THink someone answered this for you, but like he said, it depends. My father had a Chevy truck made in 1997 that had a separate chip that you put into a slot under the dash and you had to insert this before it would start. However, I think you got more answers from folks that know more than I do. grin On Jul 10, 2009, at 3:49 PM, Spiro wrote:
> > > So is that a wireless thing, or is there actually a circuit and > contacts > that are inserted into the slot? > > On Fri, 10 Jul 2009, Scott Howell wrote: > > > There is a battery that allows the key fob, which may be integrated > > into the key, to unlock the doors etc. There is a chip typically in > > the key (in the portion that hangs out of the ignition slot) that > > tells the vehicle basically this key belongs to me and I can start > > with this key. Otherwise, it would not start or may run for a few > > seconds and stop. That requires no battery and I suspect it is > sort of > > a proximity thing where the key has to be so close or in the > ignition > > to function. > > On Jul 10, 2009, at 8:54 AM, Brice wrote: > > > >> > >> > >> Does anyone know how an ignition key can open and lock a car? My > >> wife asked > >> me that yesterday and I had know answer for her other than it may > >> have some > >> kind of battery in it that may get charged as it's in the ignition. > >> Ours > >> even has what they call a panic button. > >> > >> __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus > >> signature database 4231 (20090710) __________ > >> > >> The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. > >> > >> http://www.eset.com > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
