How To Make A Profitable Cut Car Key If You're Not Business-Savvy
Car Key Cutting Explained
Car key cutting is much more than simply shaping the metal. It is a complex process that ensures safety, functionality and durability of keys.
It is not unusual to lose keys to your car or even have them break into the lock. You will need a new car key in order to ensure you can drive your car at all times.
Transponder Keys
If your car was built within the last 20 years, it's likely that it has a transponder chip. These microchips are located in the key's handle and send a signal to your vehicle's onboard computers when you use the key. The onboard computer checks the serial number of the chip prior to it allows the car to start. This helps prevent theft of cars as thieves would have to know your unique serial number in order to be able to steal it.
The microchip inside your car key sends a low-level radio signal to the car's receiver. This radio signal activates the microchip, which transmits an encoded code to the car's onboard computer. g28carkeys will only start if it recognizes this code. This prevents "hot wiring" or other methods of stealing cars.
Car keys with chips can be made at an authorized locksmith who offers these services. They are also available at certain automotive stores like AutoZone. They have a vast selection of keys and can assist you in choosing the appropriate one for your car. They can help you program your car's chip which is needed to operate the device.
You can also purchase laser cut keys that are more secure than flat keys. They are more secure than flat keys due to having locks that are harder to pick. They are only duplicated with expensive laser key cutting equipment, or specialized software. This type of technology is typically found in high-end vehicles but is now accessible in a wide range of low-cost models.
The VATS (vehicle-anti-theft system), key is another kind of key that is difficult to duplicate. They have a resistor that is black on the blade of the key. It can be programmed to any of fifteen possible values to stop it from starting a vehicle that's not designed to. These keys are expensive and require an instrument for programming keys, which is only available at a few locksmiths.
VATS Keys
Before the days of transponder keys and cars with built-in computer chips to control the ignition of a car, GM used something called VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System). VATS makes use of a key with an embedded resistor to confirm that the right key was used to start the car. The VATS pellet in black located in the middle of a VATS Key isn't a smart chip like those found on most modern keys. It is simply carbon or a block that is sized to have an electrical resistance.
GM employed 15 different resistance values for the VATS pellets. They connected them to the blade of the key to ensure that, when the key is turned in the ignition the coded signal is sent to the module. If the signal matches the resistance value of the transistor in the VATS pellet the relay in the starter circuit is activated and the engine begins to run. This doesn't make a car safe from burglary however it could delay a thief for at least fifteen to twenty minutes.
Unfortunately, after a significant amount of usage, the VATS module in your car can begin to wear out. Every time a key is inserted into the ignition, it moves two very small wires inside the ignition, and over time the wires can begin to break. Once enough wires are broken the signal is lost to the module and the car will not begin.
You can solve this issue at home by decoding your VATS code. It's not difficult to determine the resistance value of a key by using a multimeter. You can determine the resistance value by placing one of the leads on the prongs made of metal on both sides of your key.
This method is also a great way to test a new key to see whether it works in your car. Remove the ignition key first before you test it. Otherwise, the key may have an incorrect VATS and will not function in your vehicle.
Smart Key Fobs with Smart Keys
Key fobs today are more than just a way to unlock or start a car. They also function as used as a security device and theft deterrent, with many of them having advanced features that the owners might not be aware of. They can lock and unlock your door remotely and emit chirping sounds to aid in locating your car in a lot, or allow you to activate it by pressing the button. This is more functionality than you get from a standard keychain remote. Smart key fobs are more expensive to replace due to their extra functions. They also need to be programmed by the dealer.
Some dealers will charge up to $100 for one smart fob. It's a steep price for a device that is frequently tossed around in purses and pockets where it can be damaged, dropped, or exposed to extreme temperatures and moisture. Fortunately certain automakers have come up with ways to safeguard smart key fobs from the most common types of electronic threats like relay attacks. They are typically used in combination with a remote-start hack that allows thieves to access your vehicle's settings through an untrue signal from a nearby transmitter.
To safeguard a smart fob you can put it in a casing made of metal or put it in an RFID blocking case. This will prevent the transmission of these signals. The convenience of the technology is diminished if you need to remove your key fob every time you need to take it out of the protective case.
Certain policies that are more recent such as auto club memberships or extended warranties will pay for a replacement fob, or reimburse you if it is lost. You can also save money on new car dealer charges and have your fob cut at a hardware store or locksmith which offers key-fob cloning.
For the majority of drivers who want to buy a new key fob depends on the importance of your car's keyless entry and push button starter functions are. You should always keep a spare fob or key on hand in case you lose yours. Batteries Plus offers a large choice of replacement fobs that fit in most vehicles and trucks. We also offer an easy, fast service that is approximately 50% less than you'd buy from a dealership.
Traditional Keys
Traditional keys for cars are a single length of steel that has grooves cut into it to fit a specific lock. These keys will unlock your locks and also start the car, assuming you haven't changed them out for a smart key or remote key. The only disadvantage of using the traditional key is that it must be physically put into the ignition in order to start the car. If your traditional car key is damaged or lost it is necessary to visit a Gainesville Locksmith to get a new one created.
There are a variety of choices to pick from based on how long it has been since you've were able to cut your keys. Certain keys utilize mechanical cutting machines to produce copies, while others use laser-cut keys specifically designed with enhanced security features in mind.
Some of these features that come with modern-day keys include encryption and other security mechanisms. Encryption ensures that only the right key is used to start your car, making it more difficult for thieves to duplicate or pick locks. Other security features that prevent theft include transponder chips, which are embedded in the key to communicate with your vehicle and allow it to only work when it's within the distance of your car.
If you decide to use a traditional, standard key, a locksmith could create a new key with a standard key cutting machine which can be purchased at many hardware stores. This is less expensive than a key fob or a transponder. you can still operate your trunk locks, trunk locks, and doors.
You can also replace your traditional keys for your car with a laser cut version with a unique pattern. The first time these keys were introduced was in the 1990s and they're a popular choice for people who want to provide extra security to their vehicles. The majority of laser cut keys come with transponder chips that are programmed to work only with the specific vehicle you own. If the chips aren't installed in your vehicle, it will not respond to the signals sent by the key.