Smart Key & Push-to-Start Programming
Keyless-entry and push-button-start systems programmed and synchronized at your vehicle.
from $220
Service
Push to Start Key Programming & Keyless Repair in Louisville, KY
Key not detected or start button unresponsive? We diagnose the key and vehicle security system.
$160 to $680
Typical range
1
to 2 hours
24/7
Answered every day
'Key not detected.' It is one of the more frustrating dashboard messages, because the key is right there in your pocket and the car is insisting otherwise.
Keyless systems depend on a chain of components. The fob, several low-frequency antennas distributed through the cabin and bumpers, a receiver module, the start button itself, and the steering lock. A failure anywhere along that chain produces the same symptom.
Replacing the fob is the common guess, and it is frequently wrong. Testing the whole chain is what identifies the part that actually failed.
What’s included
Antenna diagnosis
Most vehicles carry four to six low-frequency antennas. One failed antenna can create a dead zone where the key is not detected in a specific seat position. A very diagnosable pattern.
Start button and steering lock
The button is a switch and switches wear out. The electronic steering lock can also refuse to release and block the start sequence entirely.
Receiver module faults
A failed receiver module can be replaced and programmed, including writing your existing keys back in.
Test before you buy
The fob is checked for transmitting at correct strength before any replacement is recommended. Plenty of these calls end with a coin cell and a small bill.
How the visit goes
- 1
Verify the fob
Signal strength and battery voltage are measured directly rather than assumed.
- 2
Scan for stored faults
Keyless faults log in the body and comfort modules, which is exactly where a generic code reader does not look.
- 3
Map the dead zones
Detection is tested from every seat position and outside the vehicle. Where it fails identifies which antenna is at fault.
- 4
Repair and confirm
After repair, cold-start, walk-away lock, and detection from every position are all tested.
Common Push-to-Start System Repair questions
My car says 'key not detected' but the fob is in my pocket. What is wrong?
Something in the detection chain has broken. Most likely in order: a weak fob battery, a failed low-frequency antenna creating a dead zone, RF interference from a phone or a second fob sharing your pocket, or a receiver module fault. The useful diagnostic clue is whether holding the fob directly against the start button works. If it does, the immobilizer backup coil is fine and the problem is in proximity detection.
The start button does nothing at all. Is it the battery?
Check the obvious first: brake pedal fully depressed, transmission genuinely in Park. If those are fine and the dash lights normally, the vehicle battery is probably healthy and the fault is in the start circuit, the button itself, or the steering lock.
Is this worth fixing or should I just use the emergency start method?
Holding the fob against the start button is a designed backup for a dead fob battery, not a repair. If you are relying on it daily, an antenna or receiver has failed and it will eventually leave you stranded somewhere inconvenient.
How much does this cost to diagnose?
Diagnosis is $95 in the Louisville metro, credited in full against the repair if the work goes ahead. You will get a clear answer about what failed either way.
Related services
Immobilizer Programming & Repair
Anti-theft system faults diagnosed, modules realigned, and security data restored.
from $180
Key Fob Replacement & Programming
Smart keys, proximity fobs and remote heads. Supplied, programmed and tested at your car.
from $165
ECM / ECU Programming
Engine and body module cloning, flashing and immobilizer alignment. Compatibility confirmed before booking.
from $250
Car keys · Fobs · Lockouts
Need help with push-to-start system repair?
Call or text your vehicle details and location. We’ll confirm the service, price, any applicable fees, and arrival window before dispatch.
Answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — including holidays.