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Car Key Cutting Explained

Car key cutting is a lot more than simply shaping the metal. It is a complex process that ensures safety, functionality and long-term use of keys.

It is not uncommon to lose your car keys or have them break in the lock. To ensure you're able to always drive your car, you will need to have a replacement key cut.

Transponder Keys

Transponder chips are likely be installed in cars built within the past 20 years. These chips are small microchips inside the key's handle which transmit signals to the car's onboard computer when you are using it. The computer onboard examines the serial number digitally of the chip before it allows the car to start. This prevents car thieves from taking over your vehicle, as they would need 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, and it then sends an informational code to the car's onboard computer. The car will recognize this code and will only allow it to start only if it is the correct one. This prevents "hot wiring" or other methods of stealing cars.

Locksmiths that offer these services can create car keys with chips. They are also available at certain automotive stores like AutoZone. These stores have a wide variety of keys and can assist you in selecting the best one for your vehicle. They can even help you program the chip to your vehicle, which is necessary to make it work.

Laser cut keys are more secure than flat keys. They have the lock cylinder, which is much more difficult to pick, and they can only be duplicated with expensive laser key cutting equipment or special key cutting software. This technology is more common in luxury vehicles, but it is now being used in many affordable models of cars as well.

The VATS (vehicle-anti-theft system) key is another kind of key that is difficult to duplicate. These keys have a black resistor on the key blade that is programmed with one of fifteen possible values to prevent them from starting a vehicle that it's not meant to. These keys are costly and require the use of a key programming machine which is only available through certain 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 makes use of a key with 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 isn't an electronic chip that is like those found on most modern keys. It's just a block or carbon that is sized to hold an electrical resistance value.

GM employed 15 different resistances for the VATS Pellets. They attached them to key blades in a way that when the key is turned on, the key blades transmit a coded message to the module. If the signal 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 isn't a way to make a car safe from theft, but it will delay the thief by at minimum 15 to 20 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 every time the key is introduced. Over time the wires can start to break. If enough wires are damaged the signal goes out to the module and the car will not start.

You can resolve this issue at home yourself by decoding your VATS key. It's not hard to determine the resistance of a key using a multimeter. You can determine the resistance value by putting one of the leads on the prongs of metal on both sides of your key.

This method can also be a good method to test a new key to determine if it will work in your vehicle. Remove the key from the ignition first before you test it. In the event that it is not removed the key could have an incorrect VATS and not function in your vehicle.

Smart Key Fobs with Smart Keys

Today's key fobs do more than just unlock or start cars. Many of them have advanced features that most 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, make noises that help you find your car in a parking lot or allow you to call your vehicle by pressing a button on your smartphone. That's a lot more than you'd expect from the traditional keychain remote. Smart key fobs are more expensive to replace because of their extra functions. They also have to be programmed by the dealer.

Some dealers charge up to $100 for a single smart fob. It's a huge price for a device that's often jostled in pockets and purses where it can be damaged, thrown or exposed to extreme temperatures and water. Fortunately there are automakers who have developed ways to protect smart key fobs from the most common kinds of electronic attacks, such as relay attacks. These are usually used in combination with a remote-start hack that allows thieves to gain access to the settings of your vehicle by sending false signals from a nearby transmitter.

To protect a smart fob, you can store it in a metal casing or use an RFID blocking case. This will stop the transmission of these signals. The convenience of this technology is diminished if you must remove your key fob each time you need to take it out of the protective case.

Fortunately, some newer car-insurance policies, auto club memberships, and extended warranty insurance policies will cover the cost of replacing a fob or pay for the loss of a fob. You can also avoid paying new-car dealership fees by having your fob cloned by a locksmith or hardware retailer that provides key-fob cloning.

For the majority of drivers who are buying an additional key fob is contingent on how important your car's keyless entry and push-button start functions are. It is always advisable to keep a spare fob or key on hand in the event that you lose yours. Batteries Plus offers a large selection of replacement fobs that fit on most cars and car key replacement trucks. Additionally, our fast and convenient service costs about 50% less than what you'd buy from a dealership.

Traditional Keys

Traditional keys for cars are a single piece of metal with a series of grooves cut into it to fit a specific lock. These keys will unlock your locks and start your car, assuming you haven't replaced them by a remote key or smart key. The only downside of using the 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 damaged or lost it is necessary to visit a Gainesville Locksmith to have a new one made.

There are several choices to pick from based on how long it has been since you've cut your keys. Certain keys are cut using mechanical machines, while others are laser-cut with security features that are enhanced.

Modern keys come with advanced features such as encryption and anti-theft mechanisms. Encryption makes sure that only the correct key can be used to start your car which makes it harder for thieves to duplicate keys or pick locks. Transponder chips are another anti-theft device. They are embedded into the key and communicate with your vehicle. This makes it only effective only when you're within certain distance.

If you choose to make use of a traditional key, your locksmith can create the new key using an ordinary cutter machine that is available at most hardware stores. This is less expensive than a key fob, or transponder, and you can still operate your trunk, locks, and doors.

You could also replace your traditional car keys with a laser-cut version that has an unique pattern. The first time these keys were introduced was in the 1990s, and are now a popular option for those who wish to add extra protection to their automobiles. Laser cut keys typically contain transponder chips that are programmed to work only with your specific vehicle. If these chips aren't present in your car it won't be able to respond to the signals coming from the key and won't be able to start.