DON’T, REPEAT DON’T, PUT THEM IN THE FREEZER
TRANSPONDER KEY TIPS: With a little knowledge, you can avoid these car-owner nightmare scenarios
If you’re driving almost anything built within the past 10 years (except maybe a feature-stripped subcompact), you’re most likely starting it every day with a transponder key or unlocking it with a remote key fob. These little wonders of technology were designed to provide more antitheft security and the convenience of not having to insert a key into a lock cylinder to get into your ride.
A transponder key provides an electronic handshake to the vehicle’s ignition circuit to allow verification before the engine can be brought to life. Remote key fobs provide the same function and, in many vehicles, allow the driver to simply push a button to get things going. But there are several scenarios that can turn these devices into a car owner’s nightmare. As with most negative things in life, a little knowledge and preparation can help you avoid them. Stop giving your key fobs the
deep-freeze treatment: This is a relatively new hack purported to stop thieves from using radio-signal amplifiers to get into your vehicle and driving it off. These portable amplifiers (which are readily available from a number of electronic specialty stores) will boost the signal range of your key fob located in your home, which can “trick” your car into thinking it’s in the pocket of a thief standing beside your car. Then with a push of the door-handle button and ignition switch, your vehicle is gone.
Security and online “experts” suggest keeping your keys in your refrigerator freezer where the construction materials of the icebox will prevent any signal from getting out or being amplified. The only problem with this is key fobs have batteries and the lifespan and power output of these are severely reduced when subjected to extremely cold temperatures. If your neighbourhood has a history of these types of car thefts and you’re not a fan of buying lots of key fob batteries, keep the keys and fobs in a metal or metal-lined box.
You’re safer with pairs: If you’re driving a vehicle that has a transponder key and you only have one key, get a second one now. If you lose or misplace that one key, your vehicle either has to be towed to the nearest dealership or you’ll have to pay dearly to have a locksmith specialist visit your driveway or workplace parking spot. While these keys can be expensive, ranging in price from $70 to $300, in most cases this price pales in comparison with a tow bill or roadside locksmith charges.
Shop around. For many popular vehicles, you can now buy transponder keys from retailers other than the OEM dealerships. Search for locksmiths in your area and make a few calls. Don’t opt for used remote fobs as they can seldom be programmed to work with anything other than the vehicle they were originally designed for. If your ride uses a switchblade-style sidecut key (with the unique key pattern laser etched into the side) you definitely don’t want to be without
a spare. Few locksmiths and OEM dealers can cut these keys and ordering one from a supplier can take days or weeks. Take all the keys in to avoid getting locked out: If you ever have a problem with a transponder key or key fob (that can’t be resolved with a new battery), make sure to take all the keys in with the vehicle for your service appointment. From time to time, a vehicle’s security system may fail to recognize an individual key. Sometimes this can be resolved by simply reprogramming the on-board computer. In most cases, all of the existing key recognition software has to be overwritten. So if you leave a second or third key at home, it won’t work anymore, necessitating a second trip.
And if you didn’t know this already, it’s just a simple watch battery that powers your remote-entry key fob. With steady daily use, these three-volt batteries usually only last a year (or far less if you store the fob in the freezer). You need to pop the fob open to see what type of battery it needs (a four-digit number is usually printed on one side) and most dollar stores carry replacements.