They call it "Keyless Go". And if your 2009 Dodge Challenger has it, like ours does, you'll see a "Start" button on your dash instead of an obvious key slot.
Push it while your foot is on the brake (and the other foot on the clutch, if applicable) and the engine will crank to life. You have to keep your foot off the brake while you push it to get "Accessory" mode; a second push gets you "Run" mode.
Josh already discovered what you need to do if the car won't acknowledge the presence of the "Keyless Go" key: simply pop that "Start" button off the dash to reveal a place to insert the physical key.
And then it got weird.
It's really just a parlor trick. Finger-start won't work if the Keyless Go key weren't in the car and functioning properly.
All this really does is point out the fact that the "Start" button is just a "Start" button-shaped piece of plastic. If you ever lose it, you aren't completely hosed.
The aftermarket could have a field day with customized buttons. Perhaps "Engage" for fans of Jean-Luc Picard. I'm rather partial to a big red "Launch" button myself, but the more literal-minded among us might prefer "Ignition". After all, we've all been calling it the ignition switch for years.
I'm sure you have your own ideas.
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing @ 5,301 miles
subytrojan says:
08:16 AM, 05/26/09
You have spirit fingers, Dan? j/k
subytrojan says:
08:25 AM, 05/26/09
Engage!
http://www.ideavoid.com/blog/images/picard.gif
actualsize says:
08:29 AM, 05/26/09
And he's even reaching out to the button, too!
stingray454 says:
09:09 AM, 05/26/09
How about "Turn ON Button" or "Finger Me"
stovt001 says:
10:14 AM, 05/26/09
Engage and ignition are my favorites.
isellcars00 says:
10:58 AM, 05/26/09
That button sounds ridiculously cheap.
greenpony says:
11:10 AM, 05/26/09
Can they print a Microsoft flag next to it?
pezzy669 says:
02:29 PM, 05/26/09
If I remember correctly this is the vehicle from a Top Gear episode in which Jeremy Clarkson was able to use the keyless function to move the car while the smart key itself was inside the diner of which the car was parked.
Just wondering if BBC was onto something or if they just pulled the fleece over the eyes of their viewers.
DCuerpoJr says:
05:29 PM, 05/26/09
@pezzy669
I remember that episode too! I thought it was absolutely hilarious when Jeremy parked the car in the middle of the street and just walked back to the diner. But then I realized that this could potentially lead to a major security risk.
Monocrom says:
09:16 PM, 05/26/09
Push-button starters are crap. A useless feature for those who like having gizmos on their ride.
You still need a key back-up in case the vehicle won't start. Mazda got it right, so did Dodge. Ironically, Nissan didn't.
charlesb says:
12:30 PM, 05/27/09
I was hoping a gopher would pop out of that hole and nip the guy on the finger. Not to be be mean or anything but the video would have been more interesting, mysterious and, yes, magical that way.