Anti-theft mode is a safety feature added in cars to protect them. It makes use of a transponder installed in a car key to prevent someone from starting your car without the transponder being present. The engine will not start or run.
However, sometimes anti-theft mode can misbehave. It can stop you from starting your car even when the car key is with you. In this situation, what do you do? Will disconnecting the battery reset anti-theft?
Yes, disconnecting the battery will reset the anti-theft mode from your car and allow you to start your car. All you need to do is to disconnect the negative terminal for 5 – 15 minutes and the anti-theft system will reset.
Will Disconnecting Battery Reset Anti Theft Mode?
Yes, you can easily reset the anti-theft mode in your car by disconnecting the negative battery terminal for 5 – 15 minutes.
“Disconnecting the battery is one of the recommended ways to reset anti-theft without key”. All you have to do is disconnect the negative battery terminal and leave it for 5 – 10 minutes, the problem will be fixed when you reconnect the battery.
By the time you reconnect your battery, the car should be fine and able to start. However, if after disconnecting the battery the anti-theft mode is still there, you can consult a technician to come see what may have caused the issue and fix it.
You should also check your key fob battery to be sure it’s still in good condition. It can cause the anti-theft mode to be activated.
Symptoms of Bad Anti-Theft System
The symptoms of a bad anti-theft system are:
1. The Car Won’t Start
A bad anti-theft system will prevent the car from starting. Either the car won’t spin the starter, or the car may start and die immediately. In a worse scenario, a bad anti-theft system will stop the car from starting.
2. The Anti-Theft Light Will Be Flashing
The anti-theft light will be flashing rapidly on the dashboard anytime you try to start the car notifying you that something is wrong with your anti-theft mode.
Because on a normal ground, the anti-theft system should not prevent you from starting your car provided the car key is with you.
3. Failure to Recognize the Car Key
It may be because the car does not recognize the key or there is a problem with the keyless signal, wiring, or the system of the car. You can fix this issue by checking the battery on your key fob to be sure it’s still in good condition. The car’s battery should be checked as well.
4. The Alarm Will Fail to Work
When your anti-theft system goes bad, it can prevent your alarm from working and cause it to go mute. These problems may be caused by different things such as a faulty horn, a dead battery, bad wiring, etc. You can however fix this issue by checking your battery. You can disconnect the battery and reconnect it. Check your horn as well.
Advantages of Getting My Car Out of Anti-Theft
The advantages of getting your car out of the anti-theft are:
- To Stop the Alarm: When this mode is activated, it doesn’t exactly recognize you and might mistake you for a random passerby, albeit, a ‘thief’ sometimes, and when it does, the alarms get triggered. This happens often and randomly. Getting your car out of anti-theft helps you avoid these random disturbances.
- To Allow You Start Your Car: Since the anti-theft system prevents you from starting your car even when you are with the key, getting the car out of anti-theft will allow you to start your car.
- To Remove the Car from Lock: When the car goes into lock mode as a result of the triggered anti-theft, you definitely will need to get the car out of anti-theft to unlock it.
- To Disable the Flashing Light: To stop unprovoked flashing lights that will keep flashing on your dashboard.
Disadvantages of Getting My Car Out of Anti-Theft
The disadvantages of getting a car out of anti-theft mode are:
- The Car Anti-theft Might Stop Working Permanently: Since you want to get your car out of anti-theft mode, have it in the back of your mind that there is a reason why it was put there in the first place; for your vehicle’s protection. Getting it out of this will leave your vehicle vulnerable to thieves.
- Cost to Replace It: You will be spending a lot to repair or replace the anti-theft mode once it stops working, and this is the cost of repairs you could have avoided altogether.
Conclusion
Disconnecting the battery will reset the anti-theft mode if you disconnect the negative battery for 5 – 15 minutes. It will clear the error code that must have caused the issue and allow you to start your car.
