How to Start a Dodge Ram 1500 Without a Key

By
Karl.K
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You go out to your Dodge Ram 1500 and for some reason your key fob doesn’t work or the vehicle doesn’t recognize the fob. What do you do? Should you pull out your cell phone and call for help? If you do, you may end up sitting around for who knows how long while you wait for whoever you called to come to your rescue. What if you knew a trick of starting your truck without a key?

Dead Fob, Finger Method

By inserting your finger into the key hole and pushing in, you will be able to turn the ignition switch. Although the switch can be rotated to the on position, the truck still will not start. What you need to do is, using your finger, return the switch to the off position. Place the fob right next to your finger and using your finger, again turn the ignition switch. This time the warning lights will come on and the warning tones will sound. Keep your finger in the switch and the fob next to it for a few seconds and the truck will start up. You can remove your finger and lay the fob down. Your ready to put the truck in gear and drive away. When you get to where you are going, just put your finger back onto the ignition switch, push in slightly and turn the switch to the off position.

Fob Is Okay But the Key Won’t Work

 

You may go out to your Dodge Ram and use your key fob to unlock the doors and get in but the key won’t start the truck. Since the fob worked to open the doors, you know there isn’t a power problem, like a dead battery. But when you insert the key in the ignition, the lights come on but the truck will not start. The problem is that the key has somehow become demagnetized. One way this can happen is by storing the key fob too close to your cell phone. A cell phone can mess up the synchronization between the key fob and the truck’s ignition system. Using a second key, see if the truck will start. If it does, the problem becomes a matter of having the key reprogrammed. You can take the key to a dealer, or if you are a DIY-type person,  reprogramming kits available that you can find and purchase on the internet.

2019 Dodge Ram 1500 Warning

If you own a 2019 Ram 1500 and leave the doors unlocked, it is possible for you, or anyone else, to get into the truck and start it. There is a problem with the ignition system IF the doors are left unlocked. If you sit in the truck and look at the dash, you will see that there is a green ring that lights up around the start icon. If you simply put your foot on the brake and keep it there, the truck will start without the key fob being present. Until you can take your Ram to the dealer to fix this issue, always lock the vehicle when it is left unattended.

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