10 Places Where You Can Find Cut Car Key
Car Key Cutting Explained
Car key cutting is more than simply shaping an object of metal. It is a complex process that guarantees security, function and durability of keys.
It is not uncommon to lose your car key or even break it in the lock. You'll require an alternative car key to ensure that you are able to drive your car at all times.
Transponder Keys
If your car was constructed within the last 20 years, it's likely that it has a transponder chip. These microchips are located in the key's handle and send a signal to the onboard computers in your vehicle when you press the key. The computer on board detects the digital serial number inside the chip and allows the car to start if it is the right one. This prevents thieves from hijacking your vehicle because they'd have to know the unique serial number.
The microchip inside the key sends a low-level signal the car's receiver. This radio signal activates the microchip, which transmits an informational code to the car's onboard computer. The car will only begin only if it recognizes the code. This prevents "hot wiring" or other methods of stealing cars.
Locksmiths who offer these services can make keys for cars with chips. Some car dealers, like AutoZone sell keys with chips. They have a vast range of keys and will assist you in choosing the appropriate one for your car. They can help you program the chip in your vehicle that is required for the device to function.
Laser cut keys are more secure than flat keys. These keys are more secure than traditional flat keys because they have locks that are harder to pick. They can only be duplicated with expensive laser key cutting equipment, or with specialized software. This technology is most common in luxury cars but is now accessible in a wide range of low-cost models.
The VATS (vehicle-anti-theft system) key is a different type of key that's difficult to duplicate. The keys are black with a resistor on the blade of the key that is programmed with one of fifteen possible values to stop them from starting a vehicle that 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 the advent of transponder keys and automobiles with built-in computer chips to control the ignition of the car, GM used something called VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS uses an ordinary key with a resistor pellet embedded within it to verify that the correct key is being used to start the car. The VATS pellet black in the center of the VATS key isn't an electronic chip like the ones found on modern smart keys. It is simply a block of carbon properly sized to carry an electrical resistance that is specific to.
GM employed 15 different resistance values for the VATS pellets. They connected them to the blade of the key to ensure that, when the key is turned in the ignition the coded signal is transmitted to the 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 will start to run. This doesn't make a vehicle safe from theft however it will delay the theft by at most 15 to 20 minutes.
Unfortunately, after a lot of use the VATS module in your car may start to wear out. The two small wires in the ignition move each time a key is introduced. As time passes the wires can start to break. Once enough wires are broken, the signal to the module is lost and it won't start the car.
You can solve this issue at home by decoding your VATS code. It's not difficult to determine the resistance value of a key by using the multimeter. All you have to do is place one of the leads of your ohm meter onto the prongs made of metal hanging out on both sides of the key. Then read the ohm meter's display to find out the resistance value of your key.
This method is also a great way to test a new key to determine whether it works in your car. Be sure to remove the key from the ignition before you begin testing it, otherwise the new key may have an incorrect VATS value and not function in your car.
Smart Key Fobs
Key fobs today do more than simply unlock or start the car. They also function as a security device and a theft deterrent, with many of them featuring advanced features that the owners might not even be aware of. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, emit noises that help you find your car in a parking space or let you summon your vehicle by pressing a button on your smartphone. This is a lot more than you could ever think of from a standard keychain remote. Unfortunately, all that added features also means that smart key fobs may be more expensive to replace than traditional keychain remotes, and they usually need to be programmed by the dealer.
In fact, some retailers will cost upwards of $100 to replace one smart key fob. That's a lot to pay for something that is often time snagging around in pockets and purses, where it can be easily dropped, damaged or exposed to extreme moisture and temperatures. Fortunately certain automakers have come up with ways to protect smart key fobs from the most common types of electronic threats like relay attacks. These are often employed in conjunction with a remote-start hack that allows thieves to gain access to your vehicle's settings through false signals from a nearby transmitter.
To safeguard a smart fob, you can store it in a metal case or even an RFID blocking case. This will prevent the transmission of these signals. However, having to remove the key fob from its protective case each time you need to make use of it is a hassle and a detriment to the efficiency of the technology.
Fortunately, some of the newer car insurance policies such as auto club memberships and extended warranty coverages will pay for the cost of a replacement or pay for the loss of a fob. You can also save money on new-car dealer fees and have your fob cut at the hardware store or locksmith which offers key-fob cloning.
For the majority of drivers, the decision to purchase a new key fob depends on how crucial your car's keyless entry and push-button start functions are. Always keep an extra key or fob on hand in the event that you lose yours. Batteries Plus offers a large selection of replacement fobs that will fit on most cars and trucks. Additionally, we provide an easy, fast service that is roughly 50% less than the price you'd pay at the dealership.
Traditional Keys
Traditional keys for cars are a single length of metal that has grooves cut into it to fit into a particular lock. They can open your locks and begin your car, assuming you don't replace them with a remote key or smart key. The only downside of using a traditional car key is that you must physically insert it into the ignition to start the engine. If your car key has been damaged or lost, you will need to visit the Gainesville Locksmith to get a new one made.
Depending on how much time has passed since the last time you cut your keys there are a variety of options available for you to pick from when it comes time to get another copy made. Certain keys are cut with mechanical machines and others are laser-cut with security features that are enhanced.
Some of these modern features that come with modern types of keys include encryption and other security mechanisms. The encryption ensures that only the right key is used to open your vehicle, making it more difficult for thieves to duplicate keys or pick locks. Transponder chips are another anti-theft feature. They are incorporated into the key and connect to your vehicle. This means that they only function only when you're within certain distance.
If you choose to use a traditional standard key, a locksmith is able to make a new one using a standard key cutter machine, which is available at most hardware stores. This is less expensive than a key fob, or a transponder, and you will still be able to use your trunk locks, trunk locks, and doors.
You can also replace your standard keys for your car with a laser cut version with a unique pattern. get car key cut were introduced was in the 1990s and are a popular choice for those looking to enhance the security of their automobiles. Typically, laser cut keys come with transponder chips that are programmed to work only for your specific vehicle. If the chips aren't installed in your vehicle, it will not respond to the signals sent by the key.