Car Key Cutting Explained

Car key cutting is much more than just forming a piece of metal. It is a complex process that ensures safety, functionality and durability of keys.

It is not uncommon to lose your car key or have it break off in the lock. To ensure you're able to always drive your car, you will require a replacement key cut.

Transponder Keys

If your car was constructed within the past 20 years, it's likely to have a transponder chip. These microchips are located in the handle of the key and send a signal to the onboard computers in your vehicle when you press the key. The computer in the car scans the digital serial numbers in the chip and only allows the car to start if it's the correct one. This prevents thieves from stealing your car because they'd have to know the unique serial number.

The microchip inside your car key transmits an low-level radio signal to the receiver inside the car. The radio signal activates the microchip, which then transmits a code to the car's onboard computer. The car will be able to recognize the code and only allow it to start only if the key is the right one. This prevents the use of "hot wiring" and other methods of stealing cars.

Car keys with chips can be made at an authorized locksmith who offers these services. They are also available at a few automotive stores like AutoZone. These stores offer a wide selection of keys, and can assist you in finding the appropriate one for your vehicle. They can even assist you to program the chip to your vehicle, which is essential to make it work.

There are also laser cut keys, which are more secure than flat keys. These keys have a lock cylinder that is more difficult to pick, and they can only be duplicated with expensive laser key cutting equipment or specialized software. This type of technology is typically found in high-end cars, but it is now accessible in many affordable models of cars too.

The VATS (vehicle-anti-theft system) motorcycle key cutting is another kind of key that is difficult to duplicate. The keys are black with a resistor on the blade of the key that is programmed with one of fifteen potential values to prevent them from starting a vehicle that it's not meant to. These keys are more expensive to purchase and require a special key programming machine that can only be located at certain locksmiths.

VATS Keys

Before transponder keys and cars that had computer chips that control the ignition, GM used a system called VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS uses a key with a resistor embedded in it to ensure that the correct key was used to start the car. The VATS pellet in black in the middle of a VATS Key isn't a smart chip like those used on the majority of modern keys. It's just carbon or a block that is sized to have an electrical resistance value.

GM employed 15 different resistances for the VATS Pellets and attached them to key blades so that, when the key is turned on, a coded message is sent to the module. If the signal is in line with the resistance value of the transistor in the VATS pellet the relay in the starter circuit is activated and the engine begins to run. This isn't a way to make a car secure from theft, but it will delay the thief by at most 15 to 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, after a significant amount of use, the VATS module in your car can start to wear out. Every time a key is inserted into the ignition it moves two tiny wires inside the ignition, and with time, the wires may begin to break. When enough wires have been broken the signal goes out to the module and the car will not begin.

The good news is that you can fix this problem yourself at home by decoding your own VATS key. It's not hard to determine the resistance value of a key using a multimeter. All you have to do is place one of the leads of your ohm meter onto the metal prongs that are hanging out on both sides of the key, and then examine the display of your ohm meter to find out the resistance of your key.

This is also a good way to test a new key to determine if it will work in your vehicle. Be sure to remove the key from the ignition before you begin testing it, or else the new key could have an incorrect VATS value and not function in your car.

Smart Key Fobs with Smart Keys

Key fobs today are more than just a way to unlock or start the car. A lot of them come with advanced features that most owners are unaware of. They can be employed as a security tool or as a theft deterrent. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, make chirping sounds to help you find your car in a parking space and even let you summon your vehicle by pressing the button on your smartphone. This is more features than you obtain from a traditional keychain remote. Unfortunately, all that added functionality can mean that smart key fobs may be pricier to replace than standard keychain remotes and they typically need to be programmed by the dealer.

In fact, some dealers will charge upwards of $100 to replace one smart key fob. It's a huge price for a device that's often tossed around in purses and pockets in the event that it gets damaged, dropped, or exposed to extreme temperatures and water. Fortunately there are automakers who have developed ways to protect smart vw key cut by vin Near me fobs from the most common kinds of electronic attacks, such as relay attacks. These are often used in combination with remote-start hacks that allow thieves to gain access to the settings of your vehicle by sending false signals from a nearby transmitter.

One way to protect the smart key fob is to store it in a metal case or a dedicated RFID blocking case that prevents the transmission of these signals. However, having to take the key fob from a case that is protected each time you want to make use of it is a hassle and a detriment to the efficiency of the technology.

Certain policies that are more recent like auto club memberships and extended warranties, will cover the cost of an additional fob, or reimburse you if it gets lost. You can also avoid paying new-car dealership fees by having your fob cloned at a locksmith or hardware retailer that provides key cutter-fob cloning.

The decision to purchase a new fob is largely dependent on the importance of your car's keyless start and entry functions. You should always keep a spare key or fob on hand in case you misplace yours. Batteries Plus offers a large choice of replacement fobs that fit in most vehicles and trucks. In addition, our quick and convenient service costs about 50% less than the price you'd spend at a dealership.

Traditional Keys

Traditional keys for cars are a single piece of metal with a series of grooves cut into it to fit in a specific lock. These keys will open your locks and start your car, provided you haven't replaced them with the remote key or smart key. The only disadvantage of using the traditional key is that it must be physically put into the ignition to start the vehicle. If your traditional car key is lost or broken you'll need to visit the Gainesville Locksmith to get a new one made.

Based on the amount of time that has passed since you last cut your keys there are a variety of alternatives to pick from when it comes time to get another copy. Certain keys utilize mechanical cutting machines to create copies, while others employ laser-cut keys specifically designed with enhanced security features in mind.

Some of these advanced features that come with the modern types of keys include encryption and other security mechanisms. Encryption makes it harder for thieves to duplicate keys or pick locks. Other security features that prevent theft include transponder chips, which are incorporated into the key to communicate with your car and make it only work when it's within a certain range of your car.

If you choose to use a traditional key, your locksmith can design the new vw key cut by vin near me using the standard cutter machine that can be bought from a variety of hardware stores. This is less expensive than a key fob or transponder, and you can still operate your trunk, locks, and doors.

Another alternative is to get the traditional car keys substituted with a laser-cut version with a unique pattern. The first keys of this kind were released in the 1990s and are an increasingly popular choice for those who wish to protect their vehicles. Laser cut keys are typically equipped with transponder chips programmed to only work with your vehicle. If these chips aren't present in your vehicle it won't receive the signals emanating from the key and won't start.