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What to Do When a Transponder Key Is Lost?
Over the years car keys have gotten more and more sophisticated. This was done as a way to make cars harder to steal and harder to break into. That’s why today a large majority of keys are transponder keys. They are keys that are so sophisticated that they actually communicate with your car. Perhaps that is why when people lose them they feel that these transponder keys cannot be duplicated. That simply is not the case. Most locksmiths have the equipment and know-how to reproduce any transponder key even if you no longer have an original key.
So don’t worry too much if you accidentally misplace or lose your transponder key. It happens to everyone from time to time. Despite rumors to the contrary, rest assured that all transponder keys and transponder devices definitely can be duplicated even though it’s not always a simple process.
How Do You Recognize A Transponder Key?
You probably have a transponder key for your car if it’s been made in the last 15 or so years. They are pretty easy to identify. That’s because they are not like ordinary keys for your home, office or other locks. Most conventional keys are made entirely of lightweight metal. That is not the case for transponder keys.
Transponder keys have two components to them. They have the blade end that is cut to fit the locks in your car that looks like the blade end of any other type of key. Where they are different is at the top portion of the key. They usually have a rubber or hardened plastic shell with several buttons built into it. These buttons perform security functions. They actually transmit a signal to your vehicle that will do such things as turn your car alarm on/off, unlock your doors, and pop open your trunk.
Call a Locksmith to Make You a New Transponder Key
What’s the best course of action to take if you need a new transponder key made? It’s to call a locksmith to help you out. When you call them, make sure you ask if they specialize in reproducing transponder keys.
What’s even better is that a large majority of locksmith services are mobile locksmith services. That means it takes very little effort on your part to get your new transponder key made. The locksmith will do it right at the location your car is at. Getting a new transponder key made could not be simpler in most cases.
Useful Information to Provide Your Locksmith With
The first thing your locksmith will need is some information about your car in order to make you a new transponder key. They will need your vehicle identification number (VIN) and if you have a transponder key identification number that will be useful. Both of these can usually be found in your vehicle owner’s manual. A vehicles VIN number can usually also be found stamped into a plate on your vehicles door frame and sometimes they can be found stamped into a plate on your dashboard too.
This information is used by the locksmith to help them identify the type of transponder key you need to be made and to inform them how to program your new transponder key so it works.
How Are Transponder Keys Made?
Your locksmith will first have to select a proper transponder key blank for your make and model vehicle. Since your transponder key has two different components to it, it only makes sense that a locksmith needs to do two different steps to get you a new working transponder key.
The first step is cutting the blade end of your new transponder key so it fits in your car door locks. The information you supplied to your locksmith above will help them know how to do this step. They will have special equipment on their service vehicle that will help them make precision cuts in the blade end.
The locksmith will also have to reprogram the electronic component of the transponder key. This is because they have to match the frequency signal in the transponder key to a compatible one in your automobile. Your locksmith will once again use the information you supplied to find a special programming code for your specific vehicle.
Your locksmith will then thoroughly test your new transponder key to make sure it functions the way it’s supposed to.
How much time does it take to make a new transponder key?
At this point, you may be wondering how long it will take your locksmith to make you a new transponder key. That is a hard question to answer. Different makes and models of vehicles require various degrees of difficulty in making new replacement transponder keys from them. Some car manufacturers also make it extremely difficult on locksmiths to make new transponder keys and devices. Experienced locksmith companies do know how to get around these things.
Advantages of Using a Locksmith Service to Duplicate a Transponder Key
Unless a dealer has your exact transponder key in stock they will have to order it. Transponder keys purchased from your car dealer also tend to be very expensive in most cases. Locksmiths, on the other hand, are great at making transponder keys that work from scratch and these keys are fairly priced in most cases.
Be Proactive With Your Transponder Keys
One thing that we highly suggest if you only have one working transponder key is that you get more made. It certainly is much better to be safe than sorry. By carrying an extra transponder key on you, it decreases the chances that you will get stranded somewhere. If you only have one key and you lose it, you will not only be stranded but you will have to pay a higher emergency locksmith service fee in order get a new transponder key made and get you back on your way.
For More Info.
Call us at (770) 544-1049
Duluth Locksmith is proud to provide services for those looking for automotive, residential, emergency and commercial solutions in Duluth.