10 Steps To Begin Your Own Cut Car Key Business
Car key cut Cutting Explained
Car key cutting is much more than just forming a piece of metal. It is a complicated process that ensures safety, functionality and longevity of keys.
It is not unusual to lose keys to your car or have them break through the lock. You'll require a new car key in order to ensure that you are able to drive your vehicle at all times.
Transponder Keys
If your car was constructed within the last 20 years, it is likely to have a transponder chip. These chips are tiny microchips located in the handle of your key that transmit signals to the car's onboard computer when you are using it. The computer in the car is able to verify the digital serial number of the chip before giving the car permission to begin. This stops theft of vehicles as thieves would have to know your unique serial number in order to have a chance at hijacking it.
The microchip in your car key transmits an unintentional radio signal to the receiver inside the car. This radio signal activates the microchip, and it then sends an encoded code to the car's onboard computer. The car will only start only if it recognizes the code. This will stop "hot wiring" or other methods of stealing cars.
Car keys with chips can be made by an authorized locksmith who offers these services. They are also available at a few automotive stores like AutoZone. These stores offer a wide selection of keys, and can help you find the best one for your car. They can even assist you to programme the chip into your vehicle, which is required for it to function.
You can also purchase laser cut keys that are more secure than flat keys. These keys have a lock cylinder that is much harder to pick, and they are only duplicated using expensive laser key cutting machines or with special software. This technology is more prevalent in high-end cars, but it is now accessible in a wide range of low-cost cars too.
Another kind of car key that's hard to duplicate is the VATS (vehicle anti-theft system) key. They have a resistor that is black on the blade of the key. It can be programmed to one of 15 possible values to stop it from starting a car that's not designed to. These keys are expensive and require the use of a key programming machine which is only available at a few locksmiths.
VATS Keys
Before the days of transponder keys and automobiles equipped with computer chips that control the ignition of the car, GM used something called VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS uses an ordinary key cutting business with a resistor pellet embedded in it to confirm that the correct key is being used to start the vehicle. The VATS pellet black located in the middle of a VATS key is not an electronic chip like the ones present in modern smart keys. It is simply a block of carbon appropriately sized to have an exact electrical resistance.
GM used 15 different resistances for the VATS Pellets. They attached them to key blades so that, when the key is turned on, a coded message is sent to the module. If the signal is in line with 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 does not make a car burglar-proof however it could delay thieves for at least 15 to twenty minutes.
Unfortunately, after a long period of use, the VATS module in your car can start to wear out. The two small wires in the ignition are moved each time a key is introduced. As time passes the wires can begin to break. Once enough wires are broken the signal goes out to the module and the car won't start.
The good news is that you can fix this issue yourself by decoding your own VATS key. It's not hard to determine the resistance of a key using the multimeter. All you have to do is put one of the leads of your ohm gauge on the metal prongs that are sticking out on both sides of the key. Then examine the display of your ohm meter to determine the resistance value of your key.
This is a great opportunity to test out a new key and determine if it works in your vehicle. Just be sure to remove the key from the ignition before you begin testing it, otherwise the new key could have an incorrect VATS value and may not function in your car.
Smart Key Fobs for Keys
Today's key fobs can do more than unlock or start the car. A lot of them come with advanced features that most owners are not aware of. They can be employed as a security tool or a theft deterrent. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, emit sounding sounds to help locate your vehicle in a parking lot, or even allow you to call your vehicle by pressing a button on your smartphone. This is a lot more than you'd think of from a standard keychain remote. Unfortunately, all that added capabilities also means that smart key fobs may be more expensive to replace than traditional keychain remotes. They also need to be programmed by the dealer.
In fact, some dealers will charge upwards of $100 to replace one smart key fob. It's a steep price to pay for a device that is often tossed around in purses and pockets where it could be damaged, thrown or exposed to extreme temperatures and water. Certain automakers have devised methods to protect smart keyfobs from common electronic attacks, such as relay attacks. These are typically combined with remote start hacks which allows thieves to access your vehicle's settings through the transmission of a fake signal from another transmitter close to.
One method of protecting the smart key fob is to store it in a metal case or use a dedicated RFID blocking case that prevents the transmission of these signals. However, the necessity of removing the key fob from its protective case every time you need to use it undermines the convenience of the technology.
Fortunately, some of the newer car insurance policies and auto club memberships and extended warranty coverages will cover the cost of a replacement or pay for the loss of a fob. You can also avoid paying dealership fees by having your fob cloned at a hardware or locksmith retailer that provides key-fob cloning.
For most drivers, the decision to purchase a new key fob depends on how important your car's keyless entry and push-button starter functions are. In any case it is advisable to keep a spare key or fob handy just in case you lose it. Batteries Plus offers a large choice of replacement fobs that will fit most cars and trucks. Plus, our quick and efficient service is 50% less than the price you'd spend at the dealership.
Traditional Keys
Traditional keys for cars are a single piece of metal with grooves cut into it to fit into a particular lock. These keys will unlock your locks and start the car, assuming you haven't exchanged them for a smart key or remote key. The only disadvantage of using the traditional car key is that you have to physically insert it into the ignition to start the engine. If your traditional key has been lost, damaged or stolen, you'll need to visit the Gainesville locksmith to have an alternative one cut from the blank.
You have a few choices to pick from based on how long it has been since you cut your keys. Some keys use mechanical cutting machines to make 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 it harder for thieves to duplicate keys or take locks. Transponder chips are a different anti-theft device. They are embedded in the key and can communicate with your vehicle. This means that they only function when you're within a certain distance.
If you opt to use a traditional standard key, a locksmith is able to create a new key with a standard key cutting machine that can be found at the majority of hardware stores. This is less expensive than a local key cutting fob, or a transponder. you are still able to operate your trunk locks, trunk locks and doors.
Another alternative is to get your standard car key substituted with a laser-cut version that has a unique pattern. These keys first came out in the 1990s and are now a popular option for those who wish to add extra protection to their vehicles. Keys made of lasers are typically equipped with transponder chips programmed to work only with your vehicle. If the chips aren't installed in your vehicle, it will not respond to the signals generated by the key.