There are different locksmith types out there. Some are more focused on residential properties; others only deal with larger companies and business clients. Some are specialized to deal with specific problems, like faulty vehicle door locks.
To many people, an automotive locksmith is simply a professional who you contact whenever you get yourself locked out of your car. However, that’s not the case anymore. If you want to learn more about the services that they can provide, here are a few good examples:
Duplication and Replacement of Car Keys
There will come a time when you’ll need to have a spare key for your vehicle. If you’re living with other family members that would also need the car, it’s better to have an extra key around instead of just sharing a single one. You may also need one as a way of increasing your security, or when you lose your main keys. That’s where an auto locksmith comes in.
Gone are the days when cars only had metal keys. In today’s world, there are several car key types available. There are now transponder keys, remote keys, smart keys, and a few others. Because of that, auto locksmiths have developed various ways to duplicate your car keys.
For mechanical-cut car keys, locksmiths would use the same method they’d do for other common locks. However, since transponder keys and smart keys have built-in microchips that communicate with your car’s computer, locksmiths would need to use specialized equipment to duplicate them. New keys would then be reprogrammed so that they work with your car.
A professional auto locksmith can also make a new duplicate for you even if you don’t have the main key. In that case, they’ll require a few important pieces of information such as the make and model of the car, registration, and the vehicle identification number. This will help the locksmith identify what key type you’ll need.
Broken Key Fob Repair
Modern keys today can perform other things besides starting up your car. Today, they can also be used to lock and unlock your vehicle without inserting the physical keys inside your door locks. However, there will come a time when the key fob will break down or fail. Sometimes it’s because of an internal problem, or it needs a battery replacement and would require it to be reprogrammed again.
The fastest and easiest way for you to get your key fob repaired is by contacting your local auto locksmith. On top of that, it’s also a cheaper option compared to contacting your dealer to get a new key fob.
Extracting Broken Car Keys
One of the most annoying problems that a car owner will face is stuck and broken car keys. There are many reasons why this inconvenient problem arises. It could be due to natural wear and tear, poor maintenance, or using too much force. Whether the key is stuck in the ignition or the car lock, it renders the entire vehicle unusable.
It’s better to leave the extraction to the experts simply because doing it yourself may cause a bigger problem later on. It could ruin your ignition or break the door lock if you hastily attempt to pull the broken piece out. Professional locksmiths would have the necessary tools to do the operation. Plus, it would only take a short time for them since most key extractions are straightforward.
Car Ignition Repair, Replacement, and Maintenance
Not only can locksmiths remove any broken keys from the ignition but they are also capable of dealing with other kinds of problems related to it. Although there are a lot of causes for car ignition issues, it’s often due to a problem with your ignition cylinder or another internal part of it.
Professional auto locksmiths are trained to repair your ignition. In more complex problems, they can even replace the entire ignition itself. If you want to, some locksmiths are also known to provide ignition maintenance services to keep this car part in good condition.
Auto locksmithing has already evolved from simply unlocking your car door. Familiarizing yourself with all of these other services will help you decide when to contact a locksmith for car key-related problems.
