Check out this guide to transponder keys as prepared by the professional Myrtle Beach automotive locksmith and Myrtle beach car key replacement team here at Myrtle Beach Locksmith.
What is a transponder key?
Transponder keys are keys with microchip transponders built into their plastic head. They are also known as chip keys. Transponders are devices that receive a radio signal and transmit a different signal back. The word transponder is actually a mixture of the word “transmitter” and the word “responder.” transponder keys are usually used in vehicles made after 1995.
How do transponder keys work?
Transponder keys are meant to protect your vehicle from car theft. Automotive security systems prevent vehicles from getting stolen or hot wired. When original keys are inserted and placed in the on position the antenna ring around the ig notion will signal the transponder key. When the transponder key gets this electronic message, it will send a radio frequency back to the antenna ring. When the antenna ring gets the proper code it will send it to the car’s Engine Control unit (ECU.) if the code matches the code stored inside the computer memory, it will disable the vehicle’s immobilizer, allowing the vehicle to start. For the car to start, the cuts on the transponder key as well have to match the wafers inside the lock. Without the proper information stored in the vehicle’s computer, the key wouldn’t be able to start the engine. This security feature is present in all modern cars, and is known as a Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS.) This system is designed to deter vehicle theft. The first type of transponder key was known as VATS, a vehicle anti-theft system. This form of transponder chip had a microchip mounted directly on the key blade, but this system isn’t typically used in modern vehicles.
How do I know if I have a transponder key?
The majority of transponder keys have a dot, a letter, or a symbol stamped directly on the key blade. Another way to check if you have a transponder key is to place the original key in the ignition. If a security light or symbol blinks on your dashboard for a few seconds and then goes out, your vehicle likely uses a transponder key system. The security light symbol is usually a vehicle with a padlock, a blinking light, or just a padlock. Some vehicle makers factory stamp marks on key blades near the head of the key to indicate that it is a chipped key. Another way that an automotive locksmith can tell if your vehicle uses a transponder key system is the presence of this information in automotive manuals.