A transponder key has a device imbedded inside which transmits and recieves data. These devices contain one of over one trillion unique codes. When the key is inserted into the ignition, the transponder sends a signal to a disc-shaped antenna mounted behind the steering wheel. If the signal is recognized by the vehicles immobilizer, then the engine will start. If the signal is not recognized or has been weakened by damage to the transponder, then the immobilizer will shut down vital operating systems to the engine and it will not run. This technology greatly reduces the risk of auto theft and provides a peace of mind for the vehicles owner.                                                                                             

 
                

Every transponder key is programmed differently, it depends on the make, model and year of the vehicle. Most transponder keys come pre-programmed with a fixed code. This means that it cannot be changed to match the vehicle. The solution to this is problem, is to program the vehicle to recognize the new code (from the key). This is done with a variety of equipment depending on the year, make and model of the vehicle.

Some vehicles that are equipped with transponder technology require all previously programmed keys to be removed from the system before a new one can be programmed in. This is not a cause for alarm. In many cases you can add these keys back into the system yourself. In some cases, however, one of our techs will have to add it back in for you.  If this has happened to you, then please e-mail or call us and we will be glad to help you. 

Contary to its name, lasers are not used to cut these keys. This term  refers to keys with the milling (or "cuts") on the side rather than on the top and bottom. For years only high-end manufacturers such as Mercedes and BMW used this style of higher security key. These days, however, a good number of vehicles including Honda, GM, VW, Lexus, Infinity, Volvo, Saab, Audi and many more, use these keys. Getting a copy of one of these keys can sometimes be very difficult. Getting a key replaced when there are no keys can even be a nightmare. That is, of course, if you don't call us. We have the ability and equipment to copy or even generate a new one of these "laser cut" keys. To sweeten the deal, we come to you! No driving, no waiting rooms, no towing, no hassle.   

Quite simply, yes, it does work. Considering the cost of even an attempted theft, compared to the cost of "The Club," it seems like an easy choice. Most car break-ins and theft are crimes of opportunity.  If your car is going to take more effort than the one right next to it, then its an easy choice for any thief. In cases where your keys have been stolen or someone has a key that they shouldn't have, "The Club" is a fast and inexpensive alternative to having the locks changed or re-keyed. We're not saying that it is impossible to get past "The Club," in fact, it can be done by a professional in under a minute. What we are saying is that in most cases, if someone wants your car badly enough to get past "The Club," then there is very little more you can do to keep them from getting it.

The answer is easy... Don't ever use WD40 or graphite in your vehicle locks! WD40 and similar petroleum based lubricants can, over time, dry into a sticky film that, not only inhibits the moving parts inside the lock, but also traps the dirt and road grime leading to all sorts of lock failures. Graphite is the lubricant of choice for house, office or hotel type locks. In this application, it works great. Vehicle locks are in a completely different ballpark.  Because the locks come from the factory pre-greased, putting graphite in them is only going to make "mud." For the health and longevity of your vehicle locks, we recommend using a teflon or silicon-based lubricant. These can be found in most hardware and home improvment stores. The particular brand that we use is Tri-Flow, but there are many others that work just as well.

Hardly a day goes by that I don’t hear the following statement, “There’s nothing wrong with my key, it’s brand new.”  It is a common response to my suggestion that a new key, cut by the factory CODE specifications, might be all that is necessary to solve a lock problem. 

There is a world of difference between a brand new COPY of a worn out key and a brand new key. Consider for a moment a printed document. Let’s say it is a dessert recipe. It is a few years old and has several stains from being splashed with liquids. A few of the quantities are smeared, making it impossible to tell if it calls for 2 teaspoons or 3 tablespoons of grated orange peel. 

Will making a photocopy of the recipe solve this problem? Of course not. The copy will appear to be in better condition. A nice fresh piece of paper, no wrinkles or curled up corners, however, you will not be able to read the specified amount of orange peel any better than on the original recipe. 

The same holds true for a duplicate copy of a worn out key. It looks like a new key and is, in fact, a new key, but the critical dimensions are incorrect.  The only correct solution to the worn key problem is for a knowledgeable locksmith to generate a code-cut key, restoring the cuts to the original specs.   

The photo above is a copy of a worn out General Motors key. The lower photo is a key for the same vehicle, originated by a code-cutting machine to factory specifications. Can you see the difference? A code-cutting machine differs from a duplicating machine in the same way that a typewriter differs from a photocopier. One machine is used to produce an original, the other to produce a copy, with slightly less accurate dimensions.

Keys often become so worn out that they just plain stop working. This process is usually gradual.  So if you notice that your key seems to be worn or is becoming "sticky" in the lock, its a good to contact us before it leaves you stranded rather than afterwards.