Transponder Key Issues & How to Resolve Them

If you’re key allows you to start your engine and open your car door and trunk, this is known as a transponder key. Many newer model vehicles require a transponder key. This type of key offers you the modern conveniences that a typical key does not have to offer to you. You will also be able to open up your trunk and with some transponder keys, set your car alarm. Motorists can do all of this without placing their key in the car door. When you aim the key toward your car, these functionalities will occur. There is a chip in each transponder key. The chip is programmed to communicate with a centralized computer. When the computer picks up the signal of your transponder key, it will enable your car’s engine start. Most people use a transponder key but not everyone realizes that this is what they are using to access their car. Since so many people have this type of key, it only makes sense that locksmiths familiarize themselves with the design of them and learn how to program them.

Whether your key has been lost or stolen it could still result in your car being stolen. It isn’t easy for a thief to break into your car when you use a transponder key, however, if they get their hands on your key, they will have no problem. All they need is the actual key to take off in your car. Someone might steal your keys or you could drop them accidentally. When your keys fall in the hands of the wrong person, you could end up calling the police department giving them a description of your car.  

Loss of a Transponder Key

A transponder key is designed with a lot of planning and consideration. They are considered high-end devices due to the mechanisms used to make them. You should always know what to do if you should happen to lose your key. Again, a standard key is not difficult to have made but a transponder key is a different story. With a standard key all you need to do is go to the nearest hardware store to have your key cut. It’s really just that simple. A transponder key isn’t that simple. The right equipment is necessary to program your new transponder key. When you decide to go to your dealership to have a transponder key made be prepared to pay far more than you would if you were to use a locksmith. They carry far more overhead than a locksmith and this cost them. You’re the one that will pay for the overhead if you decide to use their services for anything! Rely on a locksmith and we can provide you with a newly programmed key in no time. If you decide to go to a dealership anyway, let them know that you had a transponder key and that it was stolen. In some cases, they might offer you a discount but you won’t know if you don’t ask. When you let them know your key has been lost or stolen, they will deactivate your existing key so that it is no longer operable. Immobilizing your car might even make it easier for the authorities to find if it has been stolen.  

When Your Key Is Not Working

When you own a transponder key, you might discover that it isn’t working when you need it to. These are the reasons why you might experience a problem with your transponder key:  

Defective key

Some keys are sold with manufacturer defects. If a locksmith determines that your key is defective, you might be able to get a new key for free if you have a manufacturer’s warranty. Without a warranty, you’re out of luck, unless you rely on the services of Quick Stop LLC to assist you with programming a new key.  

Communication Issues

When your keys chip is not communicating effectively with the computer that it has been programmed to communicate with, the key will not work. The key will need to be reprogrammed in order for the key to start working again.   

A locksmith can handle this for you. Don’t hesitate to contact a locksmith whenever you experience a problem with your transponder key not working.