Equipment needed for a Automotive Transponders business ??

[Hollywoodpick]

Hi

What equipment would be needed to offer a full auto key business making HS keys and Automotive Transponders.

I am not asking how to get into cars i can do that. just what equipment is needed for making and selling high Security keys and remotes for lost keys and making full copys.

trying to get a handle on this what it will cost to get into this all the way.

Will be taking a Introduction to Automotive Transponders class coming up to learn more on this but that is in late sep. Working on a business plan for what my cost will be to have everything i need to get into this.
Looks like i could be the only one in my area offering this.

Thanks

[Evan]

@Hollywoodpick:

You would need:

-- A standard code cutting machine... (to originate keys for most older vehicles and some newer ones as well as standard cylinder keys for homes and businesses)

-- A "sidewinder" machine which does the "laser track" keys for Honda, Mercedes, Volvo, etc... (Costs big bucks)

-- A set of computers/dongles to communicate with the vehicle computer via the OBDII port to program the vehicle to accept the newly made key... (this is an absolute requirement for anyone doing auto work these days, and sadly you are limited to programming new keys into most vehicles by the business hours of the local dealerships you establish relationships with as the expensive programming tool requires the use of a dealer supplied PIN code unique to each vehicle in order to use)

-- An adequate supply of all the various key blanks/fobs/etc you will need to service all the vehicles you will encounter on the road...

-- An assortment of replacement lock cylinders/keying kits/cylinder caps/etc for when you encounter a broken or vandalized lock which needs to be repaired...

-- Access to the various service manuals for the vehicles you will be servicing so you know how to open up/disassemble the car to gain access to the locks without damaging anything... (Costs big bucks)

Without the above you are just a tow truck car opening service without the tow truck, not a locksmith...

~~ Evan

[Squelchtone]

I moved this post to the appropriate area.

Please remember that there is one sub forum for locksmith business stuff, the rest if for hobby lockpicking.

I also wonder if there is not a better resource than here for getting a locksmith business started, such as your local HL Flake dealer, ILCO rep, ALOA rep, or Clearstar locksmith forum.

We're not really a 1-800-ask-a-locksmith site here, I'm sure plenty of folks are happy to get you up and running, but this is starting to get out of hand in how much detail and legwork people have to provide in order to help you.

In any case, please keep it to the Locksmith Business area unless it's a question about locks or picking, and keep car opening questions to the Advanced Auto area.

Thanks
Squelchtone

[Hollywoodpick]

Squelchtone

I joined here to learn and be apart of this.

As a photographer i am a member of a site like this with over 5000 photographers and it is everyday common practace to help and reply to ?s from new members just starting out i have helped many of them and have even took phone calls helping them and even meet with a few of then taking them on location helping them shoot better.

I would think this would be the same kind of thing here people helping others to get started in this trade.

I was told i have to reply and post comments till i can be accepted in all the way but everything i post is a problem most of the time i just do not understand this i am just trying to learn all this and get things going. It would seem the name lock picking 101 would be to help people to learn all the topics that the site offers.

I am doing everything i can on my end to get my business going. Have spent a good amount on tools and will be buying a lot more, Training video DVDs and books, Started a website, I am sending in my business licence info on Monday, I have a new phone number for the business now i should have the phone here in the next few days, Will be joining some of the locksmith clubs when i get the copy of my licence, planning on going to training seminars.

I their a locksmith site other then this one i can get help from the members from you can send me to that covers all the topics?

[Squelchtone]

I'm not trying to single you our or pick on you man, you have my full respect for diving head first into this, but it's my job to keep the forum looking good and making sure posts dont get cluttered up in places they dont belong. We only have 1 place for locksmith questions, everywhere else even some place like 'got questions' is meant for hobby lock picking, not really for 'where do i buy transponder blank keys' or 'how do i set up credit card payments for customers' its more like 'learning how to pick, but this BEST padlock is giving me trouble, what am i doing wrong' it's for that sort of question.

I think there enough locksmiths here who will help you out, but you may want to confine it to the Locksmith Business area, unless it's a question about learning how to pick, in which case, feel free to post anywhere else. I also know places like Pick Fu Do Not try have the dumbest name ever and sometimes even I'm not exactly sure what goes in there and what doesnt, but I do my best in cleaning house so the site is easy to read for everyone who comes here looking for information.

The owner of this site once had a link at the top to locksmithing101.com but that site never took off, that would have been an awesome resource to anyone in your situation.

Have a good week, I'll take it easy on moving posts around unless it's really necessary.

Squelchtone

[Hollywoodpick]

Ok thanks.

I stayed up late last night i am a night person and using better search words i did find a lot of info on auto Transponders and HS key making.
From what i found the newer systems you do not need to go to a dealer for a pin code it makes them or reads them from the car for you. And with the right system or picks you never need to take the door apart to get the key code.

Yes i was looking at the sidewinder but also now looking at the 3D Pro that can cut all keys home older auto and new HS auto keys and others but this cost a lot but if that is what i need then i will need to get it i do not want to buy things many times to get the right things over time if i can get it all up front.

Looks like cloning is a low cost way to do HS keys with no dealer needed right out of your van as long as the customer dose not want a new coaded version of a key only a clone copy.

With the special 2 in 1 picks you can get the code for older locks and make them very easy no Transponders involved. Then for the newer ones it seems like you would only need the special pick not the 2 in 1 as the reader will tell you the code once you are in saving $$ on buying the special 2 in 1 picks if you wanted to get in that way.

I still need to read a lot more on all this to understand it more and try and figure out if the extra cost of all this is worth it.. How many HS keys will i be making that are lost VS just keys locked in the car and how long it will take and what price for each key to sell to cover the cost for the equipment needed for this.
If i start with out this i will have to turn down lost key jobs but if i do not get many of them then that will not be much of a loss or i could still make lost keys for older and non HS keys using the 2 in 1 picks and a standard code cutter.

A lot to think about i could cover the cost for the standard equipment or i could barrow and make payments for the full HS setup.
Thinking 12k would get me everything plus blanks and a few extras for the full HS setup with the 3D pro and clone system. Payments on that would not be to bad if i can get it at 6%

[MacGnG1]

home depot / lowes has a machine that can cut and duplicate transponder keys. the price is only 50-60 bucks a piece, which is much cheaper than at a locksmith and the dealer. next time i am there, i'll find out the name of the manufacture of the machine for ya.

[Hollywoodpick]

Ok cool.

I will have to see if the ones in my area have that as that could be the way to go starting out...

I will be back as i run to lowes to have the key made for the customers that is stuck with no key.

[kaelanh]

Hollywood,
The cloning machine can only make transponders for some vehicles, most foriegn vehicles. your best bet for transponders would be ilcos TKO programmer. It can program keys to almost with an OBDII Port (Under the drivers console). For some of the vehicles it will require a pin code. But I have not had any problems with getting those from dealers unless their software was not working or something.

Hope this helps

kaelanh