Automotive Locksmith Ignition System Repair & Replacement Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Automotive Locksmith Ignition System Repair & Replacement flashcards as text
A customer's late-model vehicle uses a push-button start. There is no physical ignition cylinder. When the vehicle fails to start, where should the locksmith begin diagnosis?
Answer: Check key fob battery, antenna, and immobilizer communication via scan tool
Push-button start systems rely on RF communication between the fob and vehicle antenna; a scan tool can identify whether the immobilizer recognizes the fob before replacing hardware.
Which ignition system type uses a distributor to mechanically route high-voltage spark to each cylinder in firing order sequence?
Answer: Distributor ignition (DI) system
Distributor ignition systems use a rotating distributor driven by the camshaft to deliver timed high-voltage pulses to each spark plug in firing order.
After replacing an ignition lock cylinder on a Chrysler vehicle with Sentry Key Immobilizer System (SKIS), the engine cranks but will not start. What is the most likely required step?
Answer: Perform a SKIS key programming procedure using a scan tool or SKIS manager
Chrysler's SKIS transponder keys must be programmed to the vehicle's SKIM module using the appropriate scan tool or dealer-level programming tool after any ignition service.
A locksmith is rekeying an ignition cylinder to match a set of door locks but the ignition uses a 10-cut keyway while the doors use an 8-cut keyway. The correct action is?
Answer: Inform the customer the ignition and doors cannot be matched due to different keyways
Different keyways are mechanically incompatible; one key cannot operate both a 10-cut ignition and an 8-cut door lock, so the customer must be informed a single-key solution is not possible.
What is the function of the ignition actuator rod (also called the ignition rod or switch rod)?
Answer: Mechanically transfers rotational movement from the lock cylinder to the electrical ignition switch
The actuator rod is a mechanical linkage that translates the rotation of the lock cylinder into movement of the electrical ignition switch contacts.
A vehicle owner lost all keys to a vehicle equipped with Texas Instruments DST80 transponders. The locksmith must?
Answer: Use a dedicated programmer to add a new key to the immobilizer or replace and relearn the ECM
When all keys are lost, the immobilizer has no stored keys to reference; a dedicated programmer must either add a new key via pincode or the ECM must be replaced and all keys relearned.
Which safety precaution is most critical when removing a tilt steering column ignition lock cylinder on an older GM vehicle with a column-mounted airbag?
Answer: Disconnect the battery and wait at least 10 minutes before working near the airbag
Airbag systems retain capacitor charge for several minutes after battery disconnect; waiting at least 10 minutes ensures the capacitors are fully discharged and accidental deployment cannot occur.