As you can imagine, driving a car is a really stressful experience if you’re in it alone. Whether you’re a couple or if you’re a solo driver, you need to feel safe and secure behind the wheel. While this may seem obvious, many people still take things too far when they’re driving. They drive without a key fob. While this may seem like a small detail, it’s one that can have a big impact. You see, if you’re driving with someone else, then you have someone to rely on in the event that your key fob goes missing. It’s also a good idea to keep a spare key on hand just in case you lose your own one.
How Far Can You Drive Without a Key Fob?
The answer to that question depends on the particular vehicle. Some cars automatically shut down when a key fob is too far away from the vehicle. Others have a range of about 50 feet, but if you exceed the distance, the car will shut down. In other vehicles, it’s possible to drive without a key fob, but you must enter an override code in order to start the engine. The override code is generally in the owner’s manual or on a sticker inside the glove box.
How To Drive Using A Key Fob?
If you’re thinking about driving with a key fob, here are some tips to help you make the transition as smoothly as possible.
- Make sure your key fob is in good condition before you start driving. You want to make sure that the battery is fully charged and working properly so that it can lock and unlock your doors and start your car when you need it to. If your fob is old or has been dropped, consider replacing it with a new one instead of trying to drive with it on a regular basis.
- Make sure you have your key fob in hand when you’re ready to drive. If you’re going to be driving for any length of time without having access to a vehicle, always keep your key fob in hand so that you can use it if necessary. If someone else drives for a while without having their key fob with them, they could find themselves stranded without their car.
- Don’t try to drive with your key fob in a pocket or a purse. You want to avoid having it fall out of your pocket or getting swept away by the wind while you’re driving. Having it somewhere it can be easily located is also important, because if you lose your key fob, you’ll have no way to start your car until you replace it.
- Make sure the battery in your key fob is fully charged before you start driving. You don’t want to be stranded because the battery in your key fob runs out of power while you’re on the road, and then you can’t use it at all. If you have a lot of things that drain the battery quickly, such as Bluetooth devices or other electronic devices in addition to using your key fob for locking and unlocking doors, consider buying a new battery for it instead of trying to drive without it.
- If you’re going to be driving for a while without having access to a vehicle, put your key fob in the glove box or under the seat. This will help to ensure that it’s not lost or stolen, but it will also allow you to easily find it if you need to use it in an emergency.
As you start using your key fob for driving, make sure you take these things into consideration so that everything goes smoothly and you can continue enjoying driving as much as possible.
What Is The Difference Between A Key Fob And A Key?
Key fob
A key fob is a device that can be used to remotely open and lock a vehicle. It emits an RF signal that is picked up by the vehicle’s receiver, which then activates the locks or unlocks the doors. In terms of size, a key fob is typically about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide.
Key
A key is what you insert into the ignition switch to start your car’s engine. A typical key is about 2 inches long and 1/2 inch wide at its widest point.
Fob battery compartment
If you remove the plastic cover from the back of the key fob, you will see that it contains a battery that is used to power its electronics (photo 3).
Fob electronics board and antenna coil assembly
The electronic board inside of a key fob contains an RF transmitter coil and circuitry (photo 4). The board is attached to a flexible antenna coil, which is what transmits the RF signal to the car’s receiver.
Fob battery and electronics board
The electronics board is held on top of the battery with double-sided tape (photo 5). If you remove both of these parts, you will see that there are six gold contacts on the back of the key fob. These contacts are used to communicate with the car’s receiver.
Key and fob in the switch housing
When you insert your key into the ignition switch, it pushes down on a spring-loaded plunger that activates a switch inside of the ignition cylinder. This causes power to flow from your vehicle’s battery to both sides of each key contact in order to power up your vehicle’s electronic systems.
Key and fob in switch housing cutaway diagram
A key that is plugged into the ignition switch has two exposed contacts on its top, which connect with the two contacts inside of the ignition cylinder. When you turn the key in either direction, it causes these two exposed contacts to connect with two different sets of contacts inside the ignition cylinder. The result is that the car’s starter solenoid will be activated or deactivated by the ignition switch.
Starter solenoid and ignition switch
The starter solenoid is activated by the ignition switch through a set of contacts that are located on the bottom of the starter solenoid (photo 8). The starter solenoid contains a plunger that is activated when power flows through it. This plunger then makes contact with a large copper wire, which completes the circuit to your car’s battery. When you turn your key to start your engine, power flows from your car’s battery, through this large copper wire, and into the engine’s starter motor.
Start button and safety switch
The safety switch can be found within the key cylinder. It is a small, plastic button that is used to prevent the ignition switch from being activated while the key is in your pocket. If you press down on this small button while you are holding a key in your hand, it will take the power away from all of the vehicle’s electrical systems.
Ignition switch and wiring harness
The ignition switch contains several different components (photo 10). The main part of this switch includes a coil that contains several exposed contacts inside it. When you insert your key into your ignition switch, these exposed contacts make contact with their corresponding set of contacts in order to activate or deactivate power to your car’s starter solenoid.
Final Words
Every year, thousands of people lose their keys. This is a really big deal because keys are unique, and they mean a lot to people. They’re an important piece of personal property, and it’s important to take care of them.