All About Your Car’s Key Not in Vehicle Warning Light

Vehicles with keyless entry and ignition systems have become much more common over the years. They no longer require an inserted physical key to operate their door locks and start their engines. Instead, keyless cars respond to a wireless signal from a small device called the key fob. Depending on the keyless system, you might not even need to push a button–some cars can unlock their doors once they detect the fob’s coded radio signal.

However, there are times when the car’s keyless system might act up. If that happens, a specific key light on the dashboard will illuminate. This is the key not in vehicle warning light.

What Is the Key Not In Vehicle Warning Light?

The key not in vehicle warning light is an indicator light on dashboards of vehicles that come standard with keyless entry and ignition. Look for a warning light with a key symbol on the car dashboard.

Depending on factors like the vehicle’s manufacturer and the keyless system, the key not in vehicle warning light’s appearance can vary. However, most versions show the image of a traditional car key accompanied by another symbol, such as a question mark, exclamation mark, or wifi symbol. The extra symbols relate to the fob’s current situation.

Role of the Key Not In Vehicle Warning Light

Now that you know about the key not in vehicle warning light, it’s time to figure out what it does for you and your car.

Like other warning systems, the key not in vehicle warning light keeps you informed about your car’s key fob. Specifically, it will warn you if your vehicle fails to pick up the correct signal from the fob.

Again, the color and appearance of the warning light may vary depending on your vehicle’s manufacturer.

Usually, a blinking red key not in vehicle warning light indicates an undetected key fob. The car’s keyless system cannot pick up the radio signal that the fob generates.

Usually, a red warning light means a problem with the key fob. There are more serious cases where the issue lies with the keyless system, but those lie outside the scope of this article.

Instead of a vivid red light, the key not in vehicle warning light might also glow yellow. This color also indicates a problem with the key fob.

Manufacturers might also use different symbols to specify the exact issue. For example, some warning lights present the image of a crossed-out key to indicate that the car cannot detect the key fob. Others can show a symbol with a battery to warn that the key fob’s battery is running low.

Pay close attention to the symbols shown by a yellow key not in the vehicle warning light. They can help you identify the exact problem with the key fob.

When the warning light shines with a green light, the car can detect the signal transmitted by the key fob. You can unlock the doors and fire up the engine.

However, some manufacturers designed the key not in vehicle warning light to flash green if the car detected a weaker signal caused by a drained key fob battery. If you’re unsure about the meaning conveyed by the blinking green light, refer to your owner’s manual or ask your dealer about it.

Why Does the Key Not in Vehicle Warning Light Activate?

Here are the most common issues that trigger the key not in vehicle warning light:

Faulty Oscillator

Since the oscillators read the location of the fob, a dead oscillator (for whatever reason) can cause the warning light to activate.

Key Fob Battery Running Low

Is the key not in vehicle warning light lit up despite holding your key fob? The fob might need new batteries to resume normal operations.

The key fob contains at least one battery that powers its electronics. If the battery runs out of juice, the fob cannot transmit its key code signal.

Usually, you can replace depleted batteries with fresh ones. Try this method to see if the key not in vehicle warning light will turn green. Otherwise, the issue might lie with the fob or the keyless system.

Key Fob Lost Its Key Code

The key fob constantly transmits the electronic key that your car’s computer recognizes. However, the fob can lose this electronic key code for various reasons.

If the key fob loses the code, you must reprogram the device. Your dealership can handle this for you.

Bad Key Fob

Like any auto part, the key fob gets worn out from time and use. If the old fob stops working, you cannot unlock or start your car until you get a replacement and program the key code into the new device.

Can You Drive With an Illuminated Key Not In Vehicle Warning Light?

It’s possible to drive your keyless car with a blinking key not in vehicle warning light. Unless it’s an emergency, you should consider calling for a tow to the dealership.

Most keyless vehicles possess a secondary method of unlocking their doors and starting their engines if the fob runs low on battery or stops working. Many fobs contain a physical key for emergency use, although they often require partial disassembly to expose the key.

There is a drawback with this alternative approach to unlocking and starting your vehicle. If you shut down your car after driving it with an illuminated key not in vehicle warning light, the engine might refuse to restart later. Until you can replace the key fob and reprogram your car’s keyless system to recognize the new fob, you might not be able to drive your vehicle.

How Much Does a Replacement Key Fob Cost?

Sometimes, it’s not possible to recover a missing key fob. A faulty fob might continue to malfunction despite replacing its spent battery or reprogramming it with the right key code. In these cases, you must get a new key fob for your vehicle.

A replacement key fob can set you back by anywhere between $20 and $210. The exact cost might vary according to a range of factors like your vehicle’s make, model, and year model. Always ensure the new fob works with your car to save you the trouble of returning it.

Where to Get a New Key Fob for Your Vehicle

One of the possible fixes to clear this warning light is by getting a new key fob for your vehicle. If you’re not sure where to start, then look no further than CarParts.com. Our catalog of high-quality auto parts has everything you’ll need, including key fobs.

Since we value your time and money, we’ve worked hard to make our website as user-friendly as possible. Simply select your vehicle’s year, make, and model to browse our selection of compatible key fobs for your car.

We also have warehouses strategically located nationwide to maximize efficiency and ensure fast shipping times. This means you can expect your order to arrive in as little as two business days.

Shop now, and order your replacement key fob today!