“Key not detected” warning light on the dashboard: meaning and what to do

What you can do yourself

Make sure the key is in the car. Keep it away from your phone, other keys and metal — they interfere with the signal.
Hold the key right against the Start button and press it: many cars will start this way even with a dead key battery.
Replace the key battery. If that doesn’t help, try the spare key.

The description comes from the AvtoElektrik PRO app.

Oleg’s tip: the colour of the symbol tells you how urgent it is

Red — stop and deal with the problem urgently: driving on is dangerous.
Yellow — needs checking to see what it is: don’t put off the diagnosis.
Green and blue — a system is simply working.
Exception — symbols of extra functions you switched on yourself: the rear fog light, ESP OFF by the button, heating, the differential lock. They can be yellow, but that’s not a fault — ignore them.

For example: a red oil pressure or overheating light — stop straight away and switch the engine off. A yellow Check Engine light with the engine running smoothly — drive on and get a diagnosis.

Need a mechanic’s help?

Couldn’t fix it yourself? Oleg, an auto electrician, does computer diagnostics and repairs: he comes out anywhere in Almaty or sees you at his workshop.

Immobilizer repair in Almaty Call: +7 701 121 11 10

Want to figure it out yourself?

Oleg’s free course “Car electrics for drivers”: fuses, the battery, dashboard lights — understand it and check it yourself.

Car electrics for drivers course →

Other lights of this colour

Who keeps this reference

The reference is kept by Oleg Dmitriev, an auto electrician from Almaty with 26 years of experience: computer diagnostics of cars and trucks, repair of control units (ECUs). Can’t find the cause? Message him.

Oleg’s auto electrician website WhatsApp +7 701 121 11 10

The “Key not detected” light on the dashboard