What to do When Transponder Key is Lost
Anytime a key is lost; emotions go through the proverbial  roof! This is especially true for car keys. A thousand questions go through  your head, some of them all at once. What if someone finds my key; what then? Where  did I last see it? Was I careless or am I the subject of a crime? Will someone  steal my car? How much will this cost me? Then the realization hits you; it  wasnât just a car key; it was a transponder key! Now, your âproblemâ just got  worse; or did it? The very reason that lost transponder keys are a headache is  why they are so successful; they are hard to duplicated and expensive to  program and copy.
Have you lost your  transponder key?
Itâs not hard to do. You set your keys down and when you  return for them; they are not there. Often, these keys are just misplaced but  sometimes, they can be stolen, mistakenly picked up by others, and even dropped  by children and pets into gutters, and toilets, etc.! Here at Locksmith  Douglasville we deal with lost and missing transponder keys on a regular basis.  We know the best ways to get new keys and what you should or should not do when  yours are missing. If you donât live here in the Douglasville, GA region, we  still offer good advice on what to do in your home town.
How can I tell if my  car keys are transponder or not?
How old is your car? Are you driving a vintage 57 Chevy? If  so, you donât have to be concerned about transponder keys. If your car is  newer, say 1995 or beyond, thereâs a good chance your keys are of the  transponder variety. This is not a bad thing. Since transponders have become  mainstream car theft has rapidly declined. This is because itâs no longer easy  to steal someoneâs car key, have it duplicated and then steal the car. Have you  ever taken a shed key or a padlock key to a local mail center or home  improvement store that makes keys? The clerk there can turn out a new key for  you in mere minutes and at a tiny cost, too. In fact, most gas stations,  convenience stores and mail centers offer this service. As you can see, key  duplicating is easy, fast and very inexpensive; unless that key is a  transponder chip key!
Why transponders are  a big deal Â
The word transponder means to transmit. Your key is in actuality a transmitter of sorts. It has a chip embedded in its head that is  programmed to match your carâs onboard computer. No other key has that chip and  if a different key is used, the car will simply not recognize the signal and  the car will not start. If duplicating transponder keys were an affordable task  and easy to do, there would be no point in having them. Only designated car  dealerships and full service automotive locksmith shops can make a transponder  key duplicate and program them to match your car. The car dealer way is time  consuming, expensive and usually requires the added cost and hassle of using a  tow truck to get your car to the service shop.
Lost transponder keys Â
There are some little known alternatives to getting a new  transponder key. Some people try and order a new one online. They hope to save  money and time by doing so. Sadly, these keys never work correctly or for very  long. Itâs one of lifeâs most basic rules; donât take short cuts. These online  transponder keys have another problem; no refunds. The companies touting these  worthless keys offer full refunds if they donât work; but in almost all cases,  the refund boast is never honored. Time, money and nerves are now spent when a  legitimate transponder key could have been made in as little as a day.
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