Car Key Cutting Explained
Car key cutting is a lot more than just forming the metal. It is a complicated process that ensures security, functionality and durability of keys.
It is not unusual to lose your car keys or even break it in the lock. You'll require 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 manufactured within the past 20 years, it is likely that it has transponder chips. These chips are tiny microchips located in the handle of your key that send signals to the car's onboard computer whenever you use it. The onboard computer reads the digital serial number in the chip and only allows the car to start if it is the correct one. This prevents car thieves from stealing your car since they'd need to know the unique serial number.
The microchip inside your car key transmits an unintentional radio signal to the receiver inside the car. The radio signal activates the microchip, and it then sends a code to the car's onboard computer. The car will recognize the code and only allow it to start only if it is the correct one. This will stop "hot wiring" or other methods of stealing cars.
Locksmiths who offer these services can make car keys with chips. They are also available at certain automotive stores like AutoZone. These stores offer a wide variety of keys, and can assist you in finding the right one for your vehicle. They can even assist you to programme the chip into your vehicle, which is essential to make it work.
Laser cut keys are more secure than flat keys. These keys feature a lock cylinder that is much more difficult to pick, and they are only duplicated using expensive laser key cutting equipment or special software. This technology is most common in luxury cars but is now accessible in a wide range of low-cost models.
The VATS (vehicle-anti-theft system), key is another type of key that is difficult to duplicate. They come with a resistor black on the blade of the key. car key cutting near me can be programmed to any of 15 possible values to prevent it from starting a car that's not intended to. These keys are more expensive to purchase and require a special key programming machine that is only found at a few locksmiths.
VATS Keys
Before transponder keys or vehicles with computers built-in to control the ignition, GM used a system called VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS utilizes a key that has an internal resistor to confirm that the right key was used to start the car. The VATS pellet that is black in the middle of a VATS Key is not a smart chip like those used on the majority of modern keys. It is simply a block or carbon that is sized to hold an electrical resistance.
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 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 starts to run. This does not make a car secure from burglary however it could delay thieves for at least fifteen to twenty minutes.
Unfortunately, after a lot of use, the VATS module in your car may begin to wear out. The two wires that connect the ignition move each when the key is placed. As car key cutting passes the wires could start to break. If enough wires are damaged the signal is lost to the module and the car won't begin.
You can resolve this issue at home yourself by decoding your VATS code. You'll require a multimeter as well as a chart to find out the resistance value of your key, but it is not that difficult. All you need to do is put one of the leads of your ohm meter on the metal prongs that are visible on both sides of the key. Then look at the display of the ohmmeter to find out the resistance value of your key.
This is a great method to test out a new key and determine if it works in your car. Just be sure to remove the key from the ignition before you begin testing it, otherwise the new key may have an incorrect VATS value and not work in your vehicle.
Smart Key Fobs for Keys
Key fobs today are more than simply unlock and start the vehicle. A lot of them come with advanced features that many owners are unaware of. They can be used as a security gadget or as a deterrent to theft. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, emit noises that help you find your car in a parking lot and even let you summon your vehicle by pressing a button on your smartphone. cutting car key is more functionality than you can get from a traditional keychain remote. Smart key fobs are more expensive to replace due to their additional functions. They also need to be programmed by the dealer.
In fact, some retailers will charge upwards of $100 to replace one smart key fob. It's a huge cost to pay for a device that is often jostled in pockets and purses where it can be damaged, dropped, or exposed to extreme temperatures and water. Fortunately there are automakers who have developed ways to protect smart key fobs from common types of electronic threats like relay attacks. These are often used in combination with a remote-start hack that allows thieves to access your vehicle's settings by transmitting an untrue signal from a nearby transmitter.
One method to safeguard the key fob's RFID is to store it in a metal case or a specially designed RFID blocking case that blocks the transmission of these signals. The ease of use of this technology is compromised if you have to take your key fob out every time you need to use it from the case.
Fortunately, some of the newer car insurance policies such as auto club memberships and extended warranty coverages will cover the cost of replacing a fob or pay for the loss of a fob. You can also avoid paying new-car dealer fees by having your fob cloned by a locksmith or hardware retailer that provides key-fob cloning.
The decision of whether to buy a new fob is based on the importance of your car's keyless entry and start functions. It is always advisable to keep a spare key or fob in case you misplace yours. If you have to purchase a replacement, Batteries Plus has a wide selection of fobs for the majority of vehicles and trucks. Plus, we offer an efficient, quick service that is roughly 50% less than you'd pay at the dealership.
Traditional Keys
Traditional car keys are a single piece of metal with a series of grooves cut into it to fit in a specific lock. These keys can open your locks and begin your car, provided you haven't replaced them with an electronic key or a remote key. The only disadvantage of using the traditional car key is that you need to physically insert it into the ignition to start the engine. If your car key has been lost or broken it is necessary to visit the Gainesville Locksmith to have a new one made.
Depending on how much time has passed since you last cut your keys there are a variety of options to select from when it comes to having another copy made. Certain keys employ mechanical cutting machines to make copies, whereas others use laser-cut keys that are designed with enhanced security features in mind.
Modern keys are equipped with advanced features like encryption and anti-theft mechanisms. Encryption makes sure that only the right key can be used to open your vehicle which makes it harder for thieves to duplicate or pick locks. Transponder chips are a different anti-theft device. They are embedded in the key and connect to your vehicle. This means that they only work only when you're within a specific distance.
If you choose to use a traditional key, your locksmith can make the new key using an ordinary cutter machine that is available from most hardware stores. This is cheaper than a key fob or transponder, and you are still able to operate your locks, trunk, and doors.
Another option is to have your standard car key replaced with a laser cut version that has a unique pattern. These keys first came out in the 1990s and they're a popular choice for people who want to provide extra security to their automobiles. Typically, laser cut keys have special transponder chips that are specifically programmed to work with your specific vehicle. If the chips aren't installed in your vehicle, it will not respond to the signals generated by the key.