Car Key Cutting Explained
Cutting keys for cars is more than just bending a piece metal. It is a complex process that ensures safety, functionality and longevity of keys.
It is not uncommon to lose your car keys or have it break off in the lock. You'll need a new car key in order to ensure that you can drive your car at all times.
Transponder Keys
Transponder chips will likely be installed in cars built within the past 20 years. These chips are small microchips inside the handle of your key that transmit signals to the car's onboard computer when you use it. The computer on board detects the digital serial number inside the chip and allows the car to start if it is the correct one. This prevents thieves from taking over your vehicle, as they would need to be aware of the unique serial number.
The microchip in your car key transmits a low-level radio signal to the car's receiver. The radio signal activates microchip, which then transmits an informational code to the car's onboard computer. The car will be able to recognize this code and only allow it to start if it is the correct one. This will stop "hot wiring" or other methods to steal cars.
Locksmiths who provide these services can create keys for cars with chips. They are also available at certain automotive stores, such as AutoZone. These stores offer a wide variety of keys, and can assist you in finding the best one for your car. They can also help you program the chip to your vehicle, which is required to make it work.
Laser cut keys are more secure than flat keys. They have an cylinder for locking that is much harder to pick, and they can only be duplicated with expensive laser key cutting equipment or special software. This type of technology is typically found in luxury cars, but is now available on a variety of affordable models.
The VATS (vehicle-anti-theft system) key is another type of key that's difficult to duplicate. They come with a resistor black on the blade of the key. It can be programmed with one of a variety of values to prevent it from starting a vehicle it's not designed to. These keys are more expensive to buy and require a special key programming machine that can only be found at some locksmiths.
VATS Keys
Before transponder keys or cars that had computer chips built in to control the ignition, GM used a system known as VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS uses an ordinary key with a pellet of resistance embedded in it to confirm that the correct key is being used to start the car. The black VATS Pellet located in the middle of a VATS Key isn't a smart chip like those used on the majority of modern keys. It is merely carbon or a block which is sized to hold an electrical resistance.
GM used 15 different resistance values for the VATS pellets. They attached them to the blade of the key, so that when the key is turned on in the ignition, a coded signal is sent 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 will start to run. This doesn't make a car secure from theft, but it will delay the theft by at least 15 to 20 minutes.
Unfortunately, after a long period of usage, the VATS module in your car can start to wear out. Each time the key is inserted into the ignition, it reroutes two small wires within the ignition, and over time the wires can begin to break. Once enough wires break then the signal to the module gets lost and it won't start the car.
You can resolve this issue 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 that difficult. All you need to do is put one of the leads of your ohm meter onto the metal prongs that are hanging out on both sides of the key, then examine the display of your ohm meter to find out the resistance of your key.
This is also a good way to test the new key to determine whether it will work in your vehicle. 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 not function in your car.
Smart Key Fobs
Key fobs of today can do more than unlock or start cars. They also function as a security device and a burglar deterrent, with a lot of them featuring advanced features that owners might not even be aware of. They can lock and unlock your door from a distance and make chirping sounds to assist you in finding your vehicle in a parking lot, or allow you to call it up by pressing the button. That's a lot more than you'd imagine from a traditional keychain remote. Unfortunately, all that added capabilities also means that smart key fobs could be pricier to replace than traditional keychain remotes and they typically need to be programmed by the dealer.
Some dealers charge up to $100 for a single smart fob. This is a significant amount to pay for a device that spends much of its time snagging around in purses and pockets where it is easily dropped, damaged or exposed to extreme moisture and temperatures. Certain automakers have devised methods to protect smart keyfobs from common electronic attacks, such as relay attacks. These are often used in combination with a remote-start hack that allows thieves to gain access to your vehicle's settings by transmitting false signals from a nearby transmitter.
To protect a smart fob to protect it, you can place it in a casing made of metal or use an RFID blocking case. This will block the transmission of these signals. However, the necessity of removing the key fob from a case that is protected each time you make use of it is a hassle and a detriment to the efficiency of the technology.
car key cutting that are more recent such as auto club memberships as well as extended warranties, will pay for an additional fob, or reimburse you if it's lost. 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.
The decision of whether to purchase a new fob is largely dependent on the importance of your car's keyless start and entry functions. In any case you should have a spare key or fob handy just in case you lose it. Batteries Plus offers a large selection of replacement fobs that will fit on most cars and trucks. Additionally, our fast and convenient service costs 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 will unlock your locks and also start the car, provided you don't swap them out for a smart key or remote key. The only disadvantage of using a traditional key is that it needs to be physically placed into the ignition to start the car. If your car key is lost or broken it is necessary to visit an Gainesville locksmith to get a new one made.
There are a variety of options to select from based on how long it has been since you've were able to cut your keys. Some keys use mechanical cutting machines to produce copies, while others use laser-cut keys that have been specifically designed with enhanced security features in mind.
Some of these features that come with the modern types of keys include encryption and other anti-theft mechanisms. Encryption ensures that only the correct key can be used to start your vehicle which makes it harder for thieves to duplicate or pick locks. Other anti-theft features include transponder chips, which are incorporated into the key to connect with your vehicle and allow it to only work when it's within a certain distance of your vehicle.
If you opt to utilize a traditional key your locksmith can create the new key using a standard cutter machine that can be bought from a variety of hardware stores. This is less expensive than an electronic key fob or transponder key, and you'll still be able to use your doors, locks and trunk.
You can 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 a popular choice for people who want to add extra protection to their vehicles. Laser cut keys are usually equipped with transponder chips programmed to work only with your vehicle. If the chips aren't present in your vehicle, it won't respond to the signals generated by the key.