Car Locksmith

Broken car key

For a broken key you may have one of the following scenarios:

• If you have broken the key in your car barrel we can remove and cut you a new key. We recommend that you do not attempt to remove the key yourself as you may push the key in further and make it harder to remove. You may even destroy the lock.

• If you have broken the key outside the lock and have both pieces of the key we can cut you a new key from the broken key.

• If you have broken the key out of the lock but have lost the broken piece we can remove a lock from your car and cut you a new key.

If you have lost your car key we can help. Once you call us we will dispatch one of our highly trained vehicle locksmiths within the hour. The locksmith will cut and replace your car key in one of our mobile locksmith vans which is fully equipped to do the job.

Stolen car key

If your car keys have been stolen, the thief will be able to gain access to your car. We can erase the stolen key from the car immobiliser and the ECU system and cut you a new key with a new code. We can also change the configuration on all your key barrels so the thief can't open your car with the stolen key.

Spare key

We always advise people to have a spare car key - it's much cheaper to duplicate a key from an existing key rather than no key. If you would like a spare key please call us.

Transponder and immobiliser

When the key is turned in the ignition cylinder, the car's computer transmits a radio signal to the transponder circuit. The circuit has no battery, it is energised by the radio signal itself. The circuit typically has a computer chip that is programmed to respond by sending a coded signal back to the car's computer. If the circuit does not respond or if the code is incorrect, the engine will not start. Many cars immobilise if the wrong key is used by intruders.

Transponder keys successfully protect cars from theft. Many people who have transponder keys are not aware of the fact because the circuit is hidden inside the plastic head of the key. All cars sold for the UK markets from 1994 have immobiliser technology to prevent theft.

ECU

The ECU is the main computer for the car. It controls most of the car's functions including the immobiliser system.

If you are looking to purchase any vehicle accessories such as immobilisers, alarms, HIDs etc then head over to our sister site autotronics.co.uk.