HEAD 3149339 - Caterpillar

Cat® Electronic Key
Illustration 1 g00793955
The Cat® electronic key
The Cat® key is the universal key for all Caterpillar machines. The electronic key has an electronic chip that is embedded inside the head of the key. The electronic keys are gray or yellow.Exciter Coil
The exciter coil provides communication between the electronic key and the control module.The exciter coil is mounted around the keyswitch. This position allows the exciter coil to communicate with the electronic key. Any ferrous metal between the coil and the electronic key will interfere with the communications. Mounting the coil in the same plane as the top of the keyswitch will minimize the interference.Note: Ensure that you have only one electronic key near the exciter coil when the machine security system (MSS) reads the key. If more than one electronic key near the exciter coil, the MSS3s ECM will not read the key and the machine will not start.The exciter coil is connected to the harness via a 2-pin connector and a length of wire.Status Indicator
Illustration 2 g00862013The state of the MSS is displayed by the status indicator. The green LED of the status indicator turns on when the system is disarmed. The machine should start. The red LED of the status indicator turns on when the system is armed and an invalid electronic key has been read by the MSS. The machine should not start. Both LEDs will turn on, producing an orange light if the application software of the MSS has not been programmed into the ECM.