Potential Problems with Transponder Keys

Transponder keys bring a lot of convenience to vehicle ownership. These new types of vehicle keys bring technology to your vehicle in a cutting edge way. However, when you add technology to anything, there is the potential for problems to arise. Here we will go through potential problems you may face when dealing with transponder keys.

What are transponder keys?

To start, let’s explain what transponder keys are. A transponder key is a car key that has a chip inside. This chip sends a radio signal to your car’s ignition (when the key is in close proximity). This lets the car know that the rightful owner is nearby, and the ignition should turn, allowing the car to start. If your car is later than a mid-1990’s model, it is likely that your key contains a transponder chip. You may also refer to this as a “key fob”. You might think that the fob is only used for opening and locking your vehicle. However, it is likely that a transponder chip is inside your key fob. This technology was created not only for its convenience, but as an anti-theft measure.

Transponder Key Problems

While this technology is great, it does come with its own set of problems. Just like any technology we utilize in everyday life, there are positives and negatives that come with it. Below we will list some potential problems with transponder keys.

Chip Damage

The chip in your key, or the corresponding chip in your car's ignition can face damage. When this happens, you will find that your transponder key only works intermittently (or not at all). This can be a very frustrating experience. If you think your chip has undergone damage, please call a locksmith for assistance. They are trained to deal with transponder keys for all makes and models of vehicles. If the problem lies with the chip in your car's ignition, a locksmith can still help. They are trained to deal with the full lock mechanism, including your car's ignition system.

Misplaced Key

This problem is due to human error, but it can happen. If you have misplaced your transponder key, you will not have a way to get inside of your vehicle, or turn your vehicle on (since the chip in the key will not be near the ignition). This situation may seem impossible. However, there is a solution. You can call a licensed and insured automotive locksmith to help you. They will be able to program a new transponder key for you (even if you have misplaced the old one). There are specific tools and equipment that are needed to get this done. This is why you should call a reputable auto locksmith for help. They can come out to your location and assist you. Many locksmiths also offer 24/7 emergency assistance. This means they will come out and help you even if you find that you have lost your keys in the middle of the night.

Key not working

If you have your key, but find that it is just not working - this points to a malfunction with your key. One problem may be a dead battery. Many new transponder keys do not use batteries to power them. However, older transponder keys may still rely on batteries. Signs that the battery is wearing out usually appear before hand. One sign is that the buttons on the transponder need to be pressed multiple times in order for them to work. If you are starting to notice inconsistency in the way your key buttons function, it may be a battery issue. If your car has push button start, you may have to press the start button multiple times for the car to fire up. You may be ignoring this issue, out of worry that the fix will be expensive. However, it could be due to a weak battery in your key fob.

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How to Avoid Automotive Lockouts

Any time you find yourself lockout out, you are likely to become very frustrated. This is understandable. You probably want to scream at someone but unfortunately you have no one to blame accept yourself. You become even more frustrated when you are already late and you discover that you are locked out.

Here at Locksmith Tyler in Tyler, TX we would like to provide you with some useful resolutions to help you avoid being locked out. Be advised that the only way these suggestions can benefit you is if you put them to use. If you choose to do so or not it will depend on you. When you decide to take our suggestions to heart and implement them, you don’t have anything to lose. You will probably be glad that you even took the time to read this article in order to gain some practical solutions to being locked out. You know what they say, “If I knew then what I know now”. This means you would have done this a long time ago. Our suggestions simply act as a guide for you to use as you choose. After reading our suggestions, you may tweek our suggestions and come up with some that work just as good.

• Lock Picks - You might be saying that this would enable you to get into anyone’s car, any time you choose to. You would be right, to a degree. We say this because in some municipalities you are allowed to carry a lock pick but in others, you are not. Check with your municipality before making the investment. Despite never being locked out before, it is always a good idea to be prepared for the possibility.  Proper use of a lock pick is necessary if you are going to be effective in gaining access again. We would suggest that you practice on your car or a friend’s before you actually have to use it for a lock out.

• Bump Keys - A bump key enables you to unlock your door. With a hammer, you’ll have to strike the right position on the key in order to disengage the lock. This is something else that you might want to practice on since it can be challenging figuring out exactly where to strike the key. If you own a bump key, keep it in a safe and secure location that is not visible to others. You don’t want to encourage anyone to make use of it for the wrong reasons.

• Develop a Routine -Make it a routine to have your car keys in your hand as you are exiting your vehicle. This habit will help you avoid locking yourself out. The routine is to have your necessary car key in your hand when leaving your car. You want to visually identify your key before heading stepping out of your car to ensure you do not run into the problem of being locked out.

• Have a Spare Key - It just makes common sense to have another set of car keys to avoid being locked out. This shouldn’t only apply when it comes to car keys, it should also apply when it comes to any type of key that gives you entry into somewhere that you need to be, home, office, etc. Don’t continue putting it off for another day. There is no better time than the present. Although having a spare key doesn’t mean you will never be locked out, it does mean you don’t have to remain locked out for too long before gaining access in again. It also gives you peace-of-mind and minimizes frustration. Some people even purchase more than one spare key at a time to ensure they always have access. Keep spare keys somewhere other than together; it defeats your purpose in having a spare if you keep them together. Give them to trustworthy friends and family who will be able to come to your aid when you need them.

• Have Bad Locks Replaced With Newer Locks - If you have a hard time unlocking the doors of your car, this could be an indication that you need to have a new lock installed. Using a key that is damaged can cause problems with your lock. You may not be able to see the damage but you will be able to tell that something isn’t right because your key doesn’t immediately give you access to into your car. If the lock needs to be replaced, it doesn’t matter if you have a spare key or not, you may eventually find that the lock will no longer work. Avoid being locked out by having any locks replaced as soon as possible. Put it off just one more day and this just might be the day that you find yourself locked out.

• Avoid Duplicating Keys - If you have keys duplicated frequently, you may eventually run into the problem of the key no longer working. This is because the more the key is duplicated, the further away from the original it will be. This means that you should always have spare keys made from your original key, not another duplicate key.

• Keeping Up With Car Keys - We know this is easier said than done but if you are prone to losing your car keys, you might need to develop some type of way to always keep up with them. This goes back to always making sure you have a visual on your car key before hoping out of your car, even when you’re in a hurry. If you have spare keys, make sure you don’t hand out too many. When you do this you may not remember exactly who you gave the keys to. Avoid taking your car keys out in public because it is quite easy to lay them down and walk away. Instead, why not wait until you are walking toward your car to begin looking for them to minimize the possibility of losing them or leaving them somewhere.