The frustration when you are unable to enter a place you need to is palatable. It could be that you locked your keys in your car, or you cannot open your car for various reasons. No matter the reason an auto locksmith can assist you to open and enter your car, in essence break into your own car with their lockout services.
Besides just unlocking cars an auto locksmith can also take broken keys out of locks and devices, create new keys, and can do a lock change by installing new locks for the doors of your car or even the whole ignition system. The automotive industry has become very complicated and technologically advanced over time due to the growing need to make cars better and more secure. In this industry auto locksmiths play a primary and dominating role where it comes to anything car-key and car-security related. The services of the auto locksmith have become very sought after. Let’s take a look at the finer details of what a car locksmith is able to do and some of the more special services they can offer.
What Can An Auto Locksmith Do?
Residential locksmiths make keys and offer locksmith services like unlocking doors for homes. In the same way commercial locksmiths offer locksmith services for industrial buildings and auto locksmiths offer services for replacing keys for and unlocking vehicles.
An auto locksmith can offer you in-shop services such as cutting another copy of a car key or similar services that would have cost you a lot more if you had to get a copy from a dealership. They also do mobile services which is where they offer most of their services. When you find yourself stuck in a Walmart parking lot in the middle of the night or locked out of your car at a gas station in the middle of the countryside, they will offer their assistance when called.
3 Things An Auto Locksmith Can Do
The simple unlocking of your car is the primary service offered by an auto locksmith. They can however also create a duplicate or replacement key, and remove broken keys stuck in locks. If required they can even replace the entire lock and ignition switch. We can begin with the unlocking of cars.
Unlocking Cars
As a start let’s look at regaining entry into your vehicle. What method does an auto locksmith utilize to enter your car with no key. There are a few strategies that they use to open locked vehicles and it depends on the lock system that the type of car uses.
The strategy most commonly used is to “jimmy” the car to open it. This involves using a thin piece of metal, or a slim jim as it is commonly known, and inserting it between the weather stripping on the car door and the window to get to the lock. As you have probably seen in movies some people use hangers but these can easily cause harm to the vehicle and the more modern slim jim is safer to use on your vehicle.
If need be, you can of course use many alternatives to the modern devices if need be. This method of jimmying a car works best on cars that are older that use a real key and do not use new and complicated alarm systems.
Traditional keys are however no longer in use in modern cars due to their advanced security systems. For modern vehicles that use keyless remotes and do not have a car lock, the auto locksmith uses a VATS passcode detector or similar to reprogram the code required to unlock your car.
Removing Broken Keys
There are many reasons for a car key to snap off in a lock such as a sudden wrong turn or wear and tear over time. Even though this might not happen very often, when it does you need specialized assistance. Even though it may not be your fault that a key breaks off, it does however make it impossible to start your vehicle, and it is very hard to get out.
Normally when a key snaps off in the ignition or a lock it does so to leave only the crevices of the thinnest part of the key sticking out. Using both a key extraction kit and key extraction tools the auto locksmith latches onto these crevices to remove the key.
There are some added perks to the extraction tool in a kit. To connect with the key the extraction tool has two little hooks at the end of a small thin piece of metal. To grasp both sides of the key a thin tool that looks like pliers is sometimes used.
It is not recommended that you try to remove a key that broke off in the ignition of your vehicle. Removing a key from an ignition can cause a lot more damage than removing a key from a door, especially when things go wrong. It is best to leave it to your nearest locksmith.
Duplicating Or Replacing Keys
Auto locksmiths usually work with two types of keys. The first kind of key is a car key that Is not attached to a fob or electrical piece. These keys are fairly simple to make and the process is similar to that followed by a residential locksmith when making a copy of a house key.
It does become a lot more complicated when the key is attached to a fob. Many of these keys also have a chip in it that is programmed uniquely to a specific car as these are transponder keys. The car will not start if the ignition cannot read the programmed code in the chip. An auto locksmith can duplicate metal the key part of the key fob. You will need more specialized services if it is a transponder key.
Is A Locksmith Able To Program A Car Key?
Auto locksmiths and skilled locksmiths do have the ability to reprogram a transponder key or even make a brand-new programmed key. They will be able to assist you in getting into your locked car and give you an extra key.
You are also able to get a duplicate transponder key from a dealership but it can be a very expensive exercise. Your auto locksmith is typically a lot better priced and more affordable where it comes to making a transponder key.
It is always good to get a spare duplicate car fob key to keep safe in case of anything happening to your regular key. Modern transponder keys and keyless ignition fobs have safety features that do not allow you to accidentally lock your keys in the car.
Can A Locksmith Fix Your Car Ignition?
Car ignitions are well within the capabilities of an auto locksmith to replace and fix. The usual problem with ignitions is normally the cylinder that you insert the key into. With more complicated issues the locksmith is also able to rewire and replace the ignition entirely.
You should however note that your auto locksmith might not be able to replace your ignition when you are having problems in a car park. Each brand and model of car has a specific car ignition and your auto locksmith might need to order parts and only replace your ignition later on. The locksmith should however be able to get your car started so you can get home.
Can a Locksmith Fix Locks On Car Doors?
You can also have your normal car door and trunk locks replaced by your locksmith. It can be very helpful and a real lifesaver to get a lock replacement on a car door as occasionally locks wear out.
Is It Worth Becoming an Auto Locksmith?
Would it be hard to learn the skills to become an auto locksmith? Are you interested in making auto locksmithing your career, or do you just want the skill to use when you need to? The good news is that the skill you need is not so hard to master, but you do need access to the correct resources and tools.
To learn the skills of auto locksmithing there are formal paid courses and online resources for the basic key duplications skills. There are more advanced skills that you will have to learn such as reprogramming a keyless car, but for these skills you will require specialized training from accredited providers and this will take more time. You will also need to acquire the required tools such as the key extraction kit. Having a hanger and pliers like you see on the movies will not work these days.
If you want to make a career out of becoming an official auto locksmith then you need training and tools from a locksmithing company before you can commence fixing vehicle lock issues with ease and speed.
How can our offered services help when you’re locked out?
When you are stuck at the side of the road and need the best roadside assistance from a qualified and trusted operator feel free to contact us at Second City Locksmith. You can also use the Mach1 services that offer easy, quick contact with an auto locksmith through their phone number, or through their app. The app uses proximity searches to provide emergency locksmith and mechanics who are the closest to you for assistance.
Once you complete all the fields in the app you will be presented with an estimated price which may vary by region. This price will be in the average market price range. If you are happy, help will arrive shortly.
At Second City Locksmith all of our contractors and staff have undergone the seven-point candidate check to vet them and they have all been trained in the latest safety protocols. This means that you can call for help from them with confidence, even in the middle of the night.