Types of Ignition Key Replacement
The blade style car key is the easiest to use. It's as simple as inserting it into your ignition lock cylinder and you're ready to go. Keys like this are typically used in older cars, but modern models feature transponder chips which must be programmed into your car in order to work.
The keys can be replaced by a dealer or an automotive locksmith. They can make the replacement using your vehicle's VIN number.
Transponder Keys
Transponder chips are almost always found in vehicles manufactured within the last 20-years. It's a combination of mechanical security and electronic security. It sends a coded message to the vehicle once you insert the ignition key. The engine control unit then compares this code with its internal database to determine if you are the owner of the vehicle. If you are then, the car will start. The process takes milliseconds and is invisible to the naked eye.
If you own a transponder key, you'll be able to see an electronic chip that is small on the front of your key. Inserting the key into your ignition and turning it on is the easiest method to test. If your car responds to the keys this means that it has been programmed and verified as an authentic transponder.
This is because, while traditional keys match the lock tumblers to unlock the vehicle, the transponder chip sends an electronic signal directly to the computer. This is a way to prevent people from hot-wiring their vehicles by ensuring the right key is used.
Follow these easy steps to reprogram a transponder. First, verify that the key works and then put it aside. Then, insert the blank key in the ignition and turn it to the "on" position. After approximately 15 minutes, turn off the ignition. After that, you can try starting the car again. If it fails to start then you'll have to repeat the procedure of turning off and switching on the car.
The process of reprogramming transponder keys is a bit more complex and expensive than duplicating a regular mechanical car key. In addition, you will require the key professionally cut, and a special car key programr is required to remove the code from your ECM and then match it to a new transponder keys.
Smart Keys
With smart keys, a motorist can open their doors and start their engine by pressing a button without having to insert the key into the ignition. The fob is equipped with an RFID chip that communicates with an immobilizer inside the car, disarming it so that the car can start. The fob has remote control buttons that open the tailgate, unlock the trunk and control the door locks. Some include a panic switch that, when pressed, blasts the horn of the vehicle to scare away intruders.
Smart keys aren't any different. They have their pros and cons, just as any other technology. They offer convenience and increased security particularly for those who frequently forget to lock their vehicle. These features can help you save money over time.
Smart keys aren't just a great way to prevent thieves from stealing cars as well, but they can aid you in avoiding the infamous phrase, "it's somewhere in here." Instead of using a metal key shaft, smart keys communicate with your car via radio frequency signals. They are therefore unable to be duplicated with a traditional key cut. However, this doesn't mean that you cannot find the key in the event that it is lost.
Smart keys are more expensive based on the manufacturer. The main reason is because smart keys have built-in electronic components, which makes them more complex and harder to fix in the event of malfunction.
Luckily, Pop-A-Lock is able to replace and program most smart keys at a fraction of the cost of your dealer. We can complete the process in a shorter amount of time, avoiding needing to arrange for alternative transportation while your vehicle is being repaired. If you're thinking about buying a smart key to your car, do yourself a favour and buy a spare fob to keep in a safe place, or invest in motor insurance that will have a large payout in the event of losing your keys. Just make sure you keep it out of reach from the eyes of anyone who might be watching - low frequency transmissions could allow someone to pick up your signal and steal your car, reports How Stuff Works Electronics.
Switchblade Keys
There are a variety of options when replacing an ignition key. Traditional keys are the traditional standby, incorporating a metal shaft with distinct cuts or notches that correspond to the lock tumblers in the door and ignition cylinder. They lack advanced features like remote unlocking or keyless entry, but they are reliable and simple to use.
Transponder keys represent an important advance in automotive security technology. These keys have an electronic chip inside the head of the key that communicates with a receiver within the vehicle and allows it to start only if the correct code is transmitted. This kind of key is very efficient in reducing the amount of crime committed by automobiles. The procedure of programming a transponder or key for a professional locksmith is fairly simple.
Another kind of key is the flip-style key, which tucks the key blade inside the housing when not in use. This helps protect the key blade from damage, and also reduces weight for easier carrying. This type of key has a key fob that includes remote control features. Drivers can lock and unlock their car trunks, doors, or even start their engines remotely.
Laser cut keys are readily available for those looking to add an additional layer of protection against auto theft. car ignition switch repair of these keys are cut using the help of a laser, resulting in a more precise and difficult to replicate pattern. Although these keys are more expensive than standard key fobs and traditional keys but they also provide more security against theft by unauthorized users.
Finally, there are switchblade keys, which resemble the bladed weapons that helped popularize the term "switchblade." These keys fold up into an accessory handle for keys when not in use. The handle opens when a button is pressed, revealing the blade of the key. Locksmiths can repair the key blade or the key fob component of this kind of key, but they can be a bit more costly than basic replacements.
Smart keys are the most recent innovation in automotive security, offering a fully electronic method of unlocking and starting your car. These keys communicate with your vehicle via antennas that are embedded into the car's frame and body. This eliminates the requirement for traditional key blades and the requirement to insert the key into the ignition. The most sophisticated models have the ability to lock and start your car without needing to be connected to the ignition at all but this requires you be within the range of the vehicle.
Key Fobs
Key fobs work as remotes that allow you to lock and start your car without having to touch the ignition. They are small, rectangular, and feature buttons for a variety of functions. From locking the doors to remotely starting the car, they can be used for everything. They are attached to the car key using tiny plastic cases that may include buttons to open the trunk or activate an alarm.
Certain newer vehicles also come with keys that can be combined to provide both a traditional key shank as well the key fob, the latter usually controlling the ignition. These are also known as "transponder keys."
Many modern car owners utilize their key fobs to gain access to their vehicle, and most of them aren't aware of it. These devices are an excellent way to make driving easier however they also have some downsides.
The most obvious issue is that a key fob can be unable to charge. The electronic signals that unlock your car and then start it operate by sending an electronic code to the car's computer and in the event that the signal is cut off or is lost, the key fob won't be capable of operating the car.
Fortunately modern key fobs are designed to ward off these kinds of threats. They are usually programmed to send random numbers to the car system each time they send out a signal. This stops old codes from being reused and makes keys stolen from the car useless to thieves.
Key fobs can be used as a backup method to unlock and start the car, if the key is somehow misplaced. Some manufacturers have even gone a step further by offering apps that can be downloaded onto phones and used to control a vehicle in the event that you're unable to locate your key fob.
If you have a key fob that has to be replaced, it's best to contact a professional locksmith. They can assist you, and their services are likely to be more affordable than a dealership.