Have you ever noticed what looks like a “car symbol with a lock” lit up on your dashboard and now your car won’t start? You’re certainly not alone. But what exactly is the problem?
In this article, we will break down 5 common reasons why you might see this symbol and suggest some potential solutions you can try before taking it to the mechanic.
What does the car with a padlock symbol mean?
There are several variants of lock symbols you might see on the dashboard. Generally, the light is related to the immobilizer system.
Before the advent of immobilizers, vehicles were susceptible to theft if someone wanted your car. This could happen when the thief powered up your car. Sometimes, simply inserting a screwdriver into the ignition would do the trick. The immobilizer system is designed to prevent both of these scenarios.
Reasons why you see the car with the lock symbol
Not all causes of the car lock symbol are bad. For those that are, we have included some potential solutions you can try yourself before taking your vehicle to the garage.
1) You locked the car
When you lock your vehicle, you will see a small red light flashing intermittently. This light resembles a car with a padlock or a car with a key. This light indicates that the vehicle is locked and the security system is activated. In this state, it should not be possible to start the vehicle without a valid key.
If you unlock the vehicle from the inside while this light is flashing, it’s likely that your car alarm will trigger. It’s important to remember that you can trigger your car alarm if you rolled down the window, locked the vehicle from the outside, and then unlocked the vehicle from the inside by reaching your hand through the window.
2) Problem with the immobilizer
The immobilizer system consists of a computer, the ignition cylinder or lock, the key or keys, and the transponder. If any of these systems are not working correctly, you might see a warning light such as “key not detected,” a car and lock symbol, or a car with a key icon. The warning light is usually orange or red in color.
If you have a problem with the immobilizer system, chances are you won’t be able to start the vehicle, even if it is otherwise perfectly functional. This is a security measure that prevents the vehicle from being stolen when an unauthorized person attempts to start it.
3) Key not detected
A key that is not detected by the car will not be able to start the vehicle. The most common reason a key is not detected is a weak battery. Try replacing your key fob battery and see if that solves the problem. Key fob batteries typically last about a year, but can last even longer in some cases.
Some key fobs have a spare physical key in case the battery is dead. Some keys are designed so that you can touch the back or side of the key to the ignition button to start the vehicle. This is a feature offered on some push-button start models.
Look online for an example of how to start your specific car with a dead key fob battery, as the process will be different for each make and model. YouTube is an excellent source for this type of video.
4) Problem with the ignition
On some vehicles, the transponder can be located inside the ignition switch. If the ignition switch is faulty, your key might not be detected correctly, even if the key fob battery is new.
On vehicles with an old-style key that you have to turn in a lock cylinder, the mechanical components inside the ignition can wear out over time. This is more likely if your key is old and worn, or if you have a heavy keychain hanging from the ignition while you drive.
If your key is stuck in the ignition, try jiggling the key and the steering wheel at the same time to see if that allows you to turn the key in the ignition. If this trick works, consider replacing your ignition before the problem gets worse.
5) The key is not programmed
If you recently purchased a new key, that key will not work with your vehicle until it has been programmed.
Each key must be programmed to the vehicle to be able to start it, and this is not an easy process for the consumer to perform themselves. A specialized professional scan tool may have the necessary features to reprogram keys, but cheap consumer-grade scan tools generally do not have this functionality.