The good news for all car owners is that motor vehicle thefts have decreased by more than 50% over the last 30 years. In the early 1990s, over 1.5 million cars, trucks, and SUVs were stolen every year. Today, that number has dropped down to around 700,000. So you don't have to worry too much about having your vehicle stolen in this day and age.
Even still, you'll sleep better at night when you have an anti-theft system in your vehicle. It'll give you additional peace of mind regarding your car's security. You may, however, find yourself in a situation where your car's anti-theft system won't allow you to start your vehicle, which can be very frustrating. Read on to find out why this happens and what you can do to fix this particular problem.
What Is an Anti-Theft System?
Anti-theft systems have been around for more than a century now. The very first one ever invented was patented in the 1910s. But it wasn't until the late 1990s that anti-theft systems appeared in vehicles. That was around the time when many countries throughout the world began to require them in new cars.
So, what is an anti-theft system? As its name suggests, it's a system that protects your vehicle by utilizing a transponder found in your car key. If someone attempts to start your car up without this transponder being present, your anti-theft system will stop them from being able to get the engine up and running. An anti-theft system is designed to prevent your car from being taken by someone who doesn't have the key.
How Does an Anti-Theft System Work?
As we just mentioned, an anti-theft system works through a transponder found in your car key. When you go to start your engine, this transponder sends out a signal to your car, letting the anti-theft system know that it's one of your actual car keys trying to start it up. After getting this signal, your vehicle will work like it's supposed to and start right up.
But if your anti-theft system doesn't get a signal from the car key when you try to fire up your vehicle, it'll lock it down and prevent it from starting. Even if you have the correct car key and try to start it, it's not going to work if it doesn't receive a signal from a transponder. This can sometimes cause complications, leaving people asking, "Why won't my anti-theft system let my car start?"
How Can You Tell When an Anti-Theft System Is Acting Up?
If your car's anti-theft system is acting up on you, you'll notice it when you start your vehicle, but it won't get going. Sometimes, your car might not start because of an issue with your battery, starter, or alternator. But in others, your anti-theft system could be to blame.
You'll know that it's your anti-theft system causing this issue if you spot the anti-theft light appearing on your car's dashboard. The symbol looks like a lock or a key, and the light is usually red. This indicates that your anti-theft system has been activated and isn't going to allow your car to start. You cannot get your vehicle to budge until you've figured out a way to shut off your anti-theft light.
What Should You Do If Your Anti-Theft System Won't Let You Start Your Car?
If you suspect that your anti-theft system has locked your car down, there are several steps you can try taking to remedy the situation. First and foremost, you should pop your car's hood and inspect your battery. If the battery has died, it will prevent your car key's transponder from communicating with your anti-theft system, and this is enough to leave your car immobile right where it is. You'll need to get a jump for your existing battery or buy a new one to fix the problem.
If your battery seems in decent shape and isn't the cause of the problem, the next thing you'll want to try is resetting your anti-theft system. This might sound like a difficult job, but it's easy. Just disconnect the positive terminal from your car's battery, and your car's anti-theft system should shut down and start back up again in about 15 minutes.
If fixing or disconnecting the battery doesn't do the trick, the last thing you'll want to try is replacing the keys for your car. The transponders inside them might not be working in the right way, and that's going to prevent you from being able to start your vehicle. Most automotive shops aren't going to replace a transponder for you, so you'll more than likely need to get a new set of keys for your car. Once you have new keys with new transponders, you'll have your vehicle going again.
Contact Us If Your Anti-Theft System Is Giving You Problems
The anti-theft system in your vehicle is a valuable tool. It'll save you a lot of trouble if someone tries to steal your car, truck, or SUV. But you might also have a significant problem if your anti-theft system malfunctions. It'll stop you from being able to start your car up and get to your destination.
Follow the steps we've laid out here to correct a problem with your car's anti-theft system. Or, if you can't figure out the issue on your own, arrange to bring your vehicle to the service center at our dealership so that we can find out what's going on. We should be able to repair your anti-theft system in a flash so that you can get your car back out on the road quickly.
Contact us today if you're having problems with your anti-theft system or any other aspect of your vehicle, and we'll be happy to help.
Photo by Erik Mclean
Categories:
Chevy Info