One day, you may suddenly find out that your car doesn't start. Without any symptoms or potential failures, it just doesn't start - the engine may or may not crank when you turn the key in the ignition cylinder or push the start button but anyway, the engine won't start whatever you do.
While in the majority of cases, the no-start issues of your car are connected to one or several malfunctioning units, sometimes this can be because of the kill switch that is controlled by a dealer.
Here's when you should suspect that the dealer or lender may have disabled your car:
- the vehicle is under a loan or leasing;
- you've missed the payment for this car or your payment could be delayed for some reason;
- you bought the vehicle from a second-hand car dealer or from a leasing company;
- the car was used when you bought it;
- when you are trying to start the vehicle, it doesn't crank or cranks long but doesn't start.
Let's look a little deeper at this situation!
What's a kill switch?
A kill switch is essentially a device that can remotely kill your car which means prevent it from starting.
There are several types of kill switches that are commonly used today. Some of them are connected to the ECU and they may cut fuel supply. Other types are integrated into the anti-theft system and may block the electricity supply to some vehicle units. Other ones may activate immobilizer in your vehicle and you will not be able to drive a car even a meter.
These devices most often come equipped with GPS trackers and they are controlled remotely from a computer that is authorized to work with a certain tracker.
So, yes, technically, it's possible to disable your car from a distance. Even if you bought your vehicle in Arizona and then relocated to New York, the lender will still be able to control the car and disable it if you stop paying.
Do American dealers and other car sellers disable cars if you don't pay?
We doubt that a single official new car dealer will do this because it sounds like an illegal action. So, no, if you are talking about new car dealers that sell new Fords, Mercedes cars, Lincolns, or, say, Subarus, you shouldn't expect that they may install some kind of a kill switch into your vehicle. Even if you are buying your car with a bank loan or leasing, you are safe.
The reason for this is that dealers of new cars never risk. Once you sign a loan or leasing contract with a bank or other company, the dealer gets all the money and from now on the dealer doesn't care if you pay for your loan or not. Banks and leasing companies will have to worry but they won't install kill switches in your new car for sure.
But when we look at used car dealers, the situation may change a bit. Again, if you are getting a bank loan when you buy a used car from a dealer, the dealer won't worry and obviously won't install any tracking devices.
But there are dealers that offer buy here pay here options with different installment plans and leasing plans. This way, they will certainly want to know the location of your car, so they will almost always install a GPS tracker.
New technologies make GPS trackers more functional, so now they can also communicate with the anti-theft system and the ECU in your car. This means that the car dealer can actually use its computer to turn your car off.
Don't worry - the car won't die in the middle of the road. All changes are applied when you turn the vehicle off. Then, the next time you will try to start it, you may surprisingly find out that it's dead.
How can I bring my disabled car back to life?
Your natural desire in this situation is to get back full control over your vehicle. If you suspect that the car that you've leased or bought from a used-car dealer is disabled by the kill switch, here's what you should do:
- check immediately if all the payments were transferred on time;
- call the dealer and explain the situation to the manager that will speak to you;
- send them all the screenshots proving your payments if this is needed;
- if you actually missed the payment, ask them to turn the car on so that you could go to the bank and pay them money;
- send all the payments and again send them all the copies and screenshots proving this.
If your dealer killed your vehicle by mistake, the manager will try to avoid telling you directly that this was their fault. They will unblock the car after the phone call, anyway.
If there is really a problem with payments, make sure you talk to a manager of the car dealer and then do everything this manager tells you to do for unblocking the vehicle successfully.
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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