What are remote entry systems?
Remote keyless entry on a car or truck, sometimes referred to as passive entry, has several life-changing perks. The biggest advantage of keyless entry is the convenience it supplies. Depending on your vehicle, you can load up on groceries and still open the hatch with a wave of your foot. Moreover, no more struggling to get the key into the lock, just press a button and go. The added security keyless entry provides is another big advantage. The key has electronics inside that must be authenticated by your car before it will start the engine or even open any doors. There are some keyless entry systems that will lock your doors automatically when you walk away. Lastly, there’s the fun perk of keyless entry, remote ignition. Seeing your car start just by pressing a button on your remote will make you feel like a wizard.
All Passive Entry systems are keyless entry, but not all Keyless Entry Systems are passive. Here’s how it functions. Keyless Entry involves the car driver pushing buttons to lock and unlock the vehicle and other functions like opening the hatch. Passive Keyless is where you can keep your car keys in your purse and then you touch an area (like a spot on a door) to lock and unlock the doors, or shake your foot underneath the vehicle to open the trunk area. One bonus of passive systems is that they usually include Keyless Ignition, which lets drivers start and drive their car without the keys ever leaving their pocket.
To be clear, Keyless Ignition and Remote Start are different features, even if they return similar results. Keyless Ignition lets drivers start their car without using a regular key. Remote Ignition lets drivers start their car via their key fob. Remote Start can be useful during extreme temps such as very cold or very hot days by allowing you to start the car and turn on the heat or AC. You’ll no longer climb into a hot car again, simply use the Remote Start and let your vehicle cool off before you leave.
A Smart Key is the electronic portion of your key fob that is used to access a vehicle remotely. The buttons for your Keyless Entry, Remote Start, and other functions are found on the Smart Key itself, if not on the key fob. A Smart Key transmits signals to your vehicle to unlock the doors, open the trunk, and so on. Some Smart Keys are even part of the anti-theft system and will not allow the car to start without them. With so many convenient and fun options available, why wouldn’t you pick a Smart Key?
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