Key Making for cars

[Lock Popper KY]

I own a small unlocking business that does auto and house unlocks, and on occasion rekey home locks. I get several calls a day from customers who have lost their key and want me to make keys for their car ignition but I always have to turn them down. Is there a good place to learn how to Impression (if that is the right word) keys and find the right tools to cut auto key blanks.

[globallockytoo]

I'm assuming you are in the locksmith business and indeed are a "bonafide" ocksmith.

Do a search on impressioning using the forum search button at top right.

There are many machines out there for purchase that can assist you to make transponder keys for more modern vehicles.

Some can be quite pricey so hunt around.

If you already have a code machine like a Framon or an HPC Blitz or 1200CM...you are already half way to making the mechanical key for most vehicles. There are other machines or jigs required for some foreign makes and models like BMW and Mercedes and even Toyota.

Virtually all vehicles from 2001 onward have transponders, so you might check into the various pricing of equipment before you decide to cover the lot.

[globallockytoo]

Personally, I like the Advanced Diagnostics T-Code machine...altho I dont have one. I have used it quite successfully in a previous job and it certainly makes the programming easier.

There are alot of cases in the USA where you can OBP keys too...so that should make things easier.

[UWSDWF]

I own a small unlocking business that does auto and house unlocks, and on occasion rekey home locks...

and you don't how to impression.. read the wafers or have the proper electronic equipment... wow

I'd seriously look into some sort of professional training for you and your staff

[ufd538]

sure, there is a great market for Automotive key fitting if you can get the hang of it. Unlike house locks, cars are all different, and requires much patience in learning all you need to know about all the different cars out there. Impressioning is an excellent technique to have under your belt.

[Mutzy]

70% of lockies in my area are ending their auto work - repair, rekey, etc. A big reason for that is the transponder technology that's constantly being changed. Well, at least we're getting more business by staying up with current tech. It also helps that we have 5 major dealerships (Toyota/ Hyundai/ Mazda/ Ford/ Holden) all within 5 minute drive from the workshop.

[maxxed]

The same thing is happening here most lockies , including myself, are scaling down on the auto work. I still do older auto's that I have the tools for but no transponder work.

[Bud Wiser]

Couldn't/wouldn't the consumer just call the dealer in the first place? I'm assuming a lot of people would probably think of calling their dealer for their auto instead of a locksmith. To be honest, before I started hanging out here I never connected a locksmith to auto's. But I've never been locked out or lost a key either. Perhaps if you call the dealer they refer you to a locksmith? Just wondering.

[maxxed]

Dealerships are doing more lock work these days however a lockie is usually cheaper. Several dealerships use one of the local shops to key cylinders for them, but they cut their own keys by code and do the transponer work

[Romstar]

Many of the dealerships actually are not bothering to purchase the equipment necessary for generating keys to the vehicles they sell.

Its a cost saving measure, but they pass it off on the customers as increased security. Its bull, but thats what they do.

In any case what happens is that customers frequently find they have to wait for several days to over a week for replacement keys.

This is a great opportunity for any good locksmith to exploit, and even though the cost of getting started in automotive now is quite steep, if you have the customer base for it, the returns are excellent.

Romstar

[maxxed]

Many of the dealerships actually are not bothering to purchase the equipment necessary for generating keys to the vehicles they sell.

Its a cost saving measure, but they pass it off on the customers as increased security. Its bull, but thats what they do.

In any case what happens is that customers frequently find they have to wait for several days to over a week for replacement keys.

This is a great opportunity for any good locksmith to exploit, and even though the cost of getting started in automotive now is quite steep, if you have the customer base for it, the returns are excellent.

Romstar

That may be true in your part of the country, but out here every major dealership is equipt to do their own keys.

[5thcorps]

I am in charge of all lock and key work at the dealership I work at. If anything in the last few years, I've taken business from the local locksmiths. Around here they are overpriced, underqualfied and generally screw the public any chance they get. Before I cam here 9 years ago all locks were sent to the local locksmith to be coded, repaired, but I quickly changed that. They were charging sometimes $20.00 to code a simple 8 wafer lock. It costs me about $2.00 in parts to do it myself. Not only that but several of the local garages and dealerships of other makes than mine now send me all of their locks too.

[Shrub]

It costs you $2 but what do you earn an hour there? how long does it take you?

A lockie has many costs to factor in and i would suggest $20 to rekey a lock is a reasonable price,

As for the underqualified and unskilled well of course there is no excuse for that,

[maxxed]

I am in charge of all lock and key work at the dealership I work at. If anything in the last few years, I've taken business from the local locksmiths. Around here they are overpriced, underqualfied and generally screw the public any chance they get. Before I cam here 9 years ago all locks were sent to the local locksmith to be coded, repaired, but I quickly changed that. They were charging sometimes $20.00 to code a simple 8 wafer lock. It costs me about $2.00 in parts to do it myself. Not only that but several of the local garages and dealerships of other makes than mine now send me all of their locks too.

I'm sure that you have not had the pleasure of running a business, once you have then your idea of what is a fair rate for service will change.

[Romstar]

Many of the dealerships actually are not bothering to purchase the equipment necessary for generating keys to the vehicles they sell.

Its a cost saving measure, but they pass it off on the customers as increased security. Its bull, but thats what they do.

In any case what happens is that customers frequently find they have to wait for several days to over a week for replacement keys.

This is a great opportunity for any good locksmith to exploit, and even though the cost of getting started in automotive now is quite steep, if you have the customer base for it, the returns are excellent.

Romstar

That may be true in your part of the country, but out here every major dealership is equipt to do their own keys.

Gee, thats funny. I was in Saskatchewan in the summer, and I couldn't find a single Ford dealer to make a key that I needed for my mother in law's car.

No, they tell you that they can do it, and they simply can't. They call another dealer, or the regional office.

I have been doing work off and on for several dealers in my area, and I can tell you without hesitation that the demands on their funds are quite extreme. When you examine the overhead, then the number of tools required for general diagnostics never mind the machines and equipment for lock service most dealers will default to engine diagnostics rather than lock service.

Automotive are a great field to get into, and quite the money maker if you just advertise the service.

Romstar