my dear key

A car key is no longer just a piece of metal. In the era of electronics, the metal part is only an addition or not at all. The key is also an immobilizer transmitter and central locking remote control.

A car key is no longer just a piece of metal. In the era of electronics, the metal part is only an addition or not at all. The key is also an immobilizer transmitter and central locking remote control.  

Some car models do not even have a classic key and a special card is used to open the door and start the engine, which often does not even need to be taken out of your pocket. This, of course, makes life easier, but there is also the other side of the coin. Such a key is expensive, and it is not easy to get it. First, the key pattern is complex. The most common are keys with a slot on both sides and milled ones, in which a recess of complex shape is made in a flat rod. But the bigger problem is the immobilizer transmitter, which needs to be assigned the correct code to start the engine.

Very rarely, such keys can be bought in one day. In addition, many vehicles require at least one old or special key to program a new key. learning key. In case of loss of all copies, you can order a new key, but you need a code, most often stamped on a special plate. Unfortunately, most used cars do not have this code. In such a situation, the locks must be replaced.

Buying a modern key, regardless of the brand of the car, also costs a lot (even several hundred zlotys) and can take a lot of time. Therefore, it is always worth having two sets of keys, because if one is lost, it will be easy, and most importantly relatively cheap, to add a second one.

Each company has its own key distribution and security system, so the time it takes to receive and how the key is programmed varies. For example, in the Honda Civic of the late 90s, it was not enough just to use an old key. A special learning key is also required, without which a new one cannot be programmed.

Replacing a set of locks, unfortunately, is expensive and can cost up to 4,5 thousand in some models. zloty. Peugeot uses a good and cheap solution. If you lose your key programming card, you can get the required code from the service for a small fee (PLN 50-90). On the other hand, in Mercedes, an electronic key is ordered for a specific car and takes up to 7 days. You can also buy so-called. raw key. It's faster, but we have to pay extra for programming.

Encoding or copying?

Each electronic key requires programming, i.e. entering a code compatible with the computer. Only then can the engine be started. It is best to perform such a service at an authorized workshop, because the same code will be loaded into the new key as the old key. This is not an obstacle if we have all the keys and we make one more. The problem arises in case of theft. To prevent the thief from starting the engine, the code must be changed, and only an authorized service center can do this, since it is necessary to reprogram the ECU accordingly.