Virtually all new cars today are equipped with smart key technology, which has made it obsolete to put a key in your car door to unlock it or in the ignition switch to start your car’s engine. You now have a fob transmitter, which relies on radio frequencies to unlock a car’s doors and start its engine. At first, when smart car keys were introduced, they were mainly used in luxury cars, as it was an expensive technology and it didn’t make sense to implement it in less expensive cars. Some of the most popular and advanced smart key systems include Mercedes-Benz Keyless Go integrated into SmartKeys, Toyota’s Smart Key system, Lincoln’s Smart Access system and BMW’s Convenience Access.
Vehicles that come with such technology are equipped with computerized systems and can identify the driver as he approaches the car. The system uses various microchips and sensors that transmit information to the smart key, which unlocks the car’s doors thanks to a radio transponder chip that is installed in the key. This is the so-called Passive Keyless Entry System, which doesn’t even require you to take your key out of your pocket or bag and press a button to unlock the doors. Once you have entered your car, you can start the engine by pressing the engine start button.
These are perhaps the most significant advantages of smart car keys over traditional ones. In addition to being very convenient, they make your car difficult to steal. This is because thieves cannot open and start a car that has smart key functions using the traditional method of cutting a few wires, then stripping and connecting. The car’s computer system requires the correct smart key code to be transmitted and if it does not receive it, it will not make the car work, no matter what and how many wires are cut and connected.
As far as the downsides go, it’s worth noting that there are some additional costs that come with owning a car with smart key technology. If you lose your smart key, it can cost you more than $100 to replace it, while replacing a traditional key only costs $10-$15. Also, you can’t buy a new smart key anywhere because it is a proprietary technology from the manufacturer of your smart key. your car and you can only get one from an authorized dealer, which means you’ll probably waste a lot of time and a lot of hassle trying to find a replacement key.
Also, if you forget to turn off the engine before leaving the car and leave the car in your garage, carbon monoxide will be released into your home, which can have fatal consequences.
In short, smart keys can definitely make your car journeys more convenient, but you have to keep an eye on them and try not to lose them as you will have to pay a lot of money to replace them.
