DID YOU LOSE YOUR TRANSPONDER KEY? DON’T DESPAIR. HERE’S WHAT TO DO!

In the old days, if you ever lost your car key, you would have a spare key that you’d easily had made at the local locksmith, hardware store, or dealership. However, nowadays, losing your keys has become much more problematic than it used to be in the 1990s ~ in other words, before computer chips. A traditional car key, with its unique grooves and cuts, was just like a house key, so you could get it duplicated inexpensively.

The downside to a regular car key back in the day was of course that, because it was easy to copy, it was also relatively easy for a car thief to steal your vehicle. Cars are much harder to steal today because of advances in transponder key technology. A transponder key, even though it’s more expensive, is undoubtedly worth the peace of mind it affords you.

But what should you do if you’ve lost your transponder key?

What type of transponder key did you lose?

Inside your transponder key’s plastic head is a chip, which sends a singular signal, which goes to the receiver in your vehicle, instructing it to start. The main difference between a standard key and a transponder key is that the chip inside your transponder key must be programmed. For most cars today, an electronic key fob (also called the remote) is an integral component to the key set. It’s important that you protect your transponder key, because, depending upon the complexity of its design and on your automaker, the replacement of a lost electronic fob is typically very expensive. The fob has to be suitably programmed. There are some dealerships that will do it for free, but most will charge you an arm and a leg.

For some automobiles, the transponder key and the fob are an all-in-one unit. Also referred to as a laser-cut key, the shank is a little thicker, and has fewer carved-out grooves. Laser-cut keys are also referred to as “sidewinder” keys, because they have a winding-shaped cut on the shank. The laser-cut key’s built-in chip needs programming. It’s harder to get a spare key made anywhere, except at your dealership. It’s more expensive, but your car is more secure.

A switchblade key is another sort of key that has a transponder chip inside. A switchblade key has a shank, which folds into the fob when you aren’t using it. Press a button, and it will pop out. This key has either a laser cut or regular cut. One benefit of a switchblade key is that you can buy the parts separately. If you’ve truly lost your key permanently, then both components need programming.

A smart key is not actually a key ~ not in the normal sense of the word. It’s only a fob. You either stick it in the dash, or you keep it on your belt buckle, in your pocket, or in your purse. Just get into the driver’s seat, and you can start or stop your car by pressing a button. A smart key is ultra secure, since it has rolling security codes. That means it’s continually randomizing the right code, a major feature which prevents a potential car thief from hacking it with a code grabber. Replace your smart key at the dealership.

Have a spare key made.

Are you constantly losing your keys, arguing with your teenager or spouse over who lost whose keys? Save on transponder key programming by making a third spare key. Since you likely already have two keys (which you should have received when you purchased your car), a good number of models and makes will let you program a third key. First off, hire an automotive locksmith to cut you a third key; then you can read your owner’s manual and program it yourself.

The following procedure will work on many American-made automobiles. But before you spend your money, consult your dealership or ask your local automotive locksmith professional to see if these steps will be effective on your specific vehicle. If you’re anywhere in Riverside, California, track down a dependable local locksmith, such as a staff mobile automotive locksmith specialist of Riverside Locksmith.

1. First, insert one of the two working keys, and turn the ignition to the “on” position for about three seconds (don’t start the car).
2. Now, do the same thing with your second key.
3. Finally, insert the new third key. Turn it to the “on” position for another three seconds. This will successfully program your extra key.

Do It Yourself

One thing you can do to get into your automobile is, you can get only the standard key, but not the transmitter. This is less costly, and you’ll at least have a key that will get you inside your car. This is handy if you lock your car keys inside your car. The programming element, which does the remote unlocking and locking, is a luxury, since it’s not really required for gaining entry or for driving. You can program this part by yourself by following the instructions in your owner’s manual. Or, hire an expert automotive locksmith technician to do it for you.

Don’t ever lose your transponder key again!

No matter how you slice it, a transponder key is expensive. The best way to prevent misplacing it again is to prepare ahead of time. Don’t tempt fate! If you have only one car key, it’s better to have a spare key made right now, than to get stressed out about it in the future, when you’ll end up in a crisis, spending much more than you ever wanted to.

Should you decide to program your transponder key, you’ll need:

• proof that you’re the owner, with two types of identification
• your vehicle’s chassis number
• the code on the manufacturer’s original code card, which originally came with your vehicle

If you can’t find that code, hire an automotive locksmith professional who will carry out the reprogramming correctly to get you back on the road again. A reliable professional will be qualified to help you, usually at a lower price than what the dealership will charge.

Riverside Locksmith: Everything You Need To Know About Access Control

The limiting of the access one has to a certain room can be very important, especially if you have a room that is potentially hazardous to be in, or one that stores very expensive items which can’t be trusted with just anyone. Access control is a valid, tested way to limit the access of specific areas to certain people that you know you can trust. This is becoming such a popular solution that the team at Riverside Locksmith (which primarily serves the Riverside, CA area) has compiled this information for your convenience. You will find everything you want to know about access control and get a better idea of how it works.

What is access control? How does it work?

As briefly mentioned, this solution restricts access to certain areas or to certain people. You have the ability to give the authorization to enter a room or to access certain parts of a property to the people of your choosing. Access control is a solution that is utilized in businesses, on university campuses, and more. Often times, companies that have hazardous materials in certain areas will only want specified, experienced individuals to be able to get into these areas. So, in a nutshell, it is a solution that is utilized by a wide variety of people and businesses. It works by the use of a code or even a fingerprint. You might have a box with numbers on it outside of a door, and a person will only be able to get in if they know the specific code. Or perhaps you want to only allow entry based off a person’s unique fingerprint.

Are there any other benefits or perks to using restricted access?

One of the biggest pros to using access control is that you can stop unauthorized persons from accessing certain resources or parts of your property. You can have a sense of comfort knowing that not just anyone can get their hands on the chemicals which might be in your warehouse or the expensive diamonds that might in your shop. In addition to knowing that not just anyone can access your property, you can also keep track of the individuals who are coming into your property and leaving it. You are able to find systems which will notify you if someone comes into an area or leaves it. You can also find systems that produce traffic reports for you. You can even have the option to monitor things remotely. Basically, access control offers a lot of benefits and convenience, in addition to peace of mind. So it is easy to see why so many individuals are opting to take advantage of it. People want a safe environment for themselves, and for everyone else. They want their assets, cloud resources and facilities to be safe and secure. They want to keep track of who is coming into their building. And they want secure areas to only be accessed by certain individuals. You can’t be everywhere at once. That is why there are so many benefits to utilizing a solution such as access control. Whether you are mainly looking to limit access to a room or to an entire building, or to something else, you can benefit from this excellent, technologically advanced solution.

If you end up researching access control, some of the terms you will come across include credentials, readers, control panels, visitor management systems, web based access control and more. Things can definitely get a bit overwhelming, just because there is so much relevant information on the topic. For this reason, you will want to get on the phone with an expert. With web based access control, for instance, you will be able to manage your system or monitor it from anywhere in which you are able to get Internet connection. In this day and age, with just about everyone up and on the go all of the time, this is a popular solution. Whether you are interested in revoking rights to certain points of your property or simply keeping track of things in a better, easier way, access control might just be for you.

Call a licensed and insured locksmith!

A trusted lock and security provider will be able to assist you with security features such as access control. A trustworthy, reputable expert will also make sure that you are provided with a consultation so that all concerns can be addressed (usually free of charge).  You do have many options when it comes to locks and security.  The team of experts at Riverside Locksmith is available to help those who are in or near beautiful Riverside, California, and for a great price. All of their services are very competitive. But you might not be living or working in this area. In this case, you just have to do a little bit of research. Ask business owners if they recommend a lock and security provider. Talk to friends who have taken advantage of relevant solutions. If you can’t get the information that you need in this way that is no problem. The Internet exists to provide everything that you need in one quick search. Look up a locksmith that is based in your local area, and see if they specialize in solutions such as access control.

Hopefully now you have a better understanding of how this amazing solution works. Hopefully now you are able to see how helpful it truly is to have. Remember, you can’t be in multiple places at the same time, so sometimes it is best to employ the technology that is available to you. When you are looking to deny the utilization of resources or to permit the utilization of resources to select people, this is the service that you need. Thanks for taking the time to learn more – knowledge is power after all, and it is important that you take the steps that are necessary to protect your valuable property and belongings.