ARE YOU HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH YOUR TRANSPONDER KEY? HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO!

How transponder keys work

Nowadays, transponder keys are standard for most new cars. They make it harder for your car to be stolen. Even though it’s more costly than a regular key, a transponder key is worth the peace of mind it affords you.

Anyone who has used a transponder key ~ also referred to as a transponder “chip” key ~ knows how much easier it is to use than an old-fashioned key. These specialized keys are ignition keys that make it effortless to enter and leave your vehicle, because you can unlock your car doors without actually sticking your key in the lock mechanism; you can remotely open the trunk; you can activate and deactivate your car alarm; additionally, with some transponder keys, you can even start your car remotely.

A transponder key has a chip inside it, which emits a distinctive signal to your car’s computer, a singular frequency aligned only to your automobile. When the signal is received, the key’s mechanical part releases your steering lock so that you can activate the ignition. Nevertheless, problems can sometimes happen. Here’s how to get out of trouble when it comes to transponder key challenges.

Was your transponder key stolen?

When you first bought your car, you should have been given two transponder keys. You can get your other transponder key from a family member who has the spare copy, and that will get you back on the road for now. But keep in mind that because your transponder key is connected only to your vehicle, a would-be car thief who finds your key could easily take your car. Thus it’s best to go ahead and get a replacement now, and then reprogram them both.

To get a transponder key duplicated, reprogrammed, or replaced, track down an automotive locksmith specialist, or go directly to your dealership. In most cases, a locksmith will charge less than the dealership will charge you. If you’re located in Ahwatukee, Arizona, then take all your questions and concerns to a reputable locksmith company. For instance, the mobile automotive locksmith specialists on staff at Ahwatukee Locksmith AZ offer free consultations and they’re available 24/7.

Have you lost your transponder key?

Losing your car key is more problematical than it was decades ago. With a traditional key, you could duplicate a spare key at almost no cost, at any local hardware store or locksmith company, or even at the dealership. But a transponder key is something else altogether. If you’ve mislaid your transponder key permanently, replacing isn’t going to be cheap. Depending on your automobile model and make, and on the complexity of the key’s design, the price for replacing your electronic fob will range from somewhat costly to exceptionally expensive. There are some dealerships that will reprogram your key fob at no charge, but most will charge you a great deal.

A switchblade key is a transponder key with a shank, but it folds into the fob, which you pop out by pressing a button. A switchblade key has either a basic cut or a laser cut. One benefit to a switchblade key is that you can purchase its components separately; but if you’ve truly lost your key, you’ll have to program both parts.

For some vehicles, the transponder key is an all-in-one unit that includes the fob. It’s also called a laser-cut key. The shank is a bit thicker, with fewer carved-out grooves. It’s also referred to as a “sidewinder” key, because of the shank’s winding-cut feature. The dealership will likely need to program a laser-cut key’s built-in chip.

A smart key actually isn’t a key at all ~ not in the usual sense. It’s just a fob, which you either insert into the dashboard, or keep in your purse or pocket. When you sit behind the wheel, then just by pressing a button, you can start and turn off the engine. A smart key gives you exceptional protection because it has rolling security codes. Continuously randomizing the right code, it stops a car thief from hacking it with a code grabber. If you have a smart key, your car dealership will be able to replace it.

Has your transponder key stopped working?

·         One common reason your transponder key isn’t functioning is that there’s a manufacturer’s defect, which has been there from the beginning. If your vehicle is under warranty, you’ll be able to get the problem corrected for free. If it’s no longer under warranty, then you’ll have to hire an automotive locksmith specialist in Ahwatukee.

·         There might be a tiny foreign object lodged in the ignition. Don’t try to remove it yourself, because you could easily do damage to the ignition. Instead, hire an experienced automotive locksmith professional, who can capably remove any foreign object from the ignition with the precision required, so you won’t have to replace the whole switch.

·         Another possibility is that your transponder key isn’t communicating with automobile’s computer because the chip has lost its programming. You can get it reprogrammed, or, you can get an entirely new transponder key with all-new programming. Whatever you choose, the car dealership or an automotive locksmith technician will be able to handle it.

Do It Yourself

If you do need to reprogram your transponder key, with some vehicles, you can take care of it yourself.

The following method below will be successful on quite a few American-made cars. But before you spend any of your hard-earned money, read the owner's manual, ask your dealership, and/or consult with a local reliable automotive locksmith to see whether this procedure will actually work on yours.

1.      Insert one of your two functioning keys. Turn the ignition to the "on" position for about 3 seconds (without firing up the car).

2.      Do the same with the second key.

3.      Insert the new third key, and turn it to the "on" position for 3 seconds. This ought to program your extra key successfully.

If you often lock your car keys in your vehicle, another thing you can do ~ which will at least give you access to your car doors and to your trunk ~ is to order just the basic key, without the transmitter, which means you’ll have a key which does everything except start your car.

When You Need To Replace Locks

There are certain situations that will come up in life that warrant a lock change. It is important that you are mindful of security, and aware of when it is important to swap out old locks with new ones. The team at Ahwatukee Locksmith AZ is asked this question all of the time. The team receives phone calls from locals in the Ahwatukee, Arizona area who want to know if their safety would be at risk if they didn’t change their locks. Realistically, you can look at it this way: if you are asking the question about lock replacement, then it is very likely that you should really look into doing so. Here, you will find information that points you in the right direction. Just remember that locks need to be replaced every few years or so primarily because of wear and tear. But some of the situations described below are a bit more urgent. 

Replace your locks if they are starting to be problematic. 

Worn out locks mean it is time for a replacement. How can you know they are starting to become worn? One sign is that your key doesn’t go in smoothly – you have to wiggle it around a little for it to work. You can also sometimes see signs of wear and tear in the coloration and in pieces falling apart. 

You need to replace or rekey locks if you have moved into a new house 

One of the main times that you need to consider rekeying the locks is when you have relocated into a different home. Think about how many people might have had access to your locks and keys. You likely had a realtor, contractor and other individuals who were in and out of the house, at least at some point. And who is to say that no keys were misplaced? They could have then been picked up by the wrong hands. Rekeying your locks, or replacing them altogether, is something that won’t set you back financially but it will help you tremendously in terms of safety.   

If someone new is moving in, change the locks!

Perhaps you are a landlord that owns a property you rent out. If this is the case, then you should change out the locks in between tenants. You don’t want someone who no longer lives there to have access to the property. And sure, they might have been a completely trustworthy person, but that doesn’t mean that at some point, an individual with bad intentions didn’t make a copy of the key. The person who previously rented from you might not even know if someone else somehow made a copy of their key. 

If someone broke into your property, don’t wait – change those locks!

If you had a break in, then you know that this is an absolutely terrible thing to have to deal with. You feel that your privacy and comfort have been completely violated, because they have been. But keep it in the front of your mind that it is important to change your locks fast. This is something a 24/7 emergency locksmith will be able to help you with. Your locks might have been damaged during the break in anyway, which is the first sign they need to be replaced. But if you had a spare key sitting anywhere in the house, it is important that regardless of lock damage, you have it replaced. 

You need to replace your locks if you are missing a key. 

When you lose a key, or otherwise can’t find it, your mind might wander to the worst: what if I lost it in a grocery store and someone picked it up? Or what if I dropped it in my yard and now someone has it? It’s better to ease your mind and just have the locks replaced, or at least rekeyed. Again, this is something a professional lock and security provider can address for you. Whether your children lost their one and only key copy, or you simply misplaced yours, have the locks changed or rekeyed. You won’t regret it. 

I want to replace my locks. What should I do? 

If you have determined that you want to have your locks changed, be sure to look up a lock and key professional in your area. You will want someone with a great reputation and affordable solutions. Usually, local businesses will provide you with a great deal. Locksmiths have all of the handy equipment that they need to do the job fast.  

Bear in mind that if you don’t want to have to worry about replacing locks or rekeying them, one thing you can do is go keyless. This is becoming more and more popular nowadays. You can have access to your property without the use of a key – you can use fingerprint technology, a short code that is easy for you to remember but impossible for someone else to guess, or other forms of entry that don’t require a key. 

Always hire a local, reputable and affordable locksmith. You should be able to get a free price estimate upfront for any service that you need. If you contact the team at Ahwatukee Locksmith AZ in Arizona then you will find that the services are all entirely affordable and the convenience is undeniably. Of course, you might be located in a different part of the country. All you have to do is a search online to find the closest lock and security provider to your location. Of course, another option is to ask someone you trust if they have a business that they recommend. You should have an expert change your locks just because if you make a mistake, you can damage the locks or you can leave them essentially useless. The whole point of locks is to have proper security – and having them installed by an expert can ensure everything is accurately working. Hopefully you have found all of the details you need here to determine if it’s time to change those locks!