What Causes the Key Malfunction Light to Illuminate When the Car Fails to Start?
2 Answers
The reasons why a car fails to start and the key malfunction light appears are as follows: 1. The vehicle's remote key battery is dead, preventing the key from functioning properly. 2. There is an issue with the vehicle's remote key chip. 3. There is interference near the vehicle's remote key. Below are more reasons why a car may fail to start: 1. Incorrect gear position: Generally, the P (Park) or N (Neutral) position is the correct gear for starting an automatic transmission vehicle. If the gear is in R (Reverse) or another position, the car may not start. 2. Anti-theft lock engaged: Due to the car engine's anti-theft logic, the engine cannot start when the ignition switch is turned on. 3. Out of fuel: If the fuel gauge shows the level below the red line, the car will naturally fail to start.
I've experienced similar issues. As a car owner with years of driving experience, the key fault light usually indicates an anti-theft system problem. The most common cause is a depleted battery in the key fob, resulting in weak signal transmission that the car can't detect, leading to failure to start. You can check the key yourself for any damage, such as unresponsive buttons or cracks, which may require a new key or battery replacement. Secondly, signal interference from nearby strong electronic devices could be the culprit—try moving away or using a spare key to start the car. If it still won't start, the issue might be a faulty anti-theft control module, requiring professional diagnostic tools to check error codes. During regular maintenance, have technicians inspect the anti-theft system to prevent sudden failures that could affect travel safety—especially frustrating when you're in a hurry in the morning.
