Can the car be locked with the power on?
2 Answers
You cannot lock the car with the power on. Even vehicles equipped with a one-touch start function cannot lock the doors without turning off the engine. Although some models can lock the doors without turning off the engine, they will automatically shut down after locking for safety reasons. Here is additional information: Precautions after turning off the car: 1. Turn off the air conditioning: If the air conditioning is on, make sure to turn it off before shutting down the engine. Otherwise, the next time you start the car, the air conditioning will turn on automatically, increasing the engine's load. Over time, this can damage the engine. 2. Avoid listening to music: Listening to music for a long time with the engine off can harm the battery and increase the load. After turning off the engine, the car stereo's power comes from the battery since the engine stops generating electricity. Prolonged use of the stereo with the engine off will undoubtedly shorten the battery's lifespan. 3. Turn off the headlights: Some careless owners lock the car and leave without noticing that the headlights remain on. If the headlights are left on overnight, the car may not start the next morning. Doing this repeatedly can cause immeasurable damage to the battery.
As a seasoned driver with years of experience, I've encountered this situation quite a few times. When the car's power is on—like the engine still running or the AC left on—try pressing the lock button to see if it works. Most modern car anti-theft systems detect the key's location; if the key is inside the car or the engine is still on, the car will refuse to lock, preventing you from getting locked out or reducing theft risks. I remember last year when I drove my cousin's new car, the engine was still running as I tried to lock it to pop into a store, but pressing the button several times didn’t work, and the dashboard even flashed a warning. Later, I checked the manual and learned it was a safety feature. However, some older cars without this system can still lock, and if you leave the key inside, you’d have to call a locksmith—expensive and time-consuming. For safety, I’ve made it a habit: turn off the engine first, confirm the key is in my pocket, then press the lock button. This small routine saves big trouble and prevents accidents.
