Test: How Much Do You Know About Cut Car Key

Car Key Cutting Explained

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

It is not unusual to lose your car key or even break it in the lock. To ensure that you can always drive your car, you will require a replacement key cut.

Transponder Keys

Transponder chips are likely to be installed in cars built in the last 20 years. These microchips are located in the handle of the key and transmit a signal to the onboard computers of your vehicle when you press the key. The computer in the car scans the digital serial numbers in the chip and only allows the car to start if it's the correct one. This prevents car thieves from taking over your vehicle because they'd have to know the unique serial number.

The microchip in the key sends a low-level signal the car's receiver. This radio signal activates your microchip that then transmits the instructions to the onboard computer of the car. The car will only start if it recognizes this code. This will stop "hot wiring" or other methods to steal cars.

Car keys with chips can be created at locksmiths that offer these services. They can also be bought at some automotive retailers like AutoZone. These stores have a large variety of keys, and can assist you in choosing the appropriate one for your vehicle. They can also 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 an cylinder for locking that is much more difficult to pick, and they can only be duplicated with expensive laser key cutting machines or specialized software. This technology is more prevalent in luxury vehicles, but it is now available in many affordable models of cars as well.

The VATS (vehicle-anti-theft system) key is a different type of key that is difficult to duplicate. The keys are black with a resistor in the key blade that is programmed with one of fifteen possible values to stop the car from starting that it's not intended to. These keys are more expensive to purchase and require a specific key programming device that can only be found at a few locksmiths.

VATS getting keys cut

Before the days of transponder keys and automobiles equipped with computer chips that control the ignition of a car, GM used something called VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS uses an ordinary key with a resistor pellet embedded inside it to confirm that the correct key is used to start the car. The VATS pellet that is black in the middle of a VATS Key is not a smart chip as used on the majority of modern keys. It is merely carbon or a block that is sized to hold an electrical resistance.

GM employed 15 different resistances for VATS pellets and connected them to key blades in a way that when the key is turned on, a coded message 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 theft proof however it can delay the thief by at minimum 15 to 20 minutes.

After a lot of usage the VATS module could begin to wear out. The two wires that connect the ignition are moved every time the key is placed. Over time, the wires may begin to break. Once enough wires are broken, the signal is lost to the module and the car won't start.

The good news is that you can solve this issue yourself by decoding your VATS key. You'll require a multimeter as well as an indicator chart to determine the resistance value of your key, but it is not that difficult. You can determine the resistance value by placing one of the leads on the metal prongs on both sides of your key.

This method can also be a good method to test a new key to determine whether it will work in your vehicle. Remove the key from the ignition first before you test it. If not, the key may have an incorrect VATS and will not work in your car.

Smart Key Fobs for Keys

Key fobs today do more than just unlock or start the vehicle. They are also a security device and a burglar deterrent, with a lot of them incorporating advanced features that the owners might not even be aware of. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, make chirping sounds to help you locate your vehicle in a parking lot, or even allow you to summon your vehicle by pressing the button on your phone. This is a lot more features than you get from a traditional keychain remote. Smart key fobs are more expensive to replace due their extra functions. They also require to be programmed at the dealer.

In fact, some dealers cost upwards of $100 to replace a single smart key fob. It's a high cost to pay for a device that's often tossed around in purses and pockets where it can be damaged, thrown or exposed to extreme temperatures and humidity. Some automakers have developed methods to shield smart key fobs from common electronic attacks, like relay attacks. They are usually paired with a remote start hack that gives thieves access to your vehicle's settings through the transmission of a fake signal by another transmitter near.

To protect a smart fob you can put it in a metal case or even an RFID blocking case. This will block the transmission of these signals. The ease of use of this technology is diminished if you must remove your key fob each time you take it out of the protective case.

Fortunately, some newer car-insurance policies, auto club memberships, and extended warranty insurance policies will pay for the cost to get car key cut of replacing a fob or reimburse you for the lost 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 an additional key fob is contingent on how important your car's keyless entry and push-button starter functions are. In any event you should have a spare key or fob handy just in case you lose it. Batteries Plus offers a large choice of replacement fobs that fit most cars and trucks. Additionally, we provide a quick, convenient service that is roughly 50% less than 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 certain locks. These keys can open your locks and start the car, assuming you haven't changed them out to a smart or remote key. The only drawback to using the traditional key is that it needs to be physically inserted into the ignition to start the car. If your traditional key has been damaged, lost or stolen, you'll have to visit an Gainesville locksmith to have an alternative one made from the blank.

You have a few choices to pick from based on how long it has been since you've were able to cut your keys. Certain keys are cut using mechanical machines and others are laser-cut with security features that are enhanced.

Modern keys are equipped with advanced features, such as encryption and anti-theft mechanisms. Encryption ensures that only the correct local key cutting is used to start your vehicle making it much more difficult for thieves to duplicate or pick locks. Other anti-theft features include transponder chips, which are embedded in the key to connect with your vehicle and allow it to work only when it's within the distance of your car.

If you decide to use a traditional, standard key, a locksmith can make a new one using a standard key cutter machine which can be purchased at most hardware stores. This is less expensive than a key fob, or a transponder. you will still be able to use your trunk, locks and doors.

Another option is to have your traditional car key replaced with a laser cut version with a distinctive pattern. The first time these keys were introduced was in the 1990s and are now a popular option for people who want to provide extra security to their automobiles. Keys made of lasers are typically equipped with transponder chips programmed to work only with your vehicle. If the chips aren't present in your vehicle, they will not respond to the signals generated by the key.