What is a Smart Key Car Key?
Variously known as keys for proximity, key fobs or remote keys, smart key for car keys are used to unlock doors and start engines without the driver having to insert the physical key. They communicate with each other through radiofrequency signals.
This helps keep cars secure by blocking hotwiring. Smart keys transmit unique encrypted signals that block them from being used by other vehicles.
Convenience
Instead of having to insert a key into an ignition slot to lock and unlock your car simply by touching the handle of the door or trunk. Many modern vehicles have an option that allows you to remotely start your engine. This is especially useful if you are bringing groceries in or transporting passengers or equipment.
This technology is designed to prevent vehicle theft. Instead of transmitting a single frequency signal similar to a normal key fob does it sends out various encrypted signals to a car’s embedded antennas as you approach it. What does this mean? Stuff Works Electronics explains that this is a way to prevent other cars from receiving and responding to the same signal.
Additionally, some companies employ a computer chip inside the vehicle that can recognize the unique fingerprints of each key, which helps ensure that only authorized drivers are using it. This is useful for when you loan your car to family members and friends.
Certain smart car key recoding keys also save user preferences so that the mirrors, seats and steering wheel adjustments as also stereo presets may be set automatically when the key is within the range of the vehicle. Some smart keys can be programmed to stop the vehicle from going over a certain speed limit when you start the car with that key. This can help keep inexperienced drivers safe, and is particularly beneficial if you have young children in the back of the vehicle.
Security
Traditionally keys were made of metal to open the ignition. Smart keys eliminate this requirement. Smart keys have a specific chip which sends signals from the antenna to your car. The signal is subsequently recognized by the vehicle when the driver presses a button on the handle of the door or trunk release. This means it’s not possible to lock your keys inside your car any longer.
The signal that the smart key programing key transmits to your car is encrypted, meaning that only the owner of the car can use it. The majority of models will also turn off the engine when the vehicle isn’t started for just a few minutes. This feature is particularly useful in case you’re in a hazardous area or you have to leave the vehicle for reasons of any kind, like at a gas station.
Additionally, if a smart key battery runs out during a trip, many systems offer a backup method of opening and starting the vehicle. The backup method involves putting the key into an opening, or keeping it close to an area of the cockpit where energy is transferred to an electric motor. Some manufacturers have a mechanical key blade that can be used in an emergency to open the trunk or to start the car.
Battery Life
Most newer cars have keyless entry and push button starting systems, controlled by a smart key fob that makes use of proximity technology to connect with the car. These systems utilize a tiny transmitter powered by a coin-sized lithium battery. It will eventually need to be replaced as with any other battery.
Although smart key fobs are made to last for many years however, they can suddenly lose power. A dead key fob means you can’t unlock or start your car even if you put it close to the door to the front and the key fob’s light flashes.
It is not uncommon for the smart key’s transmitter to drain the battery. The smart key transmits a signal every time you press the button. However, the majority of the time, it does nothing. The battery of a smart key can be used to power several years of lock/unlock signals.
The fob will also drain the battery if you place it close to other devices emitting electromagnetic fields, like phones and computers. These gadgets emit magnetic fields of their own that can interfere with and slow down the fob transmitter. In some instances the fob could cease to function entirely if the fob is left too close to these devices, according to RepairPal.
Maintenance
Unlike the traditional metal car key, a smart key uses technology to control the locks on your vehicle and perform other functions. It operates by transmitting a signal to antennas located inside and outside your vehicle. They detect the fob’s signal and connect with the car’s computer. The car then interprets the signal and allows you to open and start it without using the physical key.
The fob is now a hub of many electronic features that are now available in new vehicles. The most obvious functions include locking and unlocking your car, remote start and chirping noises to help you locate your car in a parking space. Some fobs even let you store specific settings for different drivers, and also open windows remotely and sunroofs.
The fob itself is a complex device that includes an integrated circuit board and it is susceptible to damage when exposed to cold or heat. The transmitter can be broken in the event of it being dropped or banged and the contacts on the battery can become bent.
These problems can be hard to pinpoint and solve. Try using your phone to bypass the issue and see if this works, but it’s best to keep a backup key inside your pocket in a case. You can buy an ordinary smart key Replacement Car Keys Cost that costs up to 70% less than OEM keys and comes with a 3-year warranty.