Question 1

If I lost all of my keys and I order an replacement online, do I need to tow my car for programming?

Accepted Answer

Only if you're getting it done at the dealer. If you're in the Phoenix market, ACME Locksmith can come out to your vehicle and do the programming on site. If you're outside of Phoenix you will need a local locksmith to do the same.

Question 2

Does My Car Key Need Programming?

Accepted Answer

Almost all 2000 model year cars and newer have car keys called transponder keys (or chip keys). These will require programming. Inexpensive cars were less likely to have transponder keys (Kia, Hyundai, etc…) until recently.

If your key is all metal, it will not require programming. If your key has a plastic head or remote head, then it may, or may not, be a transponder key that needs programming.

Question 3

How Can I Tell if My Car Key Needs Programming?

Accepted Answer

Locksmiths have a tool that can test your key to see if it is a transponder key.
Your vehicle owner's manual may also tell you if your key needs to be programmed.
If you get a car key copied and it will not start the car, or the car starts and then cuts out, the key needs programming.

Question 4

What to do if Your Remote Doesn't Have the Same Buttons as Our Online Remotes

Accepted Answer

If you don't see the exact button configuration for your replacement remote, almost always one with additional buttons will work so long as 1) everything else looks the same and 2) it's for the same year make and model

It's just that the additional buttons, the ones not found on your current remote, won't work. The buttons that are found on your current remote will work.

The main exception of this is for cars where a model comes with non-proximately features and proximity features. Those remotes are not interchangeable. That is, a remote designed for a push-button start vehicle will not work on a car designed to take a key.

Question 5

Does My Car Remote Require Programming

Accepted Answer

Yes, car remotes must always be programmed. But, the majority of the time, you can program your replacement car remote without connecting to the car's computer, so it can be DIY. On our order form, if the remote product page has a tab labeled "programming instruction" you can program your remote following those instructions.

Question 6

My Car Remote Buttons Work, But The Car Doesn't Start. Why?

Accepted Answer

When the car manufacturers combined the car remotes and keys into one unit, they didn't combine the electronics. They just put them in the same package. So many cars with key/remote combo units can have the remote portion programmed by the owner, and it'll work just fine, but the key portion will need to be programmed by an auto locksmith or dealer.

Question 7

Why is Laser Key Cutting So Expensive?

Accepted Answer

Instead of the key cuts removing all of the material, the cuts in laser-cut keys only remove a portion of the key's material. The cuts are milled out. This requires an expensive machine and that cost is passed along to the consumer.

Question 8

Do Laser-Cut Keys Require Programming?

Accepted Answer

Most high-security car keys, also called laser-cut keys, are transponder keys and require programming as above, but not all of them.

Question 9

What is a Car Proximity FOB?

Accepted Answer

Cars with proximity FOBs do not require a key to be entered into the ignition to start the car. Instead, a button is pushed. These FOBs will need to be programmed.

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