Automotive Re-key Services

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VATS System Fix

During the years, each vehicle manufacturer has developed their own anti-theft functionality to prevent stealing. As many vehicle company learned, some models became very popular among thieves which encouraged the companies to think of different ways to avoid having their models being labeled as an easy target. Some manufacturers started using the common transponder key system in the mod 90's which made it a little difficult on locksmith technician servicing vehicles equipped with that system. GM had a different version which called VATS system which had a similar function, but caused many issues as the vehicle got older leaving locksmith technicians scratching their head looking for a solution.

A while back I remember getting a call from a customer who was experiencing some issues with the ignition of his 1998 Camaro. According to the customer, the issue just started happening intermittently where the vehicle would normally start and other times it won't. I didn't got to service many of these types of GM models, but I assume the problem would be with the ignition switch that would probably need to be replaced. After discussing the solution with the customer, I started heading his way.

Once I got to the customer's address and had a chance to look inside the vehicle attempting to start the vehicle myself, I noticed that the security light was on. I then pulled my diagnostic equipment from the van and hooked it up to the vehicle and the information I got pointed to an issue with the VATS system of the vehicle. According to my diagnostics equipment the wiring between the ignition and the OBD connector seem to be broken which the only solution for that was to replace the wiring.

At that point I had to call a Boise locksmith co worker of mine for some help regarding the procedure since I never had to go through VATS system wiring repair before. He mentioned I would have to disassemble part of the steering column in order to "fish" the old wiring out and the new one in. After carefully following my co worker instruction, I was able successfully install the new wiring and start the vehicle without any further issues.

Daewoo Key Make

Originating a key for a vehicle can be done in several ways by a locksmith technician. In addition, most locksmith technicians should have guides and literature the normally would help identify the best way to make a key for a certain model and give additional info regrading the correct blank to be used. Unfortunately, there were many times where I followed the guides only to end up scratching my had to try and figure out why a key I made did not work.

Something that normally doesn't happen, but did happen few times in the past was me getting a call from a dealership to make a key for a 2000 Daewoo. I knew this type of model was Korean made. And although there were not very popular, you could still find those around the U.S. Since the dealership was not familiar with that model, but needed a key to sell it since one of their attendants lost it, they decided to call a locksmith (me). Before heading to the dealership, I reviewed the guides making sure I had the correct blanks in stock which surprisingly I had since they could have been used for other models as well.

Once I got to the dealership, the first thing I needed to do was review the guide again to find the best way to get a code in order to originate the key. According to the guide, taking out the trunk cylinder would have been the easiest way. As always, the guide did not disappoint, and I had the trunk cylinder out in no time. There wafers in the cylinder were all numbered which made it very easy originating the key.

After the key was ready finally, I went to test it and failed to work. for some reason I could burly insert the key. I went ahead and made another one, but it seemed to fail operating any of the vehicle's locks as well. As a last resort, I gave a call to a Boise locksmith co-worker of mine to see if he was familiar with that type of model vehicle I was servicing. Luckily, he did service few of similar Daewoo models in the past and told me that in this case, the guide was wrong, and the blanks that should be used for that particular vehicle were Suzuki blanks. After quick check in my inventory, I found couple of Suzuki blanks. After about several minuted I had a new key made and successfully tested.

Ignition Switch Service

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Aspire Key Make

Originating an automotive key is one of the common services a locksmith technician will do during his or her years in the business. There are many ways to originate a new key for the vehicle such as progressioning, getting the a unique code that is usually stamped on the the door lock or ignition cylinder and last but not least, getting a code from the locksmith database software which cost money. The most common way to originate a key for a vehicle which most locksmith technicians do is getting the code off of one of the vehicle's cylinders unless it is not possible which then paying for the code from the database will be most likely.

During the winter time I remember getting a call from a customer who owned a 96  Ford Aspire which I suspected was not a U.S. model vehicle and probably a Korean made. I never made a key for such vehicle, but I figured it won't be much different than other similar vehicles I did. Apparently, the reason the customer needed a new key was because she accidentally broke it while trying to unlock it. As she was telling me on the phone, strangely enough when she sensed the key started breaking, she immediately removed it from the lock which then the key broke completely and the broken piece fell into the snow.

Once I got to the customer's location, I knew I would have much easier time if I would be able to find the other broken piece to originate a new key since it meant I didn't have to progress, take apart the door lock or even buy a code from the database which would have increase the cost of the service for the customer. Unfortunately, we could not find the other piece of the key in the snow which meant I had to go with the other alternatives.

It was fairly cold that way and I figured it might be best to leave the door alone and not taking it apart to get to the lock. Instead, I called a Boise locksmith co-worker of mine to check for the cost of the code and if they had that particular vehicle in the database. After getting him on the phone, he gave me the info I needed, but he also mentioned to check the head of the key for the code as he was positive that most of these Korean models had the code stamped under the rubber cover. After working on the head of the key for couple of minutes peeling the rubber cover, I revealed the 4 digit code. After doing a quick check, it was confirmed it was indeed the code I needed in order to originate a new working key.  

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Mazda Key Origination

Working as a locksmith technician you'll never know what type of job you will going to run into. Key origination is one of the many services most locksmith companies and technicians do. For most make and models it doesn't take much for the average locksmith technician to make a key. There are several methods and equipment that are used to make keys such as buying a code from a large automotive database, getting the code from one of the vehicle's lock, or others. However, the service does not usually end by originating the key. What happen if the key that was made will not work?

I got a call recently from an old couple who wanted a key made for their 1992 Mazda 929. I wasn't aware of it until I actually got to their home, but apparently the vehicle was seating in the garage for about 12 years. Even though they didn't have the for it, the vehicle was unlocked inside the garage, so I was able to  to look inside the vehicle which looked like it was brand new. Needless to say, I did not want to tamper with anything and decided to pays the extra few dollars to get the special code off of the automotive database instead from one of the vehicle's locks that needed to be removed for that purpose.

Another incident that happened that day was the fact that my main service van kept over heating which forced me going to the job with my truck which had an old "punch" machine which used to manually cut keys. Once I got the vehicle's code from the database, I had all I needed to make the key including 4 blanks I had to my disposal. Finishing cutting the key, I quickly went to test it, but for some reason it failed to operate both the door lock and ignition switch. I figured that there was a chance I didn't cut the key properly, so I went ahead and cut another key which didn't work as well.

I then decided to call a Boise locksmith co-worker friend of mine for advice on the situation. After giving him all the story, he said that the issue may have been the fact that vehicle sat for so long, the wafers and springs inside the lock probably began to bind in time which affected the operation with the key. The solution? WD-40 and let it seat for  few minutes.

After following my co-worker advice, I sprayed a little WD-40 on both the lock and the ignition switch and waited few minutes. Before making an attempt to test both keys, I went over the cuts one more time just in case. I then went ahead and tested both keys which was successful on the door lock, but not on the ignition switch. At that point, I knew it wasn't the key and that the problem just may have been in the ignition switch. However, as I went to call the customer and show him the key did work, surprisingly the ignition switch decided to turn which was a relief.

Ignition Broken Key Extraction

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Nissan Key Origination

In order to make a new key for a vehicle there are few things that most of the average locksmith technician knows. Most of the information for generating an automotive key most of the time can be found in various automotive locksmith guides and book. However, every now and then, I would run into a new piece of information that was not found in those books that would help me get the job done much quickly in an easier fashion.

I remember a few years back, I got called by a customer who broke the key of his 92 Nissan inside the ignition while trying to start it. Initially he called to get the broken key out of the ignition switch, but I assumed he may need a new key made as well. I took the job, but before heading to the customer location, I stopped at the locksmith shop to get a couple of blanks just in case.

Once I got to the customer's location, I did a quick review of the situation figuring my strategy of extracting the broken piece of the key since that was the first time working on this type of Nissan model. It didn't seem like something special, so I just used my extractor tool to get the broken piece out which didn't take too long. Once I got the piece out, the customer did asked me if I would be able to make him a new key and I confirmed.

According to the guides I had there was suppose to be a sticker with the code inside the glove compartment that would be needed in order to make the key. There was another option mentioned which was taking the ignition apart to get the code stamped on it. Obviously, I took the easier route and checked the glove compartment for the sticker with the code.

Unfortunately, as I opened the glove compartment, I noticed that the sticker was missing. At that point it looked like I would need to take the ignition apart to get the code. Since I didn't have any experience at that time messing with the ignitions of these types of vehicles, I decided to call a fellow Boise locksmith technician I knew for some guidance on the process.

As I got my friend on the phone and told him the whole story, I mentioned that taking the ignition apart may not be necessary. He said that if the customer still had the original key, I should be able to peel the rubber coating from the head of the key and the code should be stamped on the head. Following the new discovery, I took the broken key form the customer (which luckily was the original) and I did saw it had the rubber coating and as I started peeling it, the code was right there! I then was able to make a new key for the customer in no time!

Nissan Code Tip

There may be few jobs in one's locksmith career that will we frustrating to find solution for. I find that most of these jobs were in the automotive category. Normally, making a key for a vehicle can be a very simple process most of the time. However, there will be times where the ignition, door, or glove box lock would need to be taken apart in order to make a key. It may be time consuming, but most of the time, it will be the only way to get the job done.

I recently got a call from a customer to make a key for a 92 Nissan NX. Thinking I could probably impression the key without any issues, I gracefully accepted the job (which was not too far away from me). Once I got to the job site and started the impressioning process, it seem like things weren't going my way. At the point when I realized I could not impression a key, I turned to the only other option I had which was pulling one of the door lock.

I started taking apart the passenger side door panel in order to remove the door lock. Although it was a gamble, I figured it might be easier to do that in order to get part of the code then taking apart the ignition switch. When I got to the lock and was able to remove it, I noticed there was a code on the tailpiece. There seem to have 5 numbers there, but I knew the last 4 would probably be the "key" to make the key. I've just added an x in front of the 4 digits I pulled out from the lock, and I was able to find code and make the key in no time.

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Extractor Tool Tip

The following is something Iv'e learned during my years of experience in the locksmith field while doing broken key extraction from ignition jobs using a spiral extractor tool. Usually, most technicians will remove the head from the broken key and slide the "improvised" key into the key-way of the lock to the point it will make contact with the other broken piece of the key. In this point the extractor tool will come into the picture sliding it down the milling sticking to the broken piece and then pulling it out of the lock. The upper piece of the broken piece is used as a guide to the extractor tool and at the same time lifting the pins or wafers out of the way so there won't be any interference while extracting the broken piece from the lock.

The trick I came up with is mostly concern keys with larger milling. The large blade of the extractor tool is not large enough for those type of keys usually which will require thinking out of the box in order to extract a broken such key. In such case what needs to be done is putting a small bend about 12' from the end of the extractor tool. At this point, if the tool will be inserted down the key-way of the lock again, the bent tip of it will be enough to get a good grip on the broken piece and pull it out of the ignition cylinder.

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Automotive Locksmith Service in Boise

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Automotive Locksmith Service in Boise (208) 946-4162

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Substitute For Kia Sportage Key

A situation I came across a while ago as many other locksmith technicians in the field was finding out there was something new in the market.
A customer drove up to the shop in a brand-new Kia Sportage and needed some copies made of the ignition/door key. After a complete search in our company's inventory, I realized we did not carry it. So like any other professional locksmith technician, I improvised. I found that an Ilco X198/B74 is long enough, and even though the millings allow the blank to pass the keyway, I had to modify the blank.

I rounded the head of the key and cut the blade from the head to the shoulder stop to narrow the blade enough to fit in the ignition. After this was completed, I cut the keys on the modified blank and got the customer on their way. Sometime after, I found out that the new Sportage uses an Ilco X267/KK4 blank.
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Broken GM Glove Box Fix

I got a job from a locksmith company I work with to make a key to the trunk of an older GM vehicle. I was in a hurry that day and as I was taking the glove box lock apart to get the last 4 cuts of the key, I somehow broke the ears that retained the cylinder plug in the housing. That of course meant the cylinder plug would not stay in the lock housing. Looking for a way to solve the problem (I did not have another lock on the truck), I noticed that the back of the plug has a groove cut around it to accept the “ears” of the retainers.

I measured back on the housing where the back of the plug stops, and drilled a hole in the housing in line with the ridge on the plug. I then screwed a sheet-metal screw in the Housing and into the ridge of the plug. It’s the same principle as a set screw holding a mortise cylinder. I put the glove box back together collected my money and went on to the next job.

Automotive Locksmith Services (208) 946-4162

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Progressioning Trick - GM Ignition

When making a key for the trunk or door locks for GM automobiles, there is a method that most of the time will be faster then using the GM progression chart in which some locksmith companies know about.

When progressing a door key from the glove box cut of 3-2-2-3, the possibilities by progression are-First key: 11-31-42-53-55. Second key: 13-33-35. Third key: 22-24-44. However, by using Code Source, you will find when you go to the code series of the vehicle the following possibilities: 11-31-42-53. In other words, you should have a working key with the first progressioned key. This will save time and key blanks as well.

This trick should also work on Ford 8-cut systems when making an ignition key from from the door cylinder cuts. Here is an example for code series 0001X. For door cuts 1-3-2-1-2-1 with a progression chart you have possibilities of the first key being 12-13-23-33. Second key: 22-24-34-35. Third key: 32. With Code Source go to code series 0001X-1706X and find the bitting that matches to door cuts. With door cuts 1-3-2-1-2-1 the possibilities are 12-34. It will work on Ford 10-cut systems.