8 Tips To Enhance Your Key Repairs Game
How to Fix Faulty Key Repairs
A damaged key fob could ruin your day. With the right tools and guidelines, it's easy to solve these issues.
Before you begin any repairs, always ground yourself to remove static electricity. It takes only about a minute and is a good habit for working with electronics.
Find any debris that may be under the key that is defective. Breadcrumbs and other bits may get stuck beneath keys, which can prevent the keys from being properly pushed into.
Broken Car Keys
It's easy to take your car keys for granted until they stop working or break at the worst possible moment. Whether you're trying to open the trunk of your car for groceries, unlocking your doors to go to a place or even driving your car and heading to work, keys for cars can be extremely frustrating when they do not work.
Over time, keys to cars can be subject to many wear and tear. They may be damaged due to being dropped or knocked around and the internal parts may wear down to the point that they're no longer functioning as they should. This is a serious issue and you'll be unable to operate your vehicle unless you have an extra key or your mechanic fixes the problem.
Fortunately, most broken keys for cars can be replaced or repaired easily. If your key is just damaged within your lock or ignition, you may occasionally remove the remaining part of the key with pliers or a wire coated with. Locksmiths can also provide you with specialized tools designed to slide along the key and grip the broken pieces in a pincer-like manner.
If the car key is broken in half, an easy and affordable fix is to glue the two pieces back together. This is tricky because you need to make sure that the pieces are properly aligned, but the end result can be extremely efficient. Keep a pair or scissors and a roll tape on hand in case you want to alter the alignment.
Another way to temporarily repair the car key that is damaged is to replace the battery inside the key fob. If your car key fob isn't working and you don't have a replacement then this is the ideal solution. Depending on the model of vehicle, you can often do this by removing the key fob and opening it using a screwdriver or small tool.
If the problem is more severe, such as the key fob is completely inactive or doesn't switch on at all, you'll require replacement. It is possible to do this at the dealership, however an auto locksmith will typically be cheaper. They will come to you and make any necessary repairs or even replace the key fob.
Broken Key Fobs
Like all electronic devices, car key fobs can malfunction. Fortunately, they're not that difficult to fix if they cease to function. The first thing you'll have to determine is the cause of the issue.
The battery is usually the cause when the keyfob ceases to function. The most simple and economical solution is to replace the battery. You can do this at home.
If cleaning the fob isn't working, you can take it apart. Your fob is equipped with a circuit board inside which houses a number of "contact pads" for every button you can press on the fob (lock buttons and trunk buttons, for example). The contact pads are made of rubber and coated in an electricity conducting film that starts to wear away over time. Utilizing a cotton swab along with some rubbing alcohol, you can wash the contacts in your key fob to eliminate any corrosion that could be hindering their functioning.
You could also try a pair of tweezers to re-seat the contacts on your key fob if you suspect they are broken or loose. If you do this it is an excellent idea to put some silicone on the back of your key fob prior inserting the new contacts. Silicone will protect the contacts from out water.
A key fob that's not working may be because it has been unpaired from the vehicle. When you press a key fob, it sends the car a message that communicates to it what you're trying to do. If the key fob is not paired, it will not recognize the car and not allow you to start the engine.
If you can't get your key fob back to be paired with the vehicle, it's likely to call in a locksmith or dealership technician. They'll have the equipment to reprogram the key fob and make it functional again. It's likely that you'll have to pay a small fee for the service, but it's much cheaper than purchasing an entirely new key fob.
Keys are not responsive
It's a nightmare when a key on your computer ceases to function. The first step is to make sure that the key isn't blocked by anything physical. Over time, dust, hair and other debris may accumulate and cause interference to the circuitry of keys. Try gently getting rid of your key and then cleaning underneath it using a rag that has been soaked in rubbing alcohol. Sometimes, this is all it takes to get your key functioning again.
If the key doesn't work, it's possible it's a problem with your software. Certain keys are mapped to specific actions in games, so if your key isn't working as you expect it to, check your game settings to ensure that the key is correctly assigned to a specific action.
It is also possible to reinstall the keyboard drivers to fix the issue. Incorrect or outdated drivers could cause your keyboard to stop working, so you should always keep them updated whenever possible.
Another possibility is that the key may be broken. There are two circuits that make up each key switch, and over time, these circuits be damaged until they are no longer able to detect when the key is pressed. If this is the case it is recommended to replace the keyboard as the keyboard will no longer function properly.
If you've tried all of these fixes but the keyboard still doesn't respond then it's time to have your laptop or external keyboard examined by a professional. It could be that the membrane that covers the keyboard is damaged or that one of the keys are defective.
You can test the keys with a keyboard tester. The website will tell you whether the keys are functioning correctly or not. If they are, then it is most likely to be a software issue. The remaining fixes can be applied to restore full functionality. You can also utilize an external keyboard until the internal keyboard is repaired or replaced.
Keys That Don't Work
Keys that don't work are an enormous inconvenience, but they are usually relatively simple to fix. A malfunctioning key could be caused by a small piece of dirt that has accumulated under the button or it may simply not be connected properly to your laptop or keyboard. If you're not sure whether this is the case, start by cleaning the keys and using canned air to remove dust or dirt.
The key could have become disaligned. It's possible to fix this problem with a professional. However, it's more likely that the key needs to be replaced. If you have an electronic key and it can't be turned with metal keys the transponder chip could have stopped working. It is necessary to have a new key programmed.
If your external keyboard or laptop keys seem to not be not registering any action at all, you can try using a key test website. This can help you determine if the keyboard is malfunctioning or if software is interfering.
A switch that's not functioning properly could be the cause of keys not working as is. If you own a mechanical keyboard you can look beneath the keycap to see if there is any debris stuck to it. If car key repair service find something that is not there, make use of canned air to remove it, then take off the keycap. This will allow you to replace the hooks that connect the retainer to the switch and hopefully bring back functionality to the key.
If the key on your keyboard fails to perform the expected function in just one program, then it's likely that the settings for the game's keyboard have mapped the key to perform a different function. Examine the settings on your keyboard and then try pressing the key once more to see if it's working properly. If you're still having problems you should buy a new keyboard. It can be put in place by professionals. This is especially true if you're playing games that require lots of typing.