“Do you make car keys too?”
Yes! We can make keys for the majority of vehicles, including high security “laser-cut” and tibbe keys. If you’ve lost all the keys we can often come out same or next day without the hassle and extra cost of having it towed to the dealership.
If you’re just needing a spare, we keep a stock of plain-head keys. We can also provide and program remotes, remote-head keys, flip keys, proximity keys, and Fobiks. All of which are OEM quality. We keep some of the most common ones on hand, if we don’t have the one for your vehicle we can in 2-3 business days.
We service vehicles as well- both the mechanical locks and electronic anti-theft systems.
- If your keys are difficult to turn in your vehicle
- If the buttons on your key/remote no longer work
- If a lock has been changed to use a new key
- If the theft light comes on when you try to start it with a programmed key
These are all common issues we can help with. For the best solution to your car troubles please contact our automotive technician.
Dorothy Miranda, CRL (Automotive Technician)
Direct: 678-330-3848 Shop: 770-827-2324
Dorothy@Precision-Locksmith.com
Common Automotive Issues and Services
Key Wear
Car keys, like anything else that gets used regularly, deteriorate over time. The tolerances vary in lock cylinders but most only need to be off by a few hundredths of an inch to cause issues. Time will thin out, round corners, and wear edges of keys to the point they stick or stop working in the locks. A new key cut to code by factory specifications can solve most wear issues. You can often tell how worn a key is by color. Many are coated in chrome, a key with a silver head or neck with a brass blade has a significant amount of wear.
Ignition Rebuilds
Sometimes a new key isn’t enough to fix issues. In this case, typically the tumblers within the lock have worn down. Hondas are notorious for this, eventually the tumblers become so worn any key stops turning or even entering the lock. Occasionally the whole cylinder needs to be replaced but nine out of ten cases they can be rebuilt. Sometimes the locks are inherently faulty due to design flaws. Old Toyotas use a type of tumbler called a split wafer- essentially half a wafer with half the durability. These will inevitably seize up and need to be rebuilt.
Broken Keys
If your keys break, hang onto all the pieces! We can reconstruct a working key from them. If it is a transponder and/or remote key we can reshell them- take the electronics and put them into a new case that is more durable than the original. If part of the key is trapped in the lock we also provide key extraction services.
Programming Keys Bought Online
Be wary if purchasing vehicle keys online. While some keys are programmable by the end user most require the use of diagnostic equipment, despite being advertised as self-programmable. Another common trend is the electronics will be incorrect, malfunctioning, or not even there! Many companies (ours included) do not offer any kind of warranty on such keys. Which means a programming fee is charged for the service provided regardless of if the keys work.
TIPS FROM OUR AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN
Lubricate the door/trunk locks occasionally with a spray Teflon or Houdini to keep them working smoothly.
I’m sure you know about rekeying homes and businesses, but did you know vehicles can also be rekeyed? If someone stole your car key we can simply change the locks to a new key. Or, if your vehicle is transponder equipped, we can delete the stolen key from programming so they can’t drive off with it.
If you have a mechanical key hidden on the exterior of your car you can never get locked out.
The best advice I can give is to have a spare key to your vehicle. It will save you time, hassle, and higher cost that comes with losing your only key. Especially if you have a luxury, European, or proximity based vehicle. We can copy many of these high end keys but we are not always able to generate them. And with the wide variety of proximity keys it is impossible to stock all of them- meaning it can take a few days to acquire the proper key.
