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Car Key Cutting Explained Cutting a car key is more than just bending a piece metal. It is a sophisticated procedure that ensures safety, functionality and the longevity of keys. It is not unusual to lose keys to your car, or have them break through the lock. To ensure that you can always drive your car, you will need a new key cut. Transponder Keys If your car was built in the past 20 years, it's likely to have a transponder chip. These chips are tiny microchips inside the handle of your key that send signals to the car's onboard computer when you use it. The onboard computer is able to verify the serial number of the chip prior to allowing the car to begin. This stops theft of vehicles, as thieves would need to know your unique serial number to be able to take over it. The microchip inside your car keys transmits an unintentional radio signal to the car's receiver. This radio signal activates the microchip that then transmits the code to the computer onboard of the car. The car will be able to recognize this code and only allow it to start only if the key is the correct one. This stops the use of “hot wiring” and other methods of stealing cars. Locksmiths that offer these services can make keys for cars that contain chips. Some auto dealers like AutoZone sell keys with chips. Those stores carry a huge variety of keys and can assist you in selecting the best one for your vehicle. They can also help you programme the chip into your vehicle, which is necessary to use it. There are also laser cut pop over to this site that are more secure than traditional flat keys. These keys feature an cylinder for locking that is much more difficult to pick, and they can only be duplicated with expensive laser key cutting equipment or specially designed software. This technology is most commonly found in high-end cars, but is now available in a wide range of low-cost models. The VATS (vehicle-anti-theft system), key is another type of key that is difficult to duplicate. They come with a resistor black on the blade of the key. It can be programmed to any of a variety of values to prevent it from starting a vehicle it's not intended to. They are expensive and require a key programming machine, which is only available at certain locksmiths. VATS Keys Before transponder keys and cars with computer chips that control the ignition, GM used a system called VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS makes use of a regular key with a resistor pellet embedded inside it to confirm that the correct key is used to start the car. The VATS pellet in black in the middle of a VATS Key is not an electronic chip that is like those used on the majority of modern keys. It is merely carbon or a block which is sized to have an electrical resistance. GM employed 15 different resistance values for the VATS pellets. They connected the key's blade, so that when the key is turned on in the ignition the coded signal is sent 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 starts to run. This doesn't make a car safe from theft however it can delay the theft by at most 15 to 20 minutes. After a lot of usage, the VATS module can start to wear out. Every time a key is inserted into the ignition, it reroutes two small wires inside the ignition and with time, the wires can begin to break. Once enough wires are broken then the signal to the module gets lost and the module won't be able to start the car. You can solve this issue at home yourself by decoding your VATS code. It's not hard to determine the resistance value of a key using a multimeter. You can determine the resistance value by putting one of the leads on the metal prongs on both sides of your key. This is also a great way to test the new key to determine whether it works in your vehicle. Remove the ignition key first before you test it. If not, the key may have an incorrect VATS and will not work in your car. Smart Key Fobs Today's key fobs do more than just unlock or start a car. They often have advanced features that many owners are unaware of. They can be employed as a security tool or as a theft deterrent. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, emit chirping sounds to help you find your car in a parking space and even let you summon your vehicle by pressing the button on your phone. This is more functionality than you obtain from a traditional keychain remote. Unfortunately, all that added capabilities can mean that smart key fobs could be pricier to replace than traditional keychain remotes. They also need to be programmed by the dealer. In fact, some dealers will cost upwards of $100 to replace one smart key fob. That's a huge sum to pay for a product that spends a lot of its time snagging around in purses and pockets which is where it's easily damaged, dropped, or exposed to extreme moisture and temperatures. Fortunately, some automakers have developed ways to protect smart key fobs from the most common types of electronic attacks like relay attacks. They are usually paired with a remote start hack which allows thieves to access your vehicle's settings via the transmission of a fake signal from another transmitter nearby. 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 take the key fob from a case that is protected each time you want to use it is not a good way to enjoy the benefits of the technology. Some newer policies such as auto club memberships and extended warranties, will cover the cost of an additional fob or reimburse you in the event that it's lost. You can also save money on dealership charges and get your fob cut at an establishment like a locksmith or hardware store which offers key-fob cloning. For the majority of drivers who want to buy a new key fob depends on how crucial your car's keyless entry and push button starter functions are. You should always keep a spare key or fob in case you misplace yours. If you have to purchase a new replacement, Batteries Plus has a wide selection of fobs for the majority of vehicles and trucks. Additionally, our fast and convenient service costs about 50% less than the price you'd spend at a dealership. Traditional Keys Traditional car keys are a single piece 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, as long as you haven't exchanged them to a smart or remote key. The only disadvantage of using the traditional car key is that you have to physically insert it into the ignition to start the engine. If your car key has been damaged or lost it is necessary to visit a Gainesville Locksmith to get a new one made. You have a few options to select from based on how long it's been since you were able to cut your keys. Some keys use mechanical cutting machines to create copies, while others employ laser-cut keys that have been made with security features in mind. Modern keys are equipped with advanced features like encryption and anti-theft mechanisms. The encryption ensures that only the right key is used to start your vehicle making it much more difficult for thieves to duplicate or pick locks. Transponder chips are an additional anti-theft device. They are embedded into the key and can communicate with your vehicle. This makes it only work when you're within a certain distance. If you opt to use a traditional key, your locksmith can create an entirely new key using an ordinary cutter machine, which can be purchased at most hardware stores. This is cheaper 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. These keys were first introduced in the 1990s and are a popular choice for people who want to enhance the security of their vehicles. Laser cut keys typically have special transponder chips that are specifically programmed to work with the specific vehicle you own. If these chips aren't installed in your vehicle, it won't respond to the signals from the key and won't be able to start.