Car Key Cutting Explained
Cutting keys for cars is more than just bending metal. navigate to this web-site is a sophisticated procedure that ensures security, efficiency, and longevity of the keys.
It is not unusual to lose your car key or even break it in the lock. You'll need a new car key in order to ensure that you are able to drive your car at all times.
Transponder Keys
If your car was constructed within the last 20 years, it is likely to have transponder chips. These chips are small microchips in the key's handle that send signals to the car's onboard computer when you use it. The computer in the car reads the digital serial number in the chip and only allows the car to start if it's the correct one. This stops thieves from hijacking your vehicle because they'd have to be aware of the unique serial number.
The microchip in your car keys transmits an low-level radio signal to the receiver inside the car. The radio signal activates microchip, which then transmits an informational code to the car's onboard computer. The car will only begin only if it recognizes the code. This will stop "hot wiring" or other methods to steal cars.
Locksmiths that offer these services can design keys for cars that contain chips. Some automotive retailers such as AutoZone offer keys with chips. They have a huge variety of keys, and can help you find the appropriate one for your car. They can help you program the chip in your vehicle, which is required to operate the device.
Laser cut keys are more secure than flat keys. They are more secure than traditional flat keys because they have a lock that is harder to pick. They can only be duplicated using expensive laser key cutting machines, or with specialized software. This technology is more prevalent in high-end cars, but it is now accessible in a wide range of low-cost automobiles as well.
Another kind of car key that is hard to duplicate is the VATS (vehicle anti-theft system) key. These keys have a black resistor in the key blade that is programmed with one of fifteen potential values to prevent them from starting a vehicle that it's not designed to. These keys are expensive and require an instrument for programming keys, which is only available at certain locksmiths.
VATS Keys
Before the days of transponder keys and 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 inside it to confirm that the correct key is being used to start the car. The VATS black pellet that is located in the middle of the VATS key isn't an electronic chip like the ones found on modern smart keys, it is simply a piece of carbon properly sized to carry a specific electrical resistance value.
GM employed 15 different resistances for VATS pellets and attached them to key blades so that when the key was turned in the ignition a coded message is sent to the module. If it matches 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 doesn't make a car safe from theft however it can delay the thief by at most 15 to 20 minutes.
Unfortunately, after a significant amount of use, the VATS module in your car may start to wear out. The two wires that connect the ignition are moved every time a key is placed. Over time the wires can begin to break. Once enough of the wires break then the signal to the module is not received and it will not start the car.
The good news is that you can solve this issue at home by decoding your own VATS key. It's not hard to determine the resistance value of a key with a multimeter. All you have to do is place one of the leads of your ohm meter on the prongs made of metal visible on both sides of the key, then examine the display of your ohm meter to find out the resistance of your key.
This is also a great way to test a new key to see whether it works in your car. Just be sure to remove the key from the ignition before you begin testing it, as the new key may have an incorrect VATS number and will not work in your vehicle.
Smart Key Fobs for Keys
Key fobs today are more than simply unlock or start the car. They often have advanced features that many owners are unaware of. They can be used as a security gadget or as a theft deterrent. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, make sounding sounds to help find your car in a parking space, or even allow you to summon your vehicle by pressing a button on your smartphone. This is more functionality than you obtain from a traditional keychain remote. Smart key fobs are more expensive to replace due their extra functions. They also have to be programmed at the dealer.
Some sellers charge as much as $100 for one smart fob. That's a huge sum to pay for a product that is often time jostled around in purses and pockets, where it is easily damaged, dropped or exposed to extreme moisture and temperatures. Fortunately, some automakers have developed ways to protect smart key fobs from the most common types of electronic threats like relay attacks. These are often combined with remote start hacks which allows thieves to access your vehicle's settings through the transmission of a fake signal from another transmitter near.
One way to protect the smart key fob is to store it in an aluminum case or a specially designed RFID blocking case that prevents the transmission of these signals. The ease of use of this technology is compromised if you must remove your key fob each time you use it from the case.
Fortunately, a few of the latest car insurance policies such as auto club memberships and extended warranty insurance policies will pay for the cost of a replacement or reimburse you for the lost fob. You can also avoid paying dealership fees by having your fob copied by a locksmith or hardware store that offers key-fob-cloning.
For the majority of drivers who want to buy a new key fob depends on how crucial your car's keyless entry and push-button start functions are. In any case it is advisable to keep a spare fob or key in case you lose yours. If you have to purchase a new replacement, Batteries Plus has a wide selection of fobs for most cars and trucks. Plus, our quick and convenient service costs about 50% less than the price you would buy from a dealership.
Traditional Keys
The classic car key is one piece of metal with a series grooves carved into it. These grooves are designed to fit certain locks. They can open your locks and start your car, assuming you don't replace them with the remote key or smart key. The only disadvantage of using a traditional car key is that you have to physically insert it into the ignition to start the engine. If your traditional car key has been lost or broken it is necessary to visit an Gainesville Locksmith to have a new one created.
You have a few options to choose from depending on how long it's been since you cut your keys. Some keys use mechanical cutting machines to produce copies, while others employ laser-cut keys that are specifically designed with enhanced security features in mind.
Some of these advanced features that are included in modern types of keys include encryption as well as other security mechanisms. The encryption ensures that only the right key can be used to start your car, making it more difficult for thieves to duplicate keys or pick locks. Transponder chips are a different anti-theft device. They are incorporated into the key and can communicate with your vehicle. This means that it can only work only when you're within a specific distance.
If you opt to use a traditional key, your locksmith can design an entirely new key using an ordinary cutter machine that can be bought from a variety of hardware stores. This is less expensive than a key fob or a transponder key, and you'll be able to use your locks, doors and trunk.
You can also replace your standard keys to your car with a laser-cut version that has an unique pattern. The first time these keys were introduced was in the late 1990s, and are a popular choice for those who wish to add extra protection to their vehicles. The majority of laser cut keys contain transponder chips that are designed to work only for your specific vehicle. If the chips aren't installed in your vehicle, it won't respond to the signals sent by the key.