72 • autolocksmiths
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The Evolving World of Car Locks
and Keys & the Lockout System
»»Our readers tell us they are
always interested to know about their
counterparts in other parts of the world.
This month we cross the Atlantic to meet
Steve Reisner, an expert locksmith with
more than 30 years’ experience in the
industry, who owns Adam’s Locksmiths in
South Florida, USA.
This family-owned and operated business
serves all areas within Broward and Palm
Beach Counties and has earned an A+
rating with the Better Business Bureau,
having established an enviable and positive
reputation throughout South Florida.
Now are the days of push-tostart vehicles and keyless remotes.
Advancement in automobile technology
can be considered a growing pain for
many locksmiths. Though lockouts still
occur, the types of car locks and keys,
and even certain methods of unlocking
vehicles, has evolved over the years,
keeping the locksmith industry busy.
Back in the 1930s, locksmiths would lie
on the ground and insert a long rod with a
hook through holes in the floor boards to
grasp the inner door handle and unlock
the vehicle. Thankfully, the old metal coat
hanger trick still works too. Though standard
lockout techniques still apply to most
vehicles, the main concern for locksmiths is
keeping up with how to replace constantly
changing car keys. But first, we will reflect
on what fuelled the modification of car keys
and that was the lock system.
Evolution of Car Locks
The auto locksmith field has changed
drastically since 1994 when insurance
companies grew concerned with the high
ratings of auto theft and pushed vehicle
manufacturers to create more complex
locking systems. For locksmiths, however,
this means their job technique, which
includes lockouts or key replacements,
will depend on the vehicle.
First consider the changing phases
of exterior car door locks. It began with
a standard lock-and-key concept to
incorporating a code access pad, to having
no type of exterior locking system at all
(some models only possess the door
handle).
one side of the blade that allows the key
to fit into the lock one way only. Laser-cut
are identically cut on both flat sides and
fit into the ignition either way. These keys
are difficult to duplicate because they are
manufactured using high-tech laser key
cutting machines.
Now consider the interior locking
components. Manufacturers have even
changed where the door’s lock and unlock
buttons are located inside. For example,
some current Ford models have the lock
button on the centre console instead of on
the door frame. What is also different in
these models is that the manual locking
stick on the door frame is non-existent.
This placement decreases the chance
of auto theft, but also can change the
approach on how a locksmith might
perform a lockout.
Evolution of Car Keys
Given how the locking system appears
to be slowly diminishing, the same can
be said for car keys. We look back on
what used to be standard keys, to the keys
encased with a microchip, to the addition
of control buttons, finally to resulting in
the keyless remote.
What lies in store for the future of
automobile locking systems will come
as convenience to consumers, but a
hefty price in updated equipment for
locksmiths. Nowadays, keys are not even
needed to be taken out to unlock doors
or start the engine. Even your most basic
sedan might include a push-to-start
feature that only works when the remote
device is near or present.
But what’s the latest perk? Using your
smartphone to unlock your car. But
before getting wrapped in the safety and
functionality of that process, we rather
reflect on the evolution of car keys and the
replacement method.
Traditional Keys
This is your basic key that has no
security feature other than its unique
cut, which can be mechanical or laser.
Mechanical-cut car keys are cut only on
locksmithjournal.co.uk | mar/apr 2015
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Transponder Keys
Short for “transmitter” and “responder”
is the transponder key. It is an electronic,
coded key that has a microchip embedded
in a plastic body at the handle. Not only
do the cuts in the keys have to fit, but
the microchip has to communicate to
the vehicle’s computer in order for the
ignition to start. Most cars after 1998 have
transponder chips and are programmed to
a specific car.
Remote Keys
Remote keys are similar to transponder
keys but have the additional control
buttons on its plastic body. The controls
operate the locking and unlocking of car
doors, opening the trunk and setting off
the alarm. To originate a transponder
or remote key, it first involves key code
retrieval (finding the depths for each cut
in the key), which will allow the key to
turn in the ignition or door lock. After
that is accomplished, a device called a
transponder duplicator is attached to the
onboard computer port on the vehicle that
programs the new key.
Smart Keys
Smart keys are another remote control
device, just without the physical key. When
this tiny remote device is near the vehicle,
it will automatically unlock the doors
and start the engine. Though no cutting
machine is required to create a physical
key, special computer programming is
involved. This is the most advance [