Car Key Cutting Explained
Car key cutting is much more than just shaping the metal. It is a complicated procedure that ensures safety, functionality and long-term use of keys.
It is not unusual to lose your car key or have it break off in the lock. To ensure that you can always drive your vehicle you'll need a new key cut.
Transponder Keys
Transponder chips are likely to be fitted in vehicles built within the past 20 years. These microchips are tiny in the key's handle that send an electronic signal to the car's onboard computer whenever you use it. The computer onboard checks the serial number digitally of the chip prior to giving the car permission to begin. This helps prevent theft of cars, as thieves would need to know your unique serial number to be able to take over it.
The microchip inside your car key transmits an unintentional radio signal to the car's receiver. This radio signal activates the microchip that then transmits the code to the computer onboard of the car. The car will recognize this code and only allow it to start only if the key is the correct one. This will stop "hot wiring" or other methods to steal cars.
Locksmiths that offer these services can design car keys with chips. Some auto dealers like AutoZone sell keys with chips. These stores have a large selection of keys, and can assist you in choosing the right one for your vehicle. They can assist you in programming your car's chip that is required to operate the device.
Laser cut keys are more secure than flat keys. These keys feature the lock cylinder, which is much more difficult to pick, and they can only be duplicated with expensive laser key cutting machines or specialized software. This technology is more prevalent in luxury vehicles, but it is now available in many affordable models of cars too.
The VATS (vehicle-anti-theft system) key is another type of key that is difficult to duplicate. They contain a resistor that's black on the blade of the key. It can be programmed with one of 15 possible values to prevent it from starting a car that's not intended to. These keys are more expensive to buy and require a special key programming machine that is only located at certain locksmiths.
VATS Keys
Before transponder keys and cars with computer chips built in to control the ignition, GM used a system known as VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS utilizes a key that has an embedded resistor to ensure that the correct key was used to start the car. The VATS black pellet that is inside the middle of a VATS key is not an electronic chip like the ones used in modern smart keys. It is simply a piece of carbon that is sized appropriately to have a specific electrical resistance value.
GM employed 15 different resistance values for the VATS pellets and attached them to the blade of the key to ensure that, when the key is turned on the ignition the coded signal is transmitted to the module. If cost of car key cutting matches the resistance value of the transistor in the VATS pellet the relay in the starter circuit is activated and the engine starts to run. This does not make a car safe from burglary, but it can delay thieves for at least 15 to twenty 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 within the ignition, and with time, the wires may start to break. Once enough wires are broken, the signal to the module gets lost and the module won't be able to start the car.
The good news is that you can fix this issue yourself by decoding your own VATS key. You'll need a multimeter and a chart to determine the resistance value of your key, but it's not that difficult. You can determine the resistance value by putting one of the leads on the prongs of metal on both sides of your key.
This method is also a good way to test a new key to see whether it will work in your vehicle. Just be sure to remove the key from the ignition before you begin testing it, or else the new key could be displaying an incorrect VATS value and not work in your car.
Smart Key Fobs for Keys
Key fobs today can do more than just unlock or start the vehicle. A lot of them come with advanced features that many owners are unaware of. They can be used as a security device or as a theft deterrent. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, make noises that help you find your car in a parking space, or even let you summon your vehicle by pressing the button on your phone. This is a lot more features than you obtain from a traditional keychain remote. Unfortunately, all that extra functionality can mean that smart key fobs can be more expensive to replace than standard keychain remotes, and they usually need to be programmed by the dealer.
Some sellers charge as much as $100 for a single smart fob. That's a huge sum to pay for a device that spends much of its time jostled around in purses and pockets, where it can be easily damaged, dropped, or exposed to extreme humidity and temperatures. Fortunately certain automakers have come up with methods to shield smart key fobs from common types of electronic threats like relay attacks. They are typically used in combination with a remote-start hack that allows thieves to gain access to the settings of your vehicle by sending a fake signal from another nearby transmitter.
To protect a smart fob to protect it, you can place it in a metal case or use an RFID blocking case. This will prevent 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.
Fortunately, some newer car-insurance policies and auto club memberships and extended warranty coverage will pay for the cost of replacing a fob or reimburse you for a lost fob. You can also save money on new car dealership charges and get your fob cut at an establishment like a locksmith or hardware store that offers key-fob cloning services.
The decision of whether to buy a new fob is largely dependent on the importance of your car's keyless start and entry functions. In any event, you should always have an extra fob or key in case you lose it. If you have to buy a new replacement, Batteries Plus has a large selection of fobs to fit the majority of vehicles and trucks. Additionally, we provide an easy, fast service that costs roughly 50% less than what you'd spend at the dealership.
Traditional Keys
Traditional keys for cars are a single length of metal that has a series of grooves cut into it to fit into a particular lock. These keys can open your locks and start your car, provided you don't replace them with the remote key or smart key. The only downside of using an old-fashioned car key is that you have to physically insert it into the ignition to start the engine. If your car key has been damaged or lost it is necessary to visit a Gainesville Locksmith to get a new one created.
Depending on how much time has passed since you last got your keys cut there are a variety of alternatives to choose from when it comes time to get another copy. Some keys use mechanical cutting machines to produce copies, while others use laser-cut keys made with security features in mind.
Some of these features that come with modern types of keys include encryption and other anti-theft mechanisms. The encryption ensures that only the correct key is used to open your vehicle, making it more difficult for thieves to duplicate keys or pick locks. Transponder chips are a different security feature that prevents theft. They are embedded in the key and connect to your vehicle. This means that it can only function only when you're within a specific distance.
If you opt to use a traditional standard key, a locksmith could create a new one using a standard key cutter machine that can be found at the majority of hardware stores. This is cheaper than a key fob, or a transponder. you are still able to operate your trunk, locks and doors.
You could also replace your traditional car keys with a laser-cut version with a distinctive pattern. These keys were first introduced in the 1990s, and are a popular choice for those who wish to enhance the security of their vehicles. Laser cut keys typically contain transponder chips that are programmed to work only with your specific vehicle. If the chips aren't present in your vehicle it will not respond to the signals transmitted by the key.