with scissors is possible.

How to start your car with scissors:

Put a blade in the ignition.

Move the scissors in the ignition until you find the sweet spot.

Try to turn on the ignition by twisting the scissors forward.

Be aware that starting your car with scissors can damage the ignition, compromise your anti-theft system and require replacing the entire ignition cylinder. Do this at your own risk.

Call a locksmith using your roadside assistance policy or alternatively your roadside assistance policy or towing and labor insurance

If you don’t have that kind of coverage, check out the roadside assistance program with Jerry

The Jerry app’s leading roadside assistance connects you to their nationwide network of over 55,000 service providers. A membership includes services like towing, jump starting, key replacement, and lockouts, and it’s only $4.16 a month!