How to start a car without a key

Content

Steps
Method 1 of 3: Starting the car by connecting the wires in the steering column
Method 2 of 3: Drilling the Locking Pins
Method 3 of 3: Powering up the flap
Tips
Warnings

Most modern car makers try to hide the wires or provide the steering column with safety measures to prevent the car from starting without a key, but older models made before the mid-90s are usually good candidates for such a start. This method is important to know in case you lose your keys and need to start your car again. Be very careful when handling wiring and always refer to the specific owner's manual regarding the type and color of the wires in your vehicle. If you want to know how to start the car by connecting the wires in the steering column and using other methods, proceed with the steps below.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Starting the car by connecting the wires in the steering column

1 Get in the car. Do not break into a car unless it belongs to you and you have documents to prove it. Keep in mind that in the event of a burglary, an alarm will be triggered if installed on the vehicle.
- This method, like most keyless start methods, only works for cars made before the mid-90s. New models are equipped with a mass of locking mechanisms that prevent keyless start, and it is unlikely that you will be able to start a car if you do not know all the tricks of a particular model. If you try this method on a 2002 Honda Civic, then most likely the alarm will turn on, the starter will be blocked, and no one will be able to go anywhere in the car.
- If you have the owner's manual handy, make sure it is possible to access the steering column and gear selector. This method can cause serious damage to the gearshift mechanism and steering column.
2 Remove the plastic cover on the steering column. The cover is usually secured with hidden caps or Phillips # 2 Phillips (6mm) Phillips screws. Remove them and open the access panel.
- Alternatively, for much older models, you can break the locking pins on the ignition by hammering a flat head screwdriver into the keyhole and turning it. It is very difficult - if not impossible - to do this manually, but if you think the car model is old enough for this, then you can give it a try.
3 Locate the harness connector. After removing the panel covers from the steering column, you should be able to see the interlacing of the electrical wiring. Do not be alarmed and learn to recognize the desired bundle. There are usually three main bundles of wiring:
- wiring to the buttons on the side of the steering column, where the headlight button, cruise control and other indicators are located;
- wiring to buttons on the other side of the steering column, such as the wiper or heated seat buttons;
- wiring to the battery, ignition and starter motor right at the top of the steering column.
4 Move aside the harnesses from the battery, ignition and starter. One of these will be the main power source for the ignition key, the other will be the ignition wires, and the third will be the starter. Other colors will vary depending on the manufacturer. To be sure to distinguish all possible options, read the owner's manual or search the Internet for information.
- In some cases, the ignition wire is brown and the starter wire is yellow, but the battery wire is most often red. Again, to know for sure, you need to read the owner's instructions. You are not a super agent; mixing up the wires can result in an electric shock.
5 Strip about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of insulation on the battery wires and twist them. Wrap them with electrical tape to prevent short circuits from metal parts of the car. Connecting these wires will provide electrical current to the ignition components to keep the engine running when the starter is turned on.
6 Connect the ignition on / off wire to the battery wire. At the moment, the backlight on the dashboard will light up, and other electrical components will work. If all you wanted was to listen to the radio, then you're done. If you want to go anywhere, then you will need to create a spark on the starter wire, which can be dangerous.
7 Expose the starter wire approximately 1 centimeter with extreme care. It will be energized, so you need to be very careful and firmly hold the bare wires. Touch the end of this wire to the connected battery wires. Don't try to screw it on to start the car - just create sparks with it on the battery wires.
8 Accelerate the engine at idle speed. If you want to start the car, idle it several times so that the engine does not stall and you do not have to repeat the process again.
- Once the engine starts, you can remove the starter wire and continue driving. When you want to stop the engine, simply unscrew the battery wires from the ignition wires and the car will stall.
9 Unlock the steering column lock. You have started your car and are now ready to head out towards dawn, right? Wrong. At the moment, the steering column is most likely locked, despite the fact that the car is started. You need to unlock it, unless you intend to derail the car or something.
- On some models, the only thing you need to do is pry out the metal keyhole, which will release the spring and break the lock. If you have already tried to shove a screwdriver in there before, since your car was built in the 70s or mid 80s, then the lock is most likely already broken.
- Some models lend themselves only to a good dose of physical strength. Turn the handlebars hard to one side, as if you were trying to unscrew them completely. You can also use a hammer to lock the steering wheel and use it as a lever. You should hear something break, after which the steering wheel will be released and you can drive the car.

Method 2 of 3: Drilling the Locking Pins

1 Position the drill on the keyhole 2/3 of the top edge of the keyhole. The goal of this method is to break the locking pins and start the car with a screwdriver, not a key. This is usually done if the car keys are lost.
2 Drill to about the depth of the key. Each locking pin has two sections, followed by a spring, so you will need to drill several times to get the lock fragments into place inside it.
3 Insert the screwdriver as if they were keys. It doesn't have to go deep because the pins are already broken. Use the screwdriver in the same way you would use a key: to try to start the car, simply turn the screwdriver a quarter turn clockwise.
- Warning: Using this method will break the ignition switch, so anyone with a screwdriver or a durable nail can steal your car.

Method 3 of 3: Powering up the flap

1 Open the hood and find the red wire from the ignition coil. The wires from the spark plug and from the ignition coil are found at the back of almost all V8 engines. In four-cylinder engines, they are located on the right, in the middle of the engine. In the case of six-cylinder engines, the opposite is true: the left side, in the middle of the engine.
2 Get the jump start wires. Connect the jump start wires to the positive terminal of the battery and to the coil, or to the red wire leading to the coil. This will power the shield, which is necessary if you want to start the engine.
3 Find the ignition coil. In Ford cars, it is located on the right fender, near the battery. In GM cars, it is located on the starter under the steering wheel.
4 Unlock the steering wheel. Insert a flat head screwdriver into the middle of the steering column from the top.Press down between the steering wheel and the column. You need to move the locking pins away from the steering wheel. Don't worry, brute force can be used here.
- The locking pins will not break or trigger the alarm. You can find the coil inside.
5 Connect the coil to the positive terminal of the battery. On top of the coil, you will see a small wire and the positive battery wire below it. Remove the ignition switch wire and, using a dielectric screwdriver, connect the positive terminal of the coil to the terminal to which the ignition switch is connected.
- In doing so, you will connect 12V directly from the battery. This should engage the coil, causing the starter to start the car.

Tips

If you try to start the car without a key, you risk causing significant damage to it.
Never leave ignition wires twisted after starting the engine. This can burn the ignition system of the vehicle or at least discharge the battery.
In most cars, an alarm is triggered if it is started incorrectly without a key.
Use this knowledge responsibly.
Cars with a computer chip in the ignition lock cannot be started without a key: the chip ensures the operation of the engine control module, without which the car will not start.

Warnings

If the ignition wires become disconnected while driving, the engine will instantly stall and you may find yourself without electricity, steering or brakes.
Wear dielectric gloves.
Not use these tips for criminal purposes, such as stealing a car.