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Are you experiencing issues with your transponder keys? Many people get surprised that such a thing can even happen, after all, aren’t keys pretty tough and durable? Keep reading; you just avoid a service call by implementing what we tell you!
The word ‘transponder’ means to transmit. This is what a transponder key does; transmit a signal to your car’s computer telling it that it’s okay for the engine to start. Your transponder key does this by containing a programmed chip in the key’s head. This is the larger, rounded part that also functions as the handle. The rest of the key is the blade which consists of grooves and notches cut into the metal.
The computer chips involved are programmed to recognize a certain signal from each other. If that signal is not recognized (key doesn’t match) the car won’t start. This is why you can’t take just any transponder key and start a modern day car with it; the signals won’t match. These highly specialized keys have been in heavy use since the mid-1990s and they have been responsible for a huge decrease in auto thefts every year since then.
Remember the ‘old days’ of easy to copy car keys? You simply took your key to any place that made key copies; usually hardware stores, lumber companies, convenience stores and other similar places. For a dollar or two, the clerk would make a copy of your car key that would not only open your door or trunk; it would also start your ignition. This ease in making car key copies and duplicates help fuel the rise in auto theft; it was so easy to unlock, start, and drive off with someone else’s auto! Not so with transponder keys!
Only authorized car dealerships and some locksmith shops have the authorization, skills and ability to duplicate and program transponder chip keys. Of course, this makes the whole process expensive, time consuming and inconvenient. So, the good (fewer auto thefts) and the bad (expensive pain to copy) are what drivers are faced with when dealing with broken, damaged, missing or stolen transponder chip keys.
It happens; your made-of-metal transponder key can break in half! Too often we think of these keys as indestructible when in reality, they are not. You see folks ripping cardboard boxes open with their auto keys. Or, they might pop open a bottle or cut tape with it. While the key is pretty tough; it is not unbreakable and even if it does not break in half, it does become weaker with rough treatment like this. One problem with broken transponder keys is that in many cases, you not only need a new key programmed and duplicated, you also need extraction for the broken off part still inside the lock.
It’s no joke; transponder keys sometimes lose their chips. These are embedded in the head of your key, but once in a while, all it takes is a simple fall onto a hard surface and the dislodged chip can be lost forever. The key itself will still work as far as locking and unlocking the door or trunk, but since it lacks the chip to transmit signals, the engine will just not start. How many times have we absentmindedly tossed our keys onto a desk or table or dropped them on the street or pavement?
The embedded chip is small enough to be easily missed when the key is picked up and most people don’t know enough to look for it. What can you do? Be on the lookout for a missing chip if you drop your keys. It’s less expensive to have an automotive locksmith here inAlpharetta, Georgiare-insert it your transponder chip than to have an entirely new one programmed and duplicated.
Stuck transponder keys can make for real headache situations! Maybe the wrong key was inserted and it went in but got stuck in the process. It happens! In households or offices where lots of transponder keys are present, it’s easy to grab the wrong ones and attempt to start your car. Also, when keys are worn or used too often for other things, they can become less accurate and tend to stick easier.
Other times, the steering wheel can lock up and when it does, the ignition key won’t come back out. This sometimes happens when the steering wheel is leaned upon too hard or it is twisted suddenly; often while getting in or out of the car.
During these lockup times, the driver can panic and apply too much force in an effort to remove the key, resulting in breakage. No need to call for professional help; just twist the steering wheel back and forth a bit to unlock it. The transponder key will now be released and easy to remove.
If your key is jammed because it was the wrong key entered, you can lightly tap on the top of the key with a hard surface and see if it dislodges. Be careful though; you don’t want to drive it in further and make the problem worse. You can also lightly spray it with a lubricant and this should make removal much easier, too.
If you absolutely need to have your transponder key replaced, duplicated or programmed, do not call the local car dealer! You will pay more and wait longer for the work to be finished. You may even have tow fees if your car can’t be driven due to not having a valid key! A much better option is to call an automotive locksmith. Either call our shop or one that offers full service locksmith care for your automotive vehicles. The technician will work on your time-frame and at your location, and charge a lot less in the process!