River City Locksmith Inc.

A key that has a device imbedded inside which transmits and recieves data. These devices contain one of over a trillion unique codes. When the key is inserted into the ignition, the transponder sends a signal to a disc-shaped antenna mounted behind the steering wheel. If the signal is recognized by the vehicles immobilizer, then the engine will start. If the signal is not recognized or has been weakened by damage to the transponder then the immobilizer will shut down vital operating systems to the engine and it will not run. This technology greatly reduces the risk of auto theft and provides a peace of mind for the vehicles owner.                                                                                             

 
                

Some vehicles that are equipped with transponder technology require all previous keys to be removed from the system before a new one can be programmed in. This is not a cause for alarm. In many cases you can add these keys back into the system yourself. In some cases however, one of our techs will have to add it in for you.  If this has happened to you, then please e-mail or call us, we will be glad to help you. 

Every car is programmed differently. Most Transponder keys come preprogrammed with a fixed code. This means that it cannot be changed to match the vehicle. The solution to this is to program the  vehicle to recognize the new code. This is done with a variety of equipment depending on the year make and model of the vehicle.

time to remove it or some will use a dent puller with its related risk of damage to the housing to get the ignition out.

Now you’ll need a replacement ignition! The parts store will have a lock that comes with a different key than the door. The keys will need to be programmed and you’ll now have a car that requires two keys. If you’ve gone to the dealer they’ll pin up a lock to match your key, but they’ll more than likely want to cut new keys which also require programming.

Add it all up and you have a cost and time nightmare. We encourage all who have or have begun to have this problem to investigate their options and costs. Check the cost of a tow and the lock replacement. Don’t forget to factor in the lost time and the need to get to the shop once the repair is complete. 

River City Locksmith has replaced hundreds of Ford Focus ignitions, on location, usually the same day within hours of receiving the call. We code  a factory replacement that doesn’t contain the design related deficiencies of the original ignition. Ford finally changed to this new design in 2005. Having coded the replacement lock to your original key there’ll be no need for the hassle of two different keys. 

Basicly it's like this, It WILL happen, and when it does there is an option besides a tow to the dealer and a much thinner wallet. We can save you hundreds while replacing your lock high quality factory parts that have been re-tooled as to not inevitibly fail like the originals. 

Contary to its name, lasers are not used to cut these keys. This term  refers to keys with the milling on the side rather than on the top and bottom. For years only high end manufacturers like Mercedes and BMW used this style of higher security. These days however, A good number of vehicles including Honda, GM, VW, Lexus, Infinity, Volvo, Saab, Audi and many more use them. Getting a copy of one of these keys can sometimes be very difficult. Getting a key replaced when there are no keys can even be a nightmare. That is of course if you dont call us. We have the ability and equipment to copy, or even generate a new one of these "laser cut" keys. To sweeten the deal, we come to you! no driving, no waiting rooms, no hassle.   

Quite simply, yes, it does work. Considering the cost of even and attempted theft, compared to the cost of "The Club", it seems like and easy choice. Most car break-ins and theft are crimes of opportunity, if your car is going to take more effort than the one right next to you, then its an easy choice for any thief. In cases where your keys have been stolen or someone has a key that they should'nt have, its a fast and inexpensive alternative to having the locks changed. Were not saying that its not possible to get past "The Club", in fact it can be done by a professional in under a minute. What we are saying that in most cases, if someone wants your car badly enough to get past it, then there is very little more you can do to keep them from getting it.

The answer is easy... Dont ever use either one in your vehicle locks. WD-40 and similar petroleum based lubricants can, over time dry into a sticky film that not only inhibits the moving parts inside the lock but also traps the dirt and road grime leading to all sorts of lock failure. Graphite is the lubricant of choice for house, office, hotel type locks. In this application it works great. Vehicle locks are a whole different animal. Because the locks come from the factory pre-greased, putting graphite in them is only going to make mud. For the health and longevity of your vehicle locks we recommend using a teflon or silicon based lube. These are found in most hardware and home improvment stores. The particular brand that we use is Tri-Flow, but there are many others that work just as well.

Hardly a day goes by that I don’t hear the following statement. “There’s nothing wrong with my key, it’s brand new.” It is a common response When I suggest that a new key, CODE cut to factory specifications might be all that is necessary to solve a lock problem. 

There is a world of difference between a brand new COPY of a worn out key and a brand new key. Consider for a moment a printed document. Let’s say it is a desert recipe. It is a few years old and has several stains from being splashed with liquids. A few of the quantities are smeared, making it impossible to tell if it calls for 2 teaspoons or 3 Tablespoons of grated orange peel. 

Will making a photocopy of the recipe solve this problem? Of course not! The copy will appear to be in better condition. A nice fresh piece of paper, no wrinkles or curled up corners, but you will not be able to read the specified amount of orange peel any better than on the original recipe. 

The same holds true for a duplicate copy of a worn out key. It looks like a new key, and is in fact a new key, but the critical dimensions are incorrect.  The only correct solution to the worn key problem is for a knowledgeable locksmith to generate a code cut key restoring the cuts to the original specs.   

The photo above is a copy of a worn out General Motors key. The lower photo is a key for the same vehicle, originated on a code cutting machine to factory specifications. Can you see the difference? A code-cutting machine differs from a duplicating machine in the same way that a typewriter differs from a photocopier. One machine is used to produce an original, the other to produce a copy of slightly less accurate dimensions.

Keys often become so worn out that they just plain stop working. This process is usually gradual so if you notice that your key seems to be worn or is becoming "sticky" in the lock, its a good to contact us before it leaves you stranded rather than afterwards.