During the colder times of the year, it can take a while for the temperature inside your car to become close to anything you can tolerate. If you live in the midwest, then you know the feeling of getting inside your car after it has been in the cold for a while. What if you don’t have a remote start and would like to let your car warm up when there’s nobody in it or around to look over it? Is it possible to start your car and lock it while it is warming up? Let’s explore.
Can You Lock your Car While It’s Warming Up?
Here’s everything you need to know about locking your car while it’s warming up.
Modern Cars vs Older Cars
With modern cars, the vehicle’s ignition has to be engaged for heating (and other functions) to be on.
For older cars, this wasn’t a problem. A driver or passenger could just switch it on, get out of the car, and put the key into the door to lock it. It was fine to walk away for a while with the radio (or heat) on, as long as you didn’t forget about it and run the battery down.
Why is this an issue for newer cars?
The lock and ignition.
Smart locks are meant to be smart, but the car cannot necessarily engage both functions (thus, heating first and locking second). This is even harder with higher-tech ignition systems, which might use the same key and trap the driver in a loop.
Why Heating Without Occupants?
Cars run better when heated up a little, and their drivers certainly will too. Driving in cold weather can make conditions like arthritis flare up, and it can make a drive in the cold a total nightmare – one that can be avoided if the car warms up first.
Safety First
Never engage in heating (and/or locking) a vehicle with other occupants, especially minors, in the car. Not only is this irresponsible, but there are many things that could possibly go wrong.
Never engage in heating (and/or locking) a vehicle if it is not in plain sight. When you cannot see your vehicle, you increase the risk that it could be stolen or damaged when you aren’t there to see it.
Remember: heating drains the car’s battery, and it’s not something that you want to forget. It is never a good idea to keep the engine running for prolonged periods of time without operating the vehicle.
How to Lock Your Car While It’s Warming Up
- With the car on, engage the car’s heating function from the inside.
- Get out of the car, and close the doors.
- Open the door, and then remove the key.
- Doors will have to be locked manually.
This step-by-step guide will allow you to warm up your car while keeping it locked. However, it’s true that the above steps can compromise the safety of your vehicle, so don’t let a car out of your site.
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