Marilyn Harvard

Car Key Cutting Explained

Cutting the car key is more than just bending metal. It is a complex procedure that ensures security, efficiency, and longevity of the keys.

It is not unusual to lose your car keys or even have it break in the lock. To ensure you're able to always drive your vehicle you'll need a new key cut.

Transponder Keys

If your car was constructed in the past 20 years, it is likely to have transponder chips. These microchips are situated in the handle of the key and send a signal to your vehicle's onboard computers when you turn the key. The computer in the car examines the serial number of the chip prior to allowing the car to begin. This stops thieves from taking over your vehicle since they'd need to know the unique serial number.

The microchip in your car keys transmits an low-level radio signal to the car's receiver. This radio signal activates the microchip which then transmits code to the onboard computer of the car. The car will only begin when it recognizes the code. This will stop the use of "hot wiring" and other methods of theft of cars.

Locksmiths who provide these services can create keys for cars with chips. Some automotive retailers such as AutoZone offer them. Those stores carry a huge range of keys and will help you get the right one for your vehicle. They can also help you programme the chip into your vehicle, which is required to use it.

There are also laser cut keys, which are more secure than traditional flat keys. They are more secure than traditional flat keys due to having locks that are more difficult to pick. They can only be duplicated using expensive laser key cutting machines, or specialized software. This technology is more common in luxury vehicles, but it is now accessible in a wide range of low-cost cars too.

Another type of car motorcycle key cutting that's hard to duplicate is the VATS (vehicle anti-theft system) key. The keys are black with a resistor on the key blade that is programmed with one of fifteen possible values to stop them from starting a vehicle that it's not designed to. They are expensive and require the use of a key programming machine which is only available at certain locksmiths.

VATS Keys

Before transponder keys and vehicles with computer chips built in to control the ignition, GM used a system known as VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS utilizes a standard key with a pellet of resistance embedded in it to confirm that the correct key is used to start the vehicle. The VATS pellet black inside the middle of the VATS key isn't an electronic chip as found on modern smart keys, it's simply a block of carbon that is sized appropriately to have a specific electrical resistance value.

GM employed 15 different resistances for the VATS Pellets. They connected them to key blades so that, when the key is turned in the ignition a coded signal is sent to the module. If the signal is in line with that of the transistor in a VATS pellet then the relay in the starter circuit will turn on and the engine will begin to run. This doesn't make a vehicle secure from theft however it can delay the theft by at least 15 to 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, after a long period of use, the VATS module in your car may begin to wear out. Every time a key is inserted into the ignition it moves two very small wires inside the ignition, and over time the wires may begin to break. Once enough wires break then the signal to the module gets lost and the module won't be able to start the car.

You can solve this problem at home yourself by decoding your VATS key. You'll need a multimeter and a chart to determine the resistance value of your key, but it's not difficult at all. You can find the resistance value by putting one of the leads on the metal prongs on both sides of your key.

This method can also be a good method to test the new key to determine whether it works in your vehicle. Just be sure to remove the key from the ignition prior to testing it, as the new key may have an incorrect VATS value and may not work in your car.

Smart Key Fobs

Key fobs of today do more than just unlock or start a car. They also function as an alarm system and a theft deterrent, with many of them featuring advanced features that owners might not be aware of. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, make noises that help you find your car in a parking lot or allow you to summon your vehicle by pressing a button on your smartphone. That's a lot more than you could ever expect from the traditional keychain remote. Smart key fobs are more expensive to replace due their additional functions. They also require to be programmed at the dealer.

In fact, some dealers charge upwards of $100 to replace a single smart key fob. This is a significant amount to pay for a device that is often time in purses and pockets, where it can be easily damaged, dropped, or exposed to extreme moisture and temperatures. Fortunately certain automakers have come up with ways to safeguard smart key fobs from common types of electronic threats like relay attacks. They are usually paired with remote start hacks that gives thieves access to your vehicle's settings via the transmission of a fake signal from another transmitter near.

To secure a smart card you can put it in a metal casing or even an RFID blocking case. This will block the transmission of these signals. However, the necessity of removing the cheap key cutting fob from a case that is protected each time you need to make use of it is a hassle and a detriment to the efficiency of the technology.

Fortunately, a few of the latest car insurance policies and auto club memberships and extended warranty coverages will pay for the cost of a replacement or reimburse you for the lost fob. You can also save money on new-car dealer charges and have your fob cut at the hardware store or locksmith who offers key fob cloning.

For the majority of drivers, the decision to purchase a new key fob depends on how important your car's keyless entry and push-button starter functions are. In any event you should have an extra key or fob handy just in case you lose yours. If you have to buy a new replacement, Batteries Plus has a large selection of fobs to fit most cars and trucks. Additionally, our fast and easy service is about 50% less than what you'd spend at the dealership.

Traditional Keys

Traditional car keys are a single length of metal that has grooves cut into it to fit into a particular lock. These keys will open your locks and begin your car, assuming you haven't replaced them by an electronic key or a remote key. The only disadvantage of using the traditional car key is that you have to physically insert it into the ignition to start the engine. If your car key is lost or broken, you will need to visit the Gainesville locksmith to get a new one made.

There are several choices to pick from based on how long it's been since you were able to cut your keys. Certain keys are cut using mechanical machines or lasers, while others are cut with security features that are enhanced.

Some of these advanced features that come with modern types of keys include encryption as well as other security mechanisms. Encryption ensures that only the right key can be used to start your car, making it more difficult for thieves to duplicate or pick locks. Other security features to prevent theft include transponder chips that are embedded in the key to connect with your car and make it only function when it's within a certain range of your car.

If you choose to make use of a traditional key, your locksmith can make a new key with an ordinary cutter machine, which can be purchased from a variety of hardware stores. This is less expensive than a key fob, or a transponder, and you will still be able to use your locks, trunk and doors.

You can also replace your traditional keys to your car with getting a key cut near me laser-cut version with a unique pattern. These keys were introduced in the 1990s and are a popular option for those looking to protect their automobiles. Keys made of lasers are typically equipped with transponder chip that is programmed to only work with your vehicle. If these chips aren't present in your vehicle it won't receive the signals coming from the key and won't start.