FAQ:

My transponder key won’t start my vehicle.  Can you reprogram my key/car or repair my transponder key, remote key, or proximity remote (“smart key”)?

Answer:

Yes, but only if the key is the issue.  Some transponder keys are very durable and rarely fail and the issue is more likely the vehicle.  However, some transponder keys, car remotes, and car “smart keys” are quite fragile and fail often.

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Remote Head Keys, Proximity Remotes (“smart keys”), and other integrated remote keys have much more complex circuitry than most non-remote transponder keys.  Remote keys can have dozens of components, and the transponder components may be integrated with the remote circuitry.  These circuit boards are not often protected from corrosion, debris, or shock.  Most of the time the circuit boards in remotes don’t even have conformal coating, much less the level of protection non-remote transponder keys possess.  These types of keys are very susceptible to corrosion and shock, and fail often.  We can repair many car remotes, car remote keys, and car proximity remotes (“smart keys”).  Call us for more information and pricing on repairs.

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Most Non-Remote Transponder Keys have very simple circuity that is sealed within a glass capsule or encased in solid material that protects the circuitry from corrosion, debris that can short the circuit, and physical shock that can dislodge components.  However, some non-remote keys have more complex circuitry that emulate multiple transponder chip types and formatting.  Transponder emulators are often used by hardware stores and general stores to reduce cost of inventory and reduce the training necessary to use more complex programming tools.

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Failure rate of sealed non-remote transponder keys is very low and very uncommon.  Sealed non-remote transponder keys often require a fracture in their casing or capsule to fail.  Most non-remote transponder chip failures we encounter are a result of a hole drilled into the key or a key being run over by a lawnmower, or an emulator type transponder key from a hardware or general store.

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Theft deterrent failure diagnostics should begin with checking all main fuses.  Beyond fuses, the best way to narrow the search of a theft deterrent system failure is by using manufacture recommended diagnostic computers to pull fault codes (trouble codes) and research those codes in a paid database.