What to Do When You Lose Your Car Keys?

[Torres]

If you lose your car keys, the safest approach is to take the spare key to a 4S dealership and have the staff rematch the engine immobilizer system with a new key. For vehicles without an engine immobilizer function, the secure solution is to replace the entire lock cylinder and keys. Every car comes with a spare key, so you can continue using it if the original is lost, but be mindful of property security. With rapid advancements in electronic technology, many modern vehicles now feature transponder chip anti-theft technology integrated with the ECU engine control unit. When the owner starts the vehicle using a valid transponder key, the anti-theft system automatically verifies whether the key's ID code matches the one stored in the vehicle's security system. If the ID codes match perfectly, the system deactivates the immobilizer, allowing the engine to start normally.