The Pros – and Cons – of Keyless Car Keysby
Eric Peters Recently
by Eric Peters: Anti-Authoritarianism
Starts Within
Many new cars don’t come with keys. At least, not a traditional physical key that goes into an ignition switch that you then turn to start the engine. Instead, you get a transmitter fob – carried in your pocket or purse – and there’s a button you push on the dash to start the engine. Some of these buttons don’t even require that you press them continuously until the engine starts. Just touch them lightly, once – and the computer will then spin the starter until the engine fires. Pretty neat! Some of these systems also make it possible to start the car’s engine remotely, too – so you can warm the car up on a cold day without having to go outside to do it. That’s one upside. Another is that it’s harder to steal the car. Forget about reaching under the dash and cutting a couple of wires, then splicing them together (or, if you had an old Ford, running a wire from the remote-mounted starter solenoid right there under the hood to the car’s battery). If the car’s computer doesn’t receive the right code from the transmitter fob – the one electronically keyed to it – the engine will not start. Some systems are even smarter than that: The computer will disable the ignition circuit if someone tries to do an end-run around the transmitter fob.
It’s proved to be a very effective theft deterrent. The pros can still beat it, but most car thieves are not pros. Hot wiring is not what it once was. Keyless ignition is also convenient. No more fumbling in your purse or pocket to find the key. So long as it’s somewhere in your pocket or purse, you’re good to go. The fob will transmit the “ok” code to the car’s computer, allowing you to push the starter button and be on your way. No more struggling to get into the car when it’s dark or cold or wet outside, either. Most late model cars that have keyless ignition also have keyless entry. The system senses your presence as you approach the car (well, the car’s computer can sense the transmitter fob) and will automatically unlock the doors for you. You don’t even have to push the “unlock” button anymore. Nice. But as with almost everything, there are some downsides. First, there’s the price tag. You probably won’t notice it up front, because the cost of keyless entry/ignition is usually folded into the price of the car itself, or hidden as part of a package that includes other stuff such as a sunroof or heated seats. But don’t doubt it: You are paying for the convenience. How much, exactly, is hard to pin down. But all the components involved most definitely cost more than an old-style lock tumbler and a $10 physical key. April 10, 2012 Eric Peters [send him mail] is an automotive columnist and author of Automotive Atrocities and Road Hogs (2011). Visit his website.Copyright © 2012 Eric Peters
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