IF YOU'VE MISPLACED YOUR TRANSPONDER KEY, HERE'S WHAT TO DO!
Back in the day, if you lost your car key, you could get a spare one duplicated at the hardware store, a locksmith company, or at your dealership. Nowadays, however, losing your car keys has become much more complicated than it was before the 1990s ~ that is, before computer chips. A regular car key, with its singular cuts and grooves, used to be just like a house key, so you could get it copied for almost nothing.
The disadvantage to a basic car key in those days was obviously that, since it was so easy to copy, it was also a breeze for a car thief to steal your vehicle. Vehicles are much more difficult to steal today because of advances in transponder key technology. Unquestionably, a transponder key, even though it's expensive, is worth the peace of mind you get from it.
But what should you do if you lose your transponder key?
What's kind of transponder key have you lost?
Inside the transponder key's plastic head is a transponder chip, which sends a unique signal, which goes to the receiver in your car, telling it to start up. The major difference between a transponder key and a standard key is that the chip inside the transponder key has to be programmed. For most automobiles today, an electronic key fob (also referred to as the remote) is an integral component to your key set. It's imperative that you safeguard your transponder key, because, depending on the complexity level of its design and on the automaker, the replacement of a lost electronic fob is often very expensive. The fob must be properly programmed. There are some dealerships that will do it for nothing, but most will charge a lot.
A switchblade key is another type of key with a transponder chip inside. A switchblade key has a shank, which folds into the fob when you're not using it. Press a button, and it pops out. This key has either a regular cut or a laser cut. One benefit of the switchblade key is that you can get the parts separately. If you've really lost your key for good, then both components will require programming.
For some cars, the transponder key and the fob are all in one unit. Also known as a laser-cut key, the shank is a bit thicker, and has fewer carved-out grooves. Laser-cut keys are sometimes referred to as "sidewinder" keys, because of the winding-shaped cut on the shank. The laser-cut key's built-in transponder chip has to be programmed. It's more difficult to get a spare key made anywhere, except at your dealership. It costs more, but your car's more secure.
A smart key is not a key at all ~ not in the usual sense of the word. It's just a fob. You either put it into the dash, or you keep it in your pocket, on your belt buckle, or in your purse. You just sit in the driver's seat, and start or stop your car with the press of a button. A smart key is extraordinarily secure, because it has rolling security codes. That means it's continuously randomizing the correct code, a significant feature that prevents a potential car thief from hacking it using a code grabber. Get your smart key replaced at the dealership.
Make a spare key.
Are you constantly unable to find your keys, bickering with your spouse or teenager over who lost whose keys? Save money on transponder key programming when you make a third spare key. Since you probably already have two keys (which you would have received when you bought your car), a lot of makes and models will allow you to program a third key. First, hire an automotive locksmith to cut a third key for you, and then you can follow your owner's manual to program it on your own.
The following procedure will work on many American-made vehicles. But before you spend any money, check with your dealership or with a local automotive locksmith professional to ask if it will work with your specific vehicle.
1. Insert one of the two working keys, and turn the ignition to the "on" position for about 3 seconds (don't start the car).
2. Do the same thing with your second key.
3. Now insert the new third key, and turn it to the "on" position for another three seconds. This will successfully program your extra key.
DIY.
One thing you can do to get in your car is that you can get only the basic key, without the transmitter. This costs less, and you'll at least have a key to get you inside your vehicle. This comes in handy if you lock your car keys inside the car. The programming element, which does the remote locking and unlocking, is a luxury, since it's not required for gaining entry or for driving your car. You can program this part yourself by following the owner's manual's instructions, or hire a professional automotive locksmith technician to do it for you.
Never lose your transponder key again!
Any way you slice it, a transponder key is expensive. The best defense against misplacing it again is to prepare ahead of time. Don't tempt fate! If you have only one car key, it's a lot better to have a backup spare key made right now, than to get stressed out over it later, when you'll end up spending more than you wanted to, in what will likely be a crisis.
Anywhere you choose to program your transponder key, you will need:
- your vehicle's chassis number
- proof that you're really the owner, with two forms of ID
- the code from the manufacturer's original code card, which came with your vehicle
If you don't have that code, track down an automotive locksmith technician who will do the proper reprogramming to get you back on the road again. A trustworthy professional will be highly qualified to help you, normally at a lower price than what the dealership charges.