10 Places To Find Cut Car Key
Car Key Cutting Explained
Cutting keys for cars is more than just bending a piece of metal. It is a complicated procedure that ensures safety, functionality and longevity of keys.
It is not uncommon to lose keys to your car, or have them break in the lock. To ensure that you can always drive your car you'll need to have a replacement key cut.
Transponder Keys
If your car was constructed within the last 20 years, it's likely to have a transponder chip. These microchips are in the key's handle and transmit a signal to your vehicle's onboard computers when you press the key. The onboard computer checks the digital serial number of the chip prior to allowing the car to begin. This prevents car thieves from stealing your car because they'd have to know the unique serial number.
The microchip inside the key sends a low-level signal the car's receiver. The radio signal activates microchip, and it then sends an informational code to the car's onboard computer. The car will only begin if it recognizes this code. This stops the use of "hot wiring" and other methods of stealing cars.
Car keys with chips can be made at locksmiths that offer these services. They are also available at certain automotive stores, such as AutoZone. They have a vast variety of keys and can help you get the right one for your vehicle. They can help you program your car's chip that is required to use the device.
Laser cut keys are more secure than flat keys. These keys have the lock cylinder, which is much harder to pick, and can only be duplicated using expensive laser key cutting equipment or specially designed software. This type of technology is typically found in high-end cars but is now accessible in a wide range of low-cost to get car key cut models.
Another type of car key that is difficult to duplicate is the VATS (vehicle anti-theft system) cheapest key cutting near me. The keys are black with a resistor in the key blade that is programmed with one of fifteen possible values to stop them from starting a car that it's not designed to. These keys are more expensive to purchase and require a specific key cut service programming machine that is only located at certain locksmiths.
Keys to VATS
Before transponder keys and cars with computers built-in to control the ignition, GM used a system called VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS uses a key with a resistor embedded in it to verify that the correct key was used to start the car. The black VATS pellet located in the middle of a VATS key is not a chip like those found on modern smart keys, it's simply a carbon block that is sized appropriately to have a specific electrical resistance value.
GM employed 15 different resistance values for VATS pellets and connected them to the key's blade so that when the key is turned on in the ignition a coded signal will be transmitted to the module. If the signal matches the signal of the transistor in a VATS pellet, then the relay in the starter circuit will be activated and the engine will begin to run. This doesn't make a car secure from burglary, but it can delay a thief for at least 15 to twenty minutes.
Unfortunately, after a long period of usage, the VATS module in your car can begin to wear out. Each time the key is inserted into the ignition, it moves two tiny wires inside the ignition and with time, the wires can begin to break. If enough wires are damaged, the signal is lost to the module and the car will not start.
You can solve this issue at home by decoding your VATS key. 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. You can find the resistance value by placing one of the leads on the prongs of metal on both sides of your key.
This is a great opportunity to test out a new key and see whether it works in your vehicle. Remove the ignition key first before you test it. If not the key may have an incorrect VATS and will not function in your vehicle.
Smart Key Fobs for Keys
Key fobs today can do more than just unlock or start the vehicle. They often have advanced features that many owners are not aware of. They can be used as a security gadget or as a theft deterrent. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, make noises that help you find your vehicle in a parking lot or let you summon your vehicle by pressing a button on your smartphone. This is a lot more functionality than you get from a standard keychain remote. Unfortunately, all that added capabilities can mean that smart key fobs can be pricier to replace than traditional keychain remotes and they typically need to be programmed by the dealer.
In fact, some dealers cost upwards of $100 to replace a single smart key fob. That's a lot to pay for a product that spends much of its time in purses and pockets, which is where it's easily dropped, damaged or exposed to moisture and extreme temperatures. Fortunately there are automakers who have developed ways to safeguard smart key fobs from the most common types of electronic threats like relay attacks. They are usually paired with a remote start hack that gives thieves access to your vehicle's settings via the transmission of a fake signal another transmitter close to.
One method to safeguard the smart key fob is to put it in a metal case or an RFID blocking case that blocks the transmission of these signals. However, having to take the key fob from its case that is protected each time you want to use it is not a good way to enjoy the benefits of the technology.
Fortunately, some of the newer car insurance policies such as auto club memberships and extended warranty coverage 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 laser cut keys near me that offers key-fob cloning services.
The decision to buy a new fob is largely based on the importance of your car's keyless start and entry functions. It is always advisable to keep a spare fob or key on hand in case you lose yours. Batteries Plus offers a large selection of replacement fobs that fit most cars and trucks. Plus, our quick and easy service is about 50% less than what you'd buy from the dealership.
Traditional Keys
Traditional car keys are a single length of metal with a series of grooves cut into it to fit in a specific lock. These keys can open your locks and start the car, assuming you haven't changed them out for a smart key or remote key. The only drawback to 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 the Gainesville Locksmith to have a new one created.
There are a variety of options to choose from depending on how long it's been since you've had your keys cut. Certain keys utilize mechanical cutting machines to produce copies, whereas others use laser-cut keys that have been designed with enhanced security features in mind.
Modern keys are equipped with advanced features, such as encryption and anti-theft mechanisms. Encryption makes sure that only the right key can be used to start your vehicle, making it more difficult for thieves to duplicate or pick locks. Other security features that prevent theft include transponder chips that are embedded in the key to connect with your car and make it only work when it's within a specific distance of your car.
If you opt to make use of a traditional key, your locksmith can design the new key using an ordinary cutter machine that can be bought at most hardware stores. This is less expensive than the key fob or transponder key, and you'll be able to use your doors, locks and trunk.
You could also replace your traditional keys for your car with a laser cut version with a unique pattern. The first keys of this kind were released in the 1990s and are a popular option for those looking to secure their vehicles. Keys made of lasers are typically equipped with transponder chips that are programmed to work only with your vehicle. If these chips are not present in your vehicle they will not respond to the signals transmitted by the key.