The car has a blinking red light on the dash that I thought indicated that ignition keys need to have a correctly programmed chip before the car would start.

So, how does the plain, ordinary metal "valet key" start and drive the car without it having a chip?

When I got the car, the valet key was missing and the dealer just mailed it to me, but it doesn't even turn in the ignition let alone start the car. Maybe it's a new high security measure?

 

The 'valet key' should work in the ignition & drivers door, and not in the glove box. The '09 Sonata keys are not 'chipped'.

Should someone break into the '09 Sonata, and mechanically 'pop' the ignition lock, the computer will not allow the engine to start. That's all the blinking lite does. It's a theft deterrent, not a theft stopper.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

If the key doesn't work the ignition then it's probably the wrong key.

The red light is just a pseudo alarm warning.