Car Key Cutting Explained
Cutting keys for cars is more than just bending a piece metal. It is a complex process that ensures security, functionality and longevity of keys.
It is not unusual to lose your car keys or have them break through the lock. To ensure that you are able to always drive your car you'll require a replacement key cut.
Transponder Keys
If your car was built within the last 20 years, it is likely that it has a transponder chip. These microchips are in the handle of the key and send a signal to the onboard computers in your vehicle when you use the key. The computer in the car detects the digital serial number in the chip and only allows the car to start if it is the right one. This prevents car theft as thieves would have to know your unique serial number to be able to steal it.
The microchip inside the key transmits a low-level signal to the receiver within the car. The radio signal activates the microchip, which transmits an encoded code to the car's onboard computer. The car will recognize the code and only allow it to start only if the key is the right one. This stops "hot wiring" or other methods of stealing cars.
motorcycle key cutting with chips can be made by locksmiths that offer these services. They can also be purchased at a few automotive stores, such as AutoZone. Those stores carry a huge variety of keys and can help you get the right one for your vehicle. They can assist you in programming your vehicle's chip, which is required for the device to function.
Laser cut keys are more secure than flat keys. They have an cylinder for locking that is more difficult to pick, and they can only be duplicated using expensive laser key cutting machines or specially designed software. This technology is most commonly found in high-end vehicles 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's difficult to duplicate. These keys feature a black resistor on the key blade that is programmed with one of fifteen potential values to prevent the car from starting that it's not meant to. These keys are more expensive to buy and require a specific key programming machine that is only located at certain locksmiths.
VATS Keys
Before transponder keys and cars with computer chips that control the ignition, GM used a system known as VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS makes use of a key with an embedded resistor to confirm that the right key was used to start the car. The VATS pellet in black that is located in the middle of the VATS Key isn't a smart chip as found on most modern keys. It is simply carbon or a block that is sized to provide an electrical resistance value.
GM used 15 different resistances for VATS pellets and connected the key blades to them so that when the key was turned on, the key blades transmit a coded message 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 begins to run. This doesn't make a car burglar-proof, but it can delay thieves for at least 15 to twenty minutes.
Unfortunately, after a significant amount of use, the VATS module in your car can begin to wear out. Every time a key is inserted into the ignition, it moves two tiny wires inside the ignition, and with time, the wires may begin to break. When enough wires are broken the signal to the module is lost and the module won't be able to start the car.
You can solve this problem at home by decoding your VATS code. You'll require a multimeter and an indicator chart to determine the resistance value of your key, but it is not difficult at all. You can determine the resistance value by placing one of the leads on the metal prongs on both sides of your key.
This can also be a good method to test a new key to see if it will work in your vehicle. Remove the key from the ignition first before you test it. If not the key could have an incorrect VATS and not function in your vehicle.
Smart Key Fobs for Keys
Key fobs today can do more than simply unlock or start the car. They are also a security device and a burglar deterrent, with a lot of them having advanced features that owners might not be aware of. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, emit noises that help you locate your car in a parking space and even allow you to call your vehicle by pressing a button on your smartphone. That's a lot more than you'd think of from a standard keychain remote. Unfortunately, all that extra functionality can mean that smart key fobs could be pricier to replace than standard keychain remotes. They also need to be programmed by the dealer.
In fact, some retailers will charge upwards of $100 to replace one smart key fob. That's a huge sum to pay for a product that is often time snagging around in purses and pockets where it is easily damaged, dropped or exposed to moisture and extreme temperatures. Fortunately certain automakers have come up with methods to shield smart key fobs from the most common types of electronic attacks like relay attacks. They are typically utilized in conjunction with remote-start hacks that allow thieves to gain access to your vehicle's settings by transmitting an untrue signal from a nearby transmitter.
One method to safeguard a smart key fob is to keep it in an aluminum case or a specially designed RFID blocking case that blocks the transmission of these signals. The convenience of the technology is diminished if you need to take your key fob out every time you use it from the protective case.
Fortunately, some newer car-insurance policies, auto club memberships, and extended warranty coverages will pay for the cost of a replacement or reimburse you for a lost fob. You can also save money on new-car dealer fees and have your fob cut at a hardware store or locksmith which offers key-fob cloning.
For most drivers who want to buy an extra key fob will depend on how important your car's keyless entry and push button starter functions are. In any case you should have a spare key or fob handy just in case you lose yours. Batteries Plus offers a large choice of replacement fobs that fit on most cars and trucks. We also offer an easy, fast service that is approximately 50% less than what you'd buy from a dealership.
Traditional Keys
The car key of old is made of a single piece of steel with a series of grooves cut into it. These grooves are designed to fit specific locks. These keys can open your locks and open the car, as long as you haven't changed them out for a smart key or remote key. The only drawback to using a traditional key is that it needs to be physically put into the ignition to start the vehicle. If your traditional key is lost, broken or stolen, you'll have to visit an Gainesville locksmith to have new keys cut from the blank.
Depending on how long has passed since the last time you had your keys cut, there are several different options to choose from when it comes time to get another copy made. Certain keys employ mechanical cutting machines to produce copies, while others employ laser-cut keys that are designed with enhanced security features in mind.
Some of these features that are included in modern-day keys include encryption and other anti-theft mechanisms. The encryption ensures that only the correct key can be used to start your vehicle, making it more difficult for thieves to duplicate or pick locks. Transponder chips are another anti-theft device. They are incorporated into the key and connect to your vehicle. This means that they only work when you're within a certain distance.
If you opt to use a traditional, standard key, a locksmith is able to create a new one using a standard key cutter machine that can be found at the majority of hardware stores. This is less expensive than a key fob, or transponder, and you can still operate your trunk locks, trunk locks and doors.
You can also replace your traditional keys for your car with a laser cut version with a unique pattern. These keys first came out in the 1990s, and are now a popular option for people who want to provide extra security to their automobiles. The majority of laser cut keys come with transponder chips that are programmed to work only with your specific vehicle. If these chips are not present in your vehicle they will not respond to the signals generated by the key.