What is the reason why the key anti-theft light stays on but the car can still start?
2 Answers
It indicates there might be an issue with the car's anti-theft system or the vehicle key. Below is relevant information about the anti-theft light: 1. Concept: It reminds that the vehicle's anti-theft system has been activated, and the vehicle is in a secured state. 2. Function: If the light is flashing, it means the car's anti-theft system is engaged. If the car's engine anti-theft light flashes at a frequency of once every 1 to 2 seconds, this is normal. It indicates that the car's engine has entered the anti-theft state, and the engine anti-theft function is working properly. This is a normal phenomenon, and there is no need for the owner to deactivate it. Moreover, the power consumption is minimal, and it poses no problem to the battery.
The other day my car's anti-theft warning light came on for no reason, but strangely the engine could still start. After a thorough inspection, my mechanic friend told me it might be due to poor contact in the transponder chip inside the key, or low battery in the signal transmitter causing a false alarm. Another possibility is that the car's receiving antenna is dirty or loose, leading to signal reception issues. What's most concerning is if the anti-theft control module itself is acting up - some vehicles' modules develop circuit malfunctions after prolonged use. Although it starts now, the system might suddenly immobilize the engine someday, which would be really troublesome. By the way, if you frequently use the spare key, signal mismatch could occasionally cause this too. Better get the trouble codes read promptly - don't take chances with this.
