CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There are so many ways to customize your car these days: Everything from steering wheel covers to bumper stickers and a plethora of accessories. But some people on social media say bling rings, a popular, fun accessory, could actually keep your car from starting.
Videos posted on TikTok and posts on X, the website formerly known as Twitter, claim these bling rings, which go around your ignition switch, can prevent your car from starting.
THE QUESTION
Can these bling rings interfere with the operation of your vehicle?
OUR SOURCE
THE ANSWER
Yes, depending on what kind of car you have, bling rings could interfere with the operation of your vehicle.
WHAT WE FOUND
"In the last 20 years, if your car has a turn-key and you are turning it, there is an anti-theft system in the car and that key," Undercoffler said. "Putting it around there might interfere with the key to the anti-theft system."
One TikTok video shows a Honda car and claims it won't start when the bling ring is around the ignition switch.
According to Honda, for newer vehicles, the ignition key features an electronic code that communicates with the vehicle to bypass anti-theft protections. Undercoffler said blocking that code could be a reason why a car won't start.
"If you put that key around the ignition, it can interfere with that communication," he said. "It can basically interfere with the key, talking to the car and saying this is the proper key, and the car thinks this is not the right key, and it disables the engine."
Undercoffler said this isn't the case just with Hondas, but also with vehicles that have similar anti-theft features.
"It could also happen with a push-to-start button. That may depend on your vehicle," Undercoffler said. "Some systems might be away from the push button itself, so you may have to test it."
Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
WCNC Charlotte's Verify series is all about trying to make a difference in the Carolinas by making sure the community has the correct information. WCNC Charlotte outlines concisely what we know and what we don't know. Sometimes the answer can be surprising. Watch previous stories where we verify social media claims in the YouTube playlist below and subscribe to get updated when new videos are uploaded.