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What is a Smart Key Car Key?

Smart keys are also referred to as proximity keys or key fobs. They function to unlock doors as well as start engines without needing to insert physical key. They communicate by radiofrequency signals.

This helps keep vehicles safe by preventing hotwiring. Smart keys also broadcast unique encrypted signals to prevent them from being used by other vehicles driven by drivers.

Convenience





Instead of inserting the key into an ignition slot, you can lock and unlock your car by merely touching the handle of the door or trunk. A majority of modern cars also include a feature that permits you to start your car via the internet. This is especially useful when you're bringing groceries in or transporting passengers and equipment.

This technology is designed to help prevent vehicle theft. Smart keys send out encrypted signals instead of a single frequency similar to a traditional keyfob. What does this mean? Stuff Works Electronics explains that this prevents other cars receiving and responding to the same signal.

Additionally, some manufacturers utilize a computer chip within the vehicle to identify the unique fingerprints of each key, which can ensure that only authorized drivers use it. This is particularly useful for when you loan your car to family and friends.

Certain smart keys also store user preferences, so that mirrors, seat, and steering wheel adjustments as and stereo presets can be automatically set when the key is within the range of the vehicle. To make things easier, some smart keys can be configured to stop the car from exceeding a certain speed limit when started using that specific key. This can help keep novice drivers safe and helpful if you have young children in the back.

Security

Traditionally keys were cut from metal to open the ignition. With the advancement of smart keys this is no longer necessary. Smart keys come with a chip which sends an antenna signal to your car. This signal is recognized by the vehicle when the driver presses on the door handle or trunk release. It is now impossible to lock your keys into your vehicle.

The smart key's signal to your vehicle is encrypted so that only you have access to it. In addition, most models will shut off the engine if the car was not launched in the past few minutes. This is especially useful in case you're in a hazardous area or you have to leave the vehicle for reasons of any kind, like at a petrol station.

Furthermore, if the smart key battery runs out during a ride, a lot of systems offer a backup method to open and start the vehicle. The backup system typically involves putting the key in a slot or holding it near a specific area of the cockpit that transfers energy to an electric motor. Certain manufacturers also include an key blade that is an emergency mechanical lock in the key that can be used to open the trunk and start the car should it be needed.

Battery Life

Many newer cars have keyless entry systems and push-button starters. They are controlled by a smart fob that communicates with the car via proximity technology. These systems are powered by a tiny transmitter that is powered by a coin-sized lithium battery. It will eventually need to be replaced like any other battery.

Most smart key fob batteries last several years However, this doesn't mean that they won't go out of power and stop working suddenly. If the fob's battery is dead you won't have the ability to unlock or start your car even in the event that you put it near the front door.

It is not unusual for the smart key's transmitter to drain the battery. It sends a signal to your car each time you touch the button, but most times the smart key isn't doing anything. One single lock/unlock button takes just a tiny portion of the battery power in the fob and that's many years of signals' worth of battery life in the average smart key battery.

The fob can also drain the battery If you keep it in close proximity to other devices that emit electromagnetic fields, such as phones and computers. These gadgets produce their own magnetic field, which could interfere with the fob's own transmitter, causing it to work slower. RepairPal states that the fob may be inoperable if placed too close to the gadgets.

Maintenance

Smart keys differ from traditional keys because they use technology to control the locks of your vehicle in addition to performing other functions. It works by transmitting a signal from the fob to antennas in and outside the vehicle. These antennas sense the signal and then communicate with the computer in your car. The car interprets the signal and allows you to begin or close it without having to use the physical key.

New vehicles are loaded with the latest electronic technology, and the fob is now an instrument for many of these functions. The most obvious ones are locking and unlocking, remote start, and chirping sounds to assist you in finding your car in a parking space. Certain fobs let you store different settings for different drivers, and even remote-operated windows and the sunroof.

The transmitter itself is a specialized device that has an integrated circuit board, and it could be damaged when exposed to cold or heat. The transmitter can be damaged if it is dropped or banged. The battery's contacts can become bent.

These issues can be challenging to pinpoint and fix. You can use your smartphone to solve this issue and test if it works. However you should always keep a spare key in your wallet in a case. You can purchase a generic replacement for the majority of OEM smart keys that cost up to 70% less and comes with a 3-year, more than OEM guarantee.