How to Hotwire a Car

Co-authored by Jason Shackelford

Last Updated: March 14, 2024 Approved

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While most newer model cars have done much to hide the wiring and otherwise outfit the steering column with safety measures to prevent hot-wiring, older models up to the mid-90s are typically good candidates for hot-wiring. This is important to know if you lose your keys and need to get your car driving again. Use extreme caution when messing with wiring and always consult the Owner's Manual for specific instructions about the color coding and wires associated with your model. If you want to know how to get started hot-wiring the steering column and using other methods, this article will be helpful.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Hot-Wiring the Steering Column

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1
Enter the car. Do not break into a car unless you own it and have documentation to prove it. Be aware that forced entry will set an alarm if the vehicle is equipped.
- This method, and in fact most methods of hot wiring a car, will only work on cars older than the mid-90s. Newer models are equipped with a whole host of locking mechanisms in place to keep you from hot-wiring the car unless you're intimately familiar with the quirks of the model. If you try this on a 2002 Honda Civic, you're likely to end up setting off alarms and locking the starter, meaning no one can drive it.
- If you have access to the owner's manual, check to make sure the steering column and gear selector can be overridden. Serious damage to the shifting mechanism and steering column can result from this method.
2
Remove the plastic cover on the steering column. These are usually held in place with concealed clips or #2 Phillips-type screws. Remove them and pull the access panels free.
- Alternatively, on some much older models, you can break the locking pins in the ignition by hammering a flathead screwdriver into the keyhole and turning it over. It's very difficult--if not impossible--to do this by hand, but if you think the model is sufficiently old to allow for it, you can give it a shot.
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3
Find the wiring harness connector. Once you remove the panels on the steering column, you should see a roil of electrical wires. Don't be intimidated, learn to recognize the right bundle. There will typically be three main bundles of wires:
- Wires leading to the column-mounted controls on one side, like lights, cruise control, and other indicators
- Wires leading to the column controls on the other side, like wipers or seat warmers
- Wires leading to the battery, ignition, and starter leading straight up the steering column
4
Pull aside the battery, ignition, and starter wire bundle. One of these will be the primary power supply for the ignition switch, one will be ignition wires, and the other will be the starter. The other colors will vary depending on the manufacturer. Read the owner's manual or look online to be sure you can identify all possibilities.
- Sometimes the ignition wires are brown and the starter wires yellow, but the battery wires are most usually red. Again, the only way to be sure is to read the owner's manual. You're not MacGyver; messing with the wrong wires will get you electrocuted.
Wrap them with electrician's tape if available, and do not allow them to short against metal vehicle components. Connecting these will provide electricity for the ignition components, so the engine is able to run when the starter is turned.
You should see the dash lights and other electrical components come alive at this point. If all you want to do is listen to the radio, you're done. If you want to drive the car, you'll need to spark the starter wire, which can get dangerous.^{[1]
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This will be live, so you need to extremely careful and keep close hold of your bare wires. Touch the end of this to the connected battery wires. Don't try to twist it on, just spark it against the battery wires to start the car.
8
Rev the engine. If you get the car to start, rev it a few times so you don't stall out and have to do this process again.
- Once the engine starts, you can detach the starter wire and continue on your way. When you want to kill the engine, simply unfasten the battery wires from the ignition wires and the car will die.^{[2]
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9
Break the steering lock. You've got the car started and you're ready to get your engine pumping and let your car loose, right? Wrong. While your car is running, the steering column is probably locked at this point, meaning that you'll have to break it to be able to steer, unless you want to drive straight off a cliff or something.
- On some models, all you'll need to do is pop off the metal keyhole which will release a spring and break the lock. If you already tried to jam your screwdriver in there earlier because you've got a mid-70s to mid-80s vehicle, the lock is probably already broken.
- Some models respond well to a healthy dose of elbow grease. Crank the wheel hard to either side as if you were trying to twist it free. You could also use a hammer to fix in the wheel and use for leverage. You should hear it break and the wheel will be free, so you'll be able to drive normally.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Drilling the Lock Pins

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Your goal with this method is to destroy the lock pins and allow you to turn the car over using a screwdriver, rather than the key. This is commonly done on cars the keys to which are lost.^{[3]
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Every lock pin has two sections followed by a spring, so drill it more than once, removing the drill each time to allow the bits of the lock inside to fall into place.^{[4]
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3
Put the screwdriver in the same way you would put your key in. It doesn't have to go in deep because the pins are already broken. Use it the same way you use your key, just turn it about a quarter-turn in a clockwise direction to try to turn the engine over.^{[5]
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- Warning: this method will destroy your key switch and make it so that anyone with a screwdriver or a strong fingernail can steal your car.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Powering the Dash

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Both the plug and coil wires are located at the rear of almost all V8 engines. Four-cylinder engines have them placed on the right side, near the center of the engine. Six-cylinder engines are on the opposite: left side, near the center of the engine.
Run a jump cable from the positive battery terminal to either the positive side of the coil, or the red wire that leads to the coil. This will give power to the dashboard, which is essential if you want to start the engine.
On Ford cars, it is on the right-side fender well, near the battery. On GM cars, it is on the starter under the steering wheel.
4
Unlock the steering wheel. Place a flat blade screwdriver in the top center of the steering column, pushing between the wheel and the column. You want to push the locking pin away from the wheel. Don't worry, you're allowed to be rough here.
- The locking pin will not break or set off any alarms and you should be able to find the solenoid should be underneath.
5
Connect the solenoid to the positive battery terminal. You will see a small wire at the top of the solenoid and the positive battery cable below. Remove the ignition switch wire from the solenoid and, using an insulated screwdriver, short the solenoid's positive post to the terminal where the ignition switch connects.
- Doing so will apply 12 volts directly from the battery. This should activate the solenoid, and the starter should crank the car.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Can I hotwire a car that uses a key fob or a chip?

Jason Shackelford
Auto Technician
Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience.

Jason Shackelford

Auto Technician

Expert Answer

The car's sensors have to detect the presence of the key fob and its chip before it can start up. So, no, you can't hotwire a car without it's chip.

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Can a car that has no gas be hotwired?

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No. Without gas the engine will not be able to create a spark to move the pistons.

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How do I hotwire a car?

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You should follow the directions that are laid out in the article if you are going to hotwire a care.

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Tips

You risk causing significant damage to your vehicle if you hotwire it.

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Most cars set off an alarm if you hot-wire it wrong.

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Use this knowledge responsibly.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Run a length of wire from the positive post on the solenoid (located under the hood) to the positive terminal of the starter motor (located underneath the vehicle.) When ready to start just touch the wire to the solenoid and go. Disconnect when you're done. (This is presuming you've freed the steering lock and ignition switch.)
Use a multimeter to find the battery cable and check if any wire is a ground wire. Don't twist those together.
Start the vehicle and then break the lock steering by hand; let the power steering help torque it.

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Warnings

Wear insulated gloves.

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If the ignition wires separate while driving, the engine will instantly die, and you may find yourself without power, steering, or brakes.

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Don't use this in an illegal manner, such as to steal a car.

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