Cut Car Keys History History Of Cut Car Key

Car Key Cutting Explained
Cutting the car key is more than just bending a piece metal. It is a complicated process that guarantees security, function and long-term use of keys.
It is not unusual to lose keys to your car or have them break through the lock. To ensure you're able to always drive your car, you will need to have a replacement key cut.
Transponder Keys
If your car was manufactured in the last 20 years, it's likely to have a transponder chip. These microchips are in the key's handle and transmit a signal the onboard computers in your vehicle when you use the key. The computer in the car scans the digital serial numbers within the chip and allows the car to start if it is the correct one. This prevents thieves from stealing your car because they'd have to be aware of the unique serial number.
The microchip inside the key sends a low-level signal the car's receiver. The radio signal activates your microchip, which transmits a code to the onboard computer of the car. The car will only start when it recognizes the code. This will stop the use of "hot wiring" and other methods of stealing cars.
Car keys with chips can be made at locksmiths that offer these services. They can also be purchased at a few automotive stores, such as AutoZone. These stores have a wide range of keys and will help you get the right one for your vehicle. They can help you program your car's chip which is needed to use the device.
You can also get laser cut keys that are more secure than conventional flat keys. These keys have an cylinder for locking that is much more difficult to pick, and they can only be duplicated with expensive laser key cutting equipment or special software. This technology is most common in high-end cars, but is now available on many affordable models.
The VATS (vehicle-anti-theft system) key is another kind of key that is difficult to duplicate. These keys feature a black resistor in the key blade that is programmed with one of 15 potential values to prevent them from starting a vehicle that it's not intended to. These keys are more expensive to purchase and require a special key programming device that can only be found at some locksmiths.
VATS Keys
Before the advent of transponder keys as well as cars equipped with computer chips to control the ignition of a car, GM used something called VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS makes use of a regular key with a resistor pellet embedded in it to confirm that the correct key is used to start the vehicle. The VATS pellet that is black located in the middle of a VATS Key isn't an electronic chip that is like those present on modern keys. It is simply carbon or a block that is sized to hold an electrical resistance value.
GM used 15 different resistances for the VATS Pellets and attached them to key blades in a way that, when the key was turned on, the key blades transmit a coded message to 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. keys cut doesn't make a vehicle theft proof however it will delay the theft by at minimum 15 to 20 minutes.
Unfortunately, after a significant amount of use, the VATS module in your car can begin to wear out. Each time the key is inserted into the ignition it moves two tiny wires within the ignition, and over time the wires can start to break. When enough wires have been broken the signal goes out to the module and the car will not start.
The good news is that you can fix this issue at home by decoding your own VATS key. It's not hard to determine the resistance of a key using a multimeter. You can find the resistance value by placing one of the leads on the prongs of metal on both sides of your key.
This is a great way to test a brand new key and see whether it works in your car. Remove the ignition key first before you test it. If not the key may have an incorrect VATS and not work in your car.
Smart Key Fobs
Key fobs today are more than simply unlock or start the car. They can also be an alarm system and a security measure against theft, with many of them featuring advanced features that the owners might not even be aware of. They can remotely lock and unlock your doors, emit sounding sounds to help locate your car in a parking lot and even let you summon your vehicle by pressing the button on your phone. This is a lot more functionality than you can obtain from a traditional keychain remote. Smart key fobs are more expensive to replace due to their additional functions. They also require to be programmed by a dealer.
In fact, some dealers cost upwards of $100 to replace one smart key fob. It's a huge price for a device that is often jostled in pockets and purses where it can be damaged, dropped, or exposed to extreme temperatures and water. Fortunately certain automakers have come up with methods to shield smart key fobs from the most common types of electronic attacks like relay attacks. These are often combined with a remote start hack that allows thieves access to your vehicle's settings by the transmission of a fake signal another transmitter nearby.
One way to protect the smart key fob is to keep it in a metal case or use an RFID blocking case that prevents the transmission of these signals. The convenience of the technology is compromised if need to remove your key fob each time you use it from the protective case.
Fortunately, some of the newer car insurance policies and auto club memberships and extended warranty insurance policies will cover the cost of replacing a fob or pay for the loss of a fob. You can also avoid paying new-car dealer fees by having your fob cloned at a locksmith or hardware retailer that provides key-fob cloning.
The decision of whether to purchase an additional fob is dependent on the importance of your car's keyless start and entry functions. In any case you should have an extra fob or key in case in case you lose it. If keys cut have to purchase a new replacement, Batteries Plus has a large selection of fobs to fit the majority of cars and trucks. In addition, our quick and convenient service costs about 50% less than what you'd spend at a dealership.
Traditional Keys
The car key of old is one piece of metal with a series of grooves cut into it. read full article are designed to fit specific locks. They can unlock your locks and start your car, provided you haven't replaced them by the remote key or smart key. The only disadvantage of using a traditional key is that it has to be physically placed into the ignition to start the vehicle. If your key from the past is lost, damaged or stolen, you'll have to visit the Gainesville locksmith to get a new one cut from the blank.
You have a few options to choose from depending on how long it has been since you've cut your keys. Certain keys are cut using mechanical machines or lasers, while others are cut with enhanced security features.
Modern keys are equipped with advanced features such as encryption and anti-theft mechanisms. The encryption makes it difficult for thieves to duplicate keys or take locks. Other security features to prevent theft include transponder chips, which are embedded in the key to connect with your car and make it only work when it's within a specific range of your car.
If you decide to utilize a traditional key your locksmith can design an entirely new key using a standard cutter machine, which can be purchased at most hardware stores. This is cheaper than a key fob, or transponder, and you can still operate your locks, trunk and doors.
Another alternative is to get your traditional car key substituted with a laser-cut version that has a unique pattern. These keys were introduced in the early 1990s and are an increasingly popular choice for those who wish to protect their vehicles. Typically, laser cut keys have special transponder chips that are programmed to work only with your specific vehicle. If these chips aren't installed in your vehicle, it won't respond to the signals coming from the key and won't be able to start.