Car Key Cutting Explained
Car key cutting is a lot more than just shaping a piece of metal. It is a complex process that ensures security, functionality and long-term use of keys.
It is not uncommon to lose keys to your car, or have them break in the lock. You’ll need an alternative car key to ensure that you can drive your car key cut price at all times.
Transponder Keys
Transponder chips will likely be fitted in vehicles built within the past 20 years. These microchips are tiny inside the key’s handle that transmit a signal to the vehicle’s onboard computer whenever you use it. The onboard computer reads the digital serial number within the chip and allows the car to start if it is the right one. This prevents thieves from taking over your vehicle, as they would need to know the unique serial number.
The microchip inside the key transmits a low-level signal the receiver within the car. This radio signal activates the microchip, which transmits a code to the car’s onboard computer. The car will be able to recognize this code and only allow it to start when the key is the right one. 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 that contain chips. Some car dealers, like AutoZone offer them. They have a huge range of keys and can help you find the right one for your car. They can even assist you to programme the chip into your vehicle, which is required to use it.
Laser cut keys are more secure than flat keys. These keys feature the lock cylinder, which is more difficult to pick, and they are only duplicated using expensive laser key cutting machines or with specially designed software. This type of technology is typically found in luxury vehicles, but it is now being used in a wide range of low-cost automobiles as well.
Another kind of car key that is difficult to duplicate is the VATS (vehicle anti-theft system) key. These keys have a black resistor on the blade of the key that is programmed with one of 15 potential values to prevent the car from starting that it’s not intended to. These keys are more expensive to buy and require a special key programming machine that is only found at some locksmiths.
VATS Keys
Before the days of transponder keys as well as cars equipped with computer chips to control the car’s ignition, GM used something called VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS utilizes a standard key with a pellet of resistance embedded within it to verify that the correct key is being used to start the vehicle. The VATS pellet that is black in the middle of a VATS Key is not an electronic chip that is like those present on modern keys. It’s just carbon or a block that is sized to have an electrical resistance value.
GM employed 15 different resistance values for the VATS pellets. They attached the key’s blade so that when the key is turned in the ignition a coded signal will be transmitted 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 start to run. This doesn’t make a car safe from theft, but it will delay the theft by at most 15 to 20 minutes.
Unfortunately, after a lot of use, the VATS module in your car can start to wear out. The two wires that connect the ignition are moved every time a key is inserted. As time passes, the wires may start to break. Once enough wires are broken the signal is lost to the module and the car won’t begin.
The good news is that you can fix this problem yourself at home by decoding your VATS key. It’s not difficult to determine the resistance of a key using the multimeter. You can determine the resistance value by placing one of the leads on the prongs of metal on both sides of your key.
This is a great method to test a new key and see whether it works in your car. Remove the ignition key first before you test it. Otherwise the key could have an incorrect VATS and will not function in your vehicle.
Smart Key Fobs for Keys
Key fobs today can do more than unlock or start a car. They are also used as a security device and burglar deterrent, with a lot of them incorporating advanced features that owners might not be aware of. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, Cut Car Key make noises that help you locate your vehicle in a parking lot, or even let you summon your vehicle by pressing the button on your phone. This is more than you could ever expect from the traditional keychain remote. Smart key fobs are more expensive to replace because of their extra functions. They also need to be programmed at the dealer.
In fact, some dealers will charge up to $100 to replace a single smart key fob. This is a significant amount to pay for a product that spends a lot of its time in pockets and purses, where it is easily dropped, damaged, or exposed to moisture and extreme temperatures. Fortunately, some automakers have developed methods to shield smart key fobs from common types of electronic attacks like relay attacks. These are often combined with remote start hacks that allows thieves access to your vehicle’s settings by the transmission of a fake signal from another transmitter nearby.
To protect a smart fob you can put it in a metal case or use an RFID blocking case. This will block the transmission of these signals. The convenience of the technology is compromised if you must remove your key fob every time you want to use it from the protective case.
Certain policies that are more recent like auto club memberships or extended warranties, will cover the cost of replacing the fob or reimburse you in the event that it’s lost. You can also save money on new-car dealer charges and Cut Car Key have your fob cut car key at an establishment like a locksmith or hardware store who offers key fob cloning.
For the majority of drivers who are buying a new key fob depends on how crucial your car’s keyless entry and push-button start functions are. In any event, you should always have an extra key or fob handy just in case you lose yours. And if you need to buy a new replacement, Batteries Plus has a vast selection of fobs for the majority of cars and trucks. Additionally, we provide a quick, convenient service that is roughly 50% less than what you’d pay at the dealership.
Traditional Keys
The classic car key is made of a single piece of steel with a series of grooves cut into it. These grooves are made to fit certain locks. They can unlock your locks and start your vehicle, provided that you don’t replace them with a remote key or smart key. The only drawback of using a traditional key is that it needs to be physically put into the ignition to start the vehicle. If your traditional car key has been damaged or lost, you will need to visit the Gainesville Locksmith to get a new one made.
You have a few choices to pick from based on how long it’s been since you’ve had your keys cut. Certain keys employ mechanical cutting machines to make copies, while others use laser-cut keys that are specifically designed with enhanced security features in mind.
Some of these features that come with modern-day keys include encryption as well as other anti-theft mechanisms. Encryption ensures that only the right key is used to start your car which makes it harder for thieves to duplicate keys or pick locks. Other anti-theft features include transponder chips that are embedded in the key to communicate with your vehicle and allow it to only function when it’s within the distance of your car.
If you choose to utilize a traditional key your locksmith can make an entirely new key using the standard cutter machine, which can be purchased at most hardware stores. This is less expensive than using a key fob or a transponder key, and you’ll still be able to use your doors, locks and trunk.
You can also replace your standard car keys with a laser-cut car key version with a distinctive pattern. These keys were first introduced in the 1990s and are a popular option for those who wish to protect their vehicles. Typically, laser cut keys have special transponder chips that are specifically programmed to work with the specific vehicle you own. If the chips aren’t installed in your vehicle, they will not respond to the signals sent by the key.