Common Transponder Key Problems
Your car key looks pretty sturdy. It looks like it can take a beating. In fact, you have probably dropped your car keys on the floor several times already and nothing happened. The reality is that the transponder chip – just like any electronic device – is quite sensitive to shock. It can break the next time you accidentally drop your car key. When the transponder chip is damaged, it will stop sending the codes. Consequently, the vehicle will not receive a code and will not start when you turn the key in the ignition. The simple and effective remedy for this problem is to call a locksmith and ask him to replace the transponder chip or to duplicate the entire key.
Another problem can be caused by the battery inside your key. As any electronic device, the transponder in your key needs power from somewhere. The power is supplied by a small battery inside the key. If the battery dies, so does your transponder chip. Again, the chip will not be able to send the codes to the vehicle without power – and the vehicle will not start. This problem can be solved pretty quickly simply by replacing the battery in the key. A trained locksmith can help you do this, or you can do it yourself. If you attempt to replace the battery yourself, be careful not to damage the key or the transponder chip inside of it.
In case you purchase a new transponder key on the Internet, the new key will not work with your vehicle. Why? Because each transponder chip is programmed differently. Otherwise, you would be able to open any car of the same make and model with the same key. Each vehicle requires different codes, based on an algorithm programmed in the vehicle’s on-board computer. The new transponder key needs to be programmed to work with your car. Again, a simple solution to this problem is to call an experienced locksmith and have him program your transponder key. Even though it may sound like an easy operation, programming a key improperly can have very nasty consequences. Let an expert do it!
The key stops working all of a sudden and it’s not the battery inside it at fault. There are various reasons why a transponder chip may stop working out of the blue. You don’t need to drop the key or case damage to the chip to make it stop working. In some cases, older transponder chips simply die; it’s normal wear and tear. A locksmith can help you duplicate one of the functioning car keys and make as many copies as you want. Alternatively, the expert can program a new transponder key to work with your vehicle in case you have no keys left. In any case, a locksmith can help you get back on the road in as little time as possible – usually the same day.
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