What to Do If Your Transponder Key is Lost or Stolen

Losing a key is always a stressful situation. You may be lucky and find the key after you search around for a while. However, sometimes it turns out that your key is well and truly lost. If the key in question was your transponder vehicle key, the fix is not just as simple as going to the hardware store and having a new copy made. Transponder keys are so named because they feature an electronic antitheft security chip inside the head of the key that communicates with your vehicle’s computer when inserted into the lock.

Before you panic, we’ve compiled the following information into a guide to help you determine the best course of action if your transponder key is missing. By keeping a level head and following these tips, you’ll navigate this stressful situation with ease. You may even be able to prevent it from happening in the first place. Regardless of whether or not you’ve lost your transponder key, you may find this information helpful.

Is My Car Key a Transponder Key?

First, let’s go over what exactly a transponder key is so that you can know whether or not your vehicle has one and what it means. A transponder key is a vehicle key that usually has a plastic head, inside of which is an electronic microchip. This microchip is the transponder chip, responsible for transmitting and receiving electronic signals to and from your engine’s computer, respectively.

A unique, one-in-a-million numerical code is sent from your key to the engine and the engine responds. If the numbers match, the vehicle will be allowed to start up. If not, the engine will not recognize the key, and the engine will not start. Even if the key physically matches the pins and tumblers inside of the ignition lock, it won’t work without the proper transponder programming.

Ford was the first vehicle manufacturer to use a transponder key system, which they called Passive Anti-Theft System (or PATS) in 1996. It quickly spread among vehicle manufacturers who found transponder keys highly effective and affordable to implement. Even with keyless entry becoming the new standard for vehicle security, many remote key fobs also feature some form of transponder chip. So even if the item you’ve lost is not a physical key but instead a remote fob, it will probably need to be programmed by a locksmith or other certified professional.

Preventative Measures

Before we explain which steps you should take upon losing your transponder key, let’s start by giving a rundown of smart preventative measures you can take to lower your risk of losing your key to begin with. These are simple steps you can take that make losing your transponder key far less likely.

• Establish a Routine Involving Your Keys: Establishing a habit of checking that you know where your keys are when you’re not using them is a crucial part of ensuring they never get lost.
• Have a Spare (or Two): All security professionals, including the experts on our local locksmith team, recommend that everyone have at least one spare key made for each important lock in their life. This includes spare keys for each of your vehicles, your home, and your business.

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Access Control Lock Models and Features

If you are a business owner considering access control locks, the variety of options available today will give you confidence in switching to a new system. You are sure to find the style, type, and features that best suit your commercial building and overall security needs. To get an overview of what options are available for you to choose from, continue reading. Think about what benefits you are most interested in for your commercial building and how you might best benefit from any number of access control locks.

If you need help deciding, remember that you can always call a local locksmith to help you with any questions or concerns you may have. Additionally, once you are ready to have access control locks installed for your business or commercial building, you will want to make sure you hire a professional locksmith that is skilled in access control lock installations and set up. Access control locks are far more complex than traditional locks. You will need the trained and trusted eye of a locksmith who knows what they are doing, if and when you decide to make the switch.

Stand-Alone Locks
Stand-alone models are one of the simpler forms of access control locks. The features of stand-alone locks resemble their name. The lock itself is usually the only component involved in the access control system. There is typically no external monitoring, set-ups, or wireless controls. There are options to have stand-alone systems work with keypads, proximity cards, or both.
These types of locks may also be referred to as battery-powered access control locks. Even though they are the most cost-effective option for access control, these systems are highly durable and offer enhanced security. They can even be installed and used in the same day and are fully operational as soon as they are set-up by a locksmith.

Keypads
Keypad access control locks are affordable and great for certain types of businesses. Usually, a four- or five-digit code is given to employees and others who need access to the building. These access control locks omit the need to print out individual keys for employees entirely. Depending on your business budget, this may be the best option. However, keypad locks are not as secure as other models, since codes may easily be passed around or shared. They may also not include the ability to audit activity in and out of the doorway or building. Depending on your needs, you may need a simpler system like this, but may also want to pair it with security cameras or other measures.

Proximity Readers
These convenient locks require little other than being near the lock itself and scanning a card over the proximity reader. Instead of swiping a card, these locks usually just need the card to hover a few inches near the reader. This is a great option because the card keys themselves do not suffer the kind of damage that traditional card readers might. This can help companies cut down on cost since employees proximity cards do not need to be replaced often.
Proximity readers offer heighten security in a couple of ways. Each employee receives an individual card key, which omits the need for pin codes. Codes may be written down or shared with those who are unauthorized to access the building. With proximity readers and corresponding cards, you do not have to worry about a pin code ending up in the wrong hands.

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Owning a Gun Safe: Why it Matters

For most homeowners, having a safe or secure place to store important documents, expensive jewelry, and other precious items is something to consider. Having proper security, such as deadbolt locks, electronic locks, and even security systems, can offer the first line of defense to robberies or break-ins. Beyond your front door and other locks that secure your home, however, keeping certain items stored securely is important, not just for theft protection, but safety and other provisions, as well. The kind of safe you may need for document storage, smaller items like jewelry, or other items might differ depending on which specific items you plan to store. This is especially true if you plan on storing a gun or intend to get a gun safe for such purposes.

Gun Storage

There are several important reasons why you will want a gun safe if you own guns, even if you live alone. Standard etiquette for gun owners is to have a secure gun safe in their home or on their property where one’s gun or guns, and ammunition, can be stored out of sight. Below you will find detailed information on the reasons why having a gun safe is so important.

Protection Against Theft

If someone were to break into your home, having your most valuable items stored and locked in a safe is a big deterrent. Many break-ins happen quickly and most criminals will not take the time to break open or into a secure safe. For gun owners, keeping your guns secure can help in this sort of circumstance when it comes to your weapons. An intruder, if they do not already have a gun themselves, may attempt to find a weapon if they happen upon you or one of your family members during a break-in. If you have a gun lying out, you leave yourself vulnerable to having your own gun potentially turned on you in the worst of circumstances. Many in-home murders by intruders are committed not because of criminal intent, but because intruders happen upon individuals they did not expect or do not want to leave any witnesses behind. You can guarantee that you will only ever be the individual to handle your gun if it is helped stored and locked away somewhere you have access to and know how to open swiftly, but most would need to search for in order to find.

Safety for your Family Members

Having a gun safe not only helps protect you, but it helps protect your family members. Smart gun owners educate their children on what guns’ purposes are, why they are kept in the home, why they are kept locked away, and when old enough, how to properly and safely handle them. It is up to the adults in the home and the gun owner themselves to ensure that any guns or weapons are not within reach or even within sight of children. A gun safe solves both those potential issues, since your guns can be stored and locked both out of sight and out of reach. Even if you educate your children on gun safety and they know not to ever go near them unsupervised, you do not want to take any risks. Keeping guns locked away at all times when not in use is the only way to absolutely guarantee that no unfortunate accidents will happen. No matter how much you trust your children, a gun safe is a must for family’s protection.

 

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