How to turn off theft system on cars
by Jennifer EblinAn anti-theft system is a great choice that comes stock or standard on some newer models of cars. The system prevents your car from being stolen and will, in some cases, lock the engine when it senses a threat. That causes a serious problem at times because it can lock itself for no reason meaning that you can’t start your vehicle. If this happens, you'll need to turn off the anti-theft system by tricking the car into thinking the threat has passed.
Look
Step 1
Look on your dashboard for a light that indicates an anti-theft system. On most vehicles it should say “theft system” underneath a small light. This shows that you do have an anti-theft system on your car and that it’s currently working.
Step 2
Check the wiring under the car to make sure the wires are intact and that they aren’t missing or loose. You can discover what wires go to your anti-theft system by looking at the owner’s manual that came with your car, or by borrowing a manual from the library.
Step 3
Examine your battery to make sure it’s working. If the battery is dead, your car will make a soft whirling sound or the engine will only click when you try and turn it over. Have the car jump started if the battery is dead.
Step 4
Put your key in the ignition and twist your hand forward. You want the interior lights and radio to come on, but not the engine itself. In some cases you may need to turn the key backwards to do this, but it depends on the make and model of the vehicle.
Step 5
Wait at least ten minutes before you remove the key. This does place some pressure on the battery so you need to make sure the battery is working before you do this. After 10 or 15 minutes, the anti-theft system on your car will shut itself off and you’ll see the light on your dashboard turn off. Once this happens, you can easily start your car.
Tips
- You can take your car to the repair shop or dealership if you need to but, in most cases, they’ll take the same steps as described here to fix the car.
Things You'll Need
- Manual
Warnings
- Wait until the light on your dashboard turns off before you attempt to start the car. By trying to do it before the light turns off you can drain your battery.
Writer Bio
Jennifer Eblin has been a full-time freelance writer since 2006. Her work has appeared on several websites, including Tool Box Tales and Zonder. Eblin received a master's degree in historic preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
