What Is Vehicle Keyless Entry, How to Convert Your Car To Keyless Entry – How Does Keyless Entry Work

How does keyless entry work in a car? Also, is keyless car entry even safe to use in cars?

Technology is advancing in cars, and now you can easily unlock your car with the help of a smart key without searching for your car key. Fortunately, this is becoming more popular in cars as more car manufacturers install keyless entry systems on their cars. But what is a keyless entry system?

This article takes a look at what keyless entry systems are and what you should know about them. 

What Is Keyless Entry?

A keyless entry system lets you lock and unlock your car without a regular car key. Lately, most keyless entry systems use a transmitter fob to generate the lock and unlock signal.

The first keyless entry systems included a numeral pad placed on the driver or front passenger door. Besides locking and unlocking the doors, with a keyless entry system, you could roll down the windows, open the sunroof, or even open the cargo area of your car by entering a code.

But, manually entering a code each time isn’t efficient, and it doesn’t allow you to unlock or lock your car’s doors remotely. Additionally, there is a security issue if you’ve bought a used car or if you are lending the car to someone else. While you could change the security code, it’s not convenient to do it every time.

How Does Keyless Entry Work?

Present-day keyless entry systems use a key fob with two or more buttons to control the locks, cargo area, or windows. When you push one of the buttons, the key fob sends a radio frequency signal to a receiver unit within the car. Usually, the range is around 15 to 45 feet.

For more advanced keyless entry systems, you are allowed to unlock the doors or open the trunk without pressing any button. You have to be within 5 to 10 feet of the vehicle and have the key in one of your pockets or a bag.

When you place your hand on the door handle or move near the rear bumper, the car detects movement and sends a short radio signal. If the key fob is in range, the doors will immediately unlock, or the cargo area will open. Furthermore, cars with a keyless system typically don’t use regular keys to start the engine. Instead, an engine could be turned off with the push of a button.

In general, when locking or unlocking the car, the system will give some audio or visual signal. This could mean flashing the lights or a short usage of the horn, depending on the car you’re using.

What Is Remote Keyless Entry?

The remote keyless entry system is an upgraded version of the keyless entry system. The major improvement is that the remote version can be used from a wide distance. The remote keyless entry (RKE) could also include the remote keyless ignition system (RKI).

So, you can even remotely start the engine and heat the car, a great advantage when you’re not very close to your but need to start warming up the vehicle’s engine. Instead of waiting to warm it up when you’re in the car, you can start the process even while far from the car. 

Advantages of Keyless Entry System in Cars

Keyless entry systems have become so popular that practically all car manufacturers have been adopting this feature into their cars. However, they are currently mostly found in the higher trim levels of vehicles.

1. Convenient for Car Owners

With keyless entry, you can easily control the central locking unit through the push of a button or a small movement of the hand or foot. And the remote keyless entry system allows you even more control from a greater distance.

2. Security Purposes

Present-day systems come with better security as they use a technique known as “rolling code.” By using a rolling code, a random number generator is used to create a new unlocking sequence every time you unlock the car. This way, thieves can’t intercept and replicate the unlocking sequence.

3. Automatic Locking and Turning Off the Car Engine

Some cars, especially the ones that use a button to start or stop the engine, come with keyless entry systems that lock the car automatically once you’ve walked away. This will save you from constantly double-checking your car after turning off the engine. The system also shuts down the engine once the key fob is out of range. This is a great feature if your car has a silent engine or you tend to be a bit forgetful with turning off your vehicle engine.

How to Convert Your Car To Keyless Entry

Since this modification involves electrical wiring and potentially tampering with the vehicle’s ignition system, we recommended having the installation done by a professional automotive technician or an experienced car electronics specialist. They can ensure that the installation is done correctly and safely, minimising the risk of damage to the vehicle’s electrical system.

Nonetheless, here is a general step-by-step guide:

• Disconnect the battery: Before starting any electrical work, disconnect the negative terminal of the vehicle’s battery to prevent accidental short circuits or electrical shocks.
• Remove the existing ignition system: Take apart the dashboard and access the existing ignition switch and tumbler. Disconnect any wiring connected to the ignition switch and remove it from its mounting location.
• Install the push-button start system: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions provided with the push-button start kit to install the new system. This typically involves connecting the wiring harness and relays to the appropriate components, such as the starter motor and ignition coil. Mount the push-button switch in a convenient and easily accessible location on the dashboard.
• Test the system: Reconnect the vehicle’s battery and test the new thumb start ignition system to ensure that it functions properly. Check if the engine starts and if all other related functions, such as accessory power and keyless entry, work as intended.
• Secure and tidy up the wiring: Properly secure and insulate all the wiring connections, ensuring that they are protected from potential damage and that they do not interfere with other components in the vehicle. Use zip ties or wire looms to organize and tidy up the wiring for a clean and professional installation.
• Reassemble the dashboard: Once you are satisfied with the installation and the system is functioning correctly, reassemble the dashboard components that were removed in step 3.

Conclusion

Keyless entry systems are a great addition to the growing technologies we find in cars today. As such, many automakers have been adopting and including the feature in their vehicles. However, this feature is currently only seen in higher trim levels of vehicles.