Why does the red light on the dashboard of the Changan CS35 flash after the engine is turned off?
3 Answers
After the Changan CS35 is turned off, the red light flashing on the dashboard indicates that the car's anti-theft indicator light is in either the armed or disarmed state, with different flashing frequencies for each state. In the armed state, the anti-theft indicator light flashes once every second in a cycle; in the disarmed state, it flashes once every two seconds in a cycle. The red light flashing on the dashboard after the car is turned off is the anti-theft system indicator. The car anti-theft system is designed to prevent theft of the car itself or items inside, consisting of an electronically controlled remote or key, electronic control circuit, alarm device, and actuator. The Changan CS35 is a compact SUV produced by Changan Automobile, offering a choice between a 1.6L naturally aspirated engine and a 1.5L turbocharged engine, paired with either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.
I've been driving for over a decade, and it's common to see the red light flashing on the dashboard after turning off the engine. This is mainly the anti-theft system in operation. After locking the car, that small red dot will flash regularly, lighting up every two or three seconds, like a heartbeat monitor. It indicates that the electronic anti-theft system has entered an alert state. If someone tries to open the door illegally, the alarm will be triggered immediately. Additionally, it might be related to the key sensing module. I've experienced abnormal flashing when the car key battery was low, and it returned to normal after replacing the battery. By the way, if this light stays on or stops flashing, you should check the fuse or the body control module to prevent the anti-theft function from failing. Also, be mindful of external interference sources when parking, such as strong electromagnetic fields, which can affect signal transmission.
The flashing red light is actually the electronic anti-theft indicator in operation. It activates every time you turn off the engine and lock the car, blinking every 2-3 seconds. The principle is that the body control module works in conjunction with the engine ECU to cut off the starting circuit if a valid key is not recognized. During repairs, I've noticed two situations to watch out for: if it flashes unusually fast, it might indicate a system malfunction, and if it doesn't flash at all, it could be a power supply issue with the module. Also, don't confuse it with a malfunction indicator light, as a real malfunction light stays on constantly. It's recommended to regularly check the battery level of your key fob, as the system can behave erratically when the battery is low, especially in winter when battery performance declines more noticeably. When parking, avoid strong interference sources like signal towers.
