Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Problems With Your Transponder Key



Transponder keys are very useful and convenient. This is why motorists are excited to receive them when they purchase a new vehicle. You will find that newer model vehicles are usually the ones that have the capacity to use a transponder key. The transponder key is convenient because you don’t actually have to have the key in the ignition to start the engine, you can do it from where you are, remotely. If there is bad weather then you don’t have to stand in it, all that you’ll have to do is aim the key at the car and press the right button. It will only work if you point it in the direction of the vehicle. You can also unlock the doors of the car from wherever you are without putting the key in the door. There is no denying that a transponder key is a great invention and if you have one, you probably appreciate it. However, transponder keys do come with their fair share of problems. No one knows this better than our locksmiths at Upper Arlington Locksmith in Upper Arlington, OH. 

The transponder key has a chip in it that corresponds to your vehicle, only. The chip is programmed to a central computer that can only be identified when used with your vehicle. The key cannot be used to operate another vehicle it will only work with the vehicle that it is programed to. This is why it is hard to compromise or break into a vehicle that uses a transponder key. Preventing auto theft is one of the reasons that the key was invented.

Transponder Key Issues

If you start to have trouble with your car starting or you are unable to unlock the door with your transponder key, don’t be alarmed; this is a common issue. If you have tried everything and you still are unable to get your key to work, call a locksmith to reprogram the key for you. A locksmith with the right type of tools and equipment will be able to take care of this for you. Just make sure that the locksmith is licensed and insured before you allow them to take care of this problem for you. Surprisingly, not every locksmith is capable of doing this for you. They may not have the necessary equipment needed to handle the job properly. We have invested in the talent and tools needed to assist you when your transponder key is not working the way that it should. When you have trouble with your transponder key, make sure that you let the locksmith company know that you have a transponder key issue so that they can let you know if they can assist with your locksmith service needs. If they don’t have the right equipment, they may refer you to someone else who will be sure to handle the job for you. They definitely don’t want to waste your time or theirs. 

As mentioned before, your transponder key has a chip in it. The chip is programmed to only communicate with your vehicles computer system. If your chip comes out of the back of the key then it will no longer communicate with your system effectively. The chip is sometimes mistaken for a battery, since it looks similar to one. This is something that is not easily replaced. In fact, what we see is people taping it to the back of the key because they reason that when they have time they will just run to the store and buy a new battery. Much to their surprise it was not a battery, rather it is the transponder chip. Don’t take it to the store thinking that it is a battery when it is really the transponder chip. Instead, contact a locksmith to discuss the type of transponder key you have. They will be able to provide you with a new chip and even program it for you. If you contact an auto dealership to do this for you, it may surprise you to find out how much they will charge you to replace the chip and program it for you. The auto dealership has a lot of overhead that they have to pay for and this is what you are paying them for. Instead, call on a locksmith and you’ll be able to receive the help that you need from our locksmiths in a hurry. The locksmith service doesn’t carry as much overhead and therefore are able to offer you reasonable rates.

Always Be Ready!

It is advisable to have a spare key so that you’ll need one whenever this problem occurs. We know that you might be saying that to get a spare will be expensive. In most cases, it is. Rather than frustrating yourself, we suggest that you look into purchasing a spare key. You don’t have to purchase it from a dealership. Believe it or not you can buy them online. Just make sure that whomever you purchase it from is reputable. Your transponder key can be purchased from someone other than a dealership and programmed. In fact, locksmiths program transponder keys, which means you don’t even need to buy your key from a dealership. You are sure to get better value for the money when you go with a locksmith rather than a dealership for your transponder key needs. 

If you’re the type of person who simply believes that you can get better service from a dealership, think again. When it comes to certain things, you do not have to rely on a dealership. A transponder key is one of them. Since it is a key, it makes sense that you would turn to someone who works with keys, such as a locksmith. Make sure you find a reputable and a reliable locksmith service who works with transponder keys. Most locksmiths work with transponder keys regardless of the make and model of vehicle that you might have.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

How to Make Your Home Locks More Secure




No matter where your home is, you want to know that you are safe there. Whether you live by yourself, have a family that you support, or even recently had a baby and plan on being home for the next few months mostly by yourself, you want and deserve to feel safe and secure. Sometimes, we are forced to settle down in areas that are not ideal in an effort to save money. Other times, we are able to afford living in places where we have a security guard and gated entry. Regardless of your situation, you want to know how to keep your home safe, and you might be wondering how to make your home locks more secure. 

Upper Arlington Locksmith receives calls often from locals in Upper Arlington, Ohio looking to improve their security. One of the topics that come up is how to make home locks more secure. As such, we have decided to put together information here for anyone who is interested. We hope you find this useful in determining if your home locks are offering the degree of security that you need.

How to Make Your Home Locks More Secure

One thing you can do if you are looking to improve your home’s locks is make sure you don’t have any vulnerable areas.

Check Your Deadbolts

A potential weak spot might be where the deadbolt lock for your door inserts into the doorjamb. This is something that you might be comfortable examining, or you might want to have a locksmith come out and provide a property assessment. Speaking of property assessments…

Schedule an Inspection with a Locksmith

This is yet another way to make sure your locks are not vulnerable. A locksmith is going to know precisely what to look for, to make sure the locks you have for your home are as secure as possible. Without functional locks, your property is completely vulnerable to a break in. A criminal can scope out damaged locks with ease.

Make Sure Patio Doors Are Secured

Do you have a lock for your patio door? If so, was it installed correctly? Could it be manipulated with ease? There are different locks available for patio doors, such as sliding door locks. But it is a wise idea to have these locks installed by an expert who has plenty of experience and knows very well what they are doing. If you don’t have a lock on this door, now that you are thinking about it, it is a great time to have one installed.

Add A Deadbolt If You Don’t Have One

In terms of your front door, we mentioned a potentially vulnerable spot to check. But here is our question to you – do you have a heavy duty deadbolt installed? If not, you might certainly want to think about it. This is one way to make your home more secure.

Rekey Locks When Needed

Maybe rekeying your locks is the best option for you in an effort to make your locks more secure. When should you rekey your locks? You should rekey them if you had a tenant leave. You should rekey them if you lost a key. You should rekey them for quite a few reasons, and reaching out to a locksmith might provide the guidance that you are looking for.

Replace Locks After a Break-In

This is a given. If your locks were damaged, they need to be replaced.

Consider a Door Box Strike

If you are concerned about the locks for your door, then consider the addition of a door strike plate. The hardware that is used to attach your lock to your door might have a vulnerable part. Let’s say that you have a smart lock for your door. But now let’s say it is missing a box strike. While your smart lock might be well-designed overall, this would make it relatively easy to manipulate. Check your current locks. If you can see when looking at the door jamb’s strike plate that the lock’s bolt goes through a rectangular opening, you might have a lock that needs to be more secure. The last thing you want is for a criminal to be able to force the door open with ease. This is just one way to make your locks more secure.

Have a Peephole Installed

Finally, if you have locks that you are confident in but you don’t have a peephole, this can be a bit frightening. You don’t want to unlock your door when someone knocks, only to have them force their way in. With a peephole, you can always know who is at your door. Of course, you can also opt for a security camera, but some people can’t afford this or would prefer to have a peephole installed instead. While this isn’t directly related to making your locks more secure, it is something that should go near a lock and can provide you with peace of mind.
Regardless of your situation, you want to know how to keep your home safe, and you might be wondering how to make your home locks more secure. We hope that the information we have offered helps you to know the steps to take in an effort to enjoy peace of mind and comfort. We want you to have a home that you feel safe in, and one way to achieve this goal is by having locks that you can rely on. You need sturdy, reputable locks in order to do this. But in some cases, you will have other options, such as the ones mentioned here. To sum it up, make your home locks more secure by…
  • Installing a deadbolt if you don’t have one
  • Checking your deadbolt if you do have one
  • Rekeying locks that need to be rekeyed
  • Obviously, replacing locks that are damaged
  • Installing a peephole
  • Have A Box Strike installed
  • Call a locksmith for a security assessment
  • Repair locks after a break in by calling an expert
These are some ways to better secure your door’s locks. We hope you keep security at the top of your to-do list!

Monday, June 10, 2019

Hundreds of Locksmith Services for You to Choose From

"Upper Arlington, OH is practically a storybook community. Look at the beautiful homes and landscape. This is a great place to be. Upper Arlington Locksmith is a local business that is proud to offer great solutions. When you need residential, commercial and automotive lock services, you need us. We deliver and stick to our word.

We have licensed and insured technicians who want to do the best possible job because that means having a safer community. We live in the area, too. We care about your home, and the homes of our neighbors. If you need something to make you feel safer, like deadbolts installation, you can count on us.

We also offer 24 hour a day emergency lockout help, master keys, keyless remotes, break in repairs, broken key extraction, ignition cylinder replacement, transponder keys, smart keys, the installation of safes, gun safes, file cabinet locks, garage locks and so much more. Everything you need is available right here with us. As we mentioned, we are ready to get to work 24/7, so if you’re locked out, call now!

We urge you to call to request a free price estimate just to prove how low our prices actually are. No other business is as committed to its customers as we are. No other business provides such great service, or has such a good reputation. Choose Upper Arlington Locksmith. Upper Arlington, Ohio locals who have used us will highly recommend us. Call today!"