Car Key Duplication in Brookhaven, PA

A worn car key may still turn in the ignition, even though its cuts are no longer crisp.

If it is your only working key in Brookhaven, a copy gives you another option if the original stops working or goes missing. Wear can make an exact copy of the old cuts unreliable, so we take the condition of the original into account when making a duplicate. The copy needs to fit your car, not just resemble the key you already use.

Some cars use a metal key without an electronic chip. Others need a chip in the copy to be programmed so the car will recognize it and allow the engine to start. In Brookhaven, we duplicate working car keys and program the electronic portion when the car requires it. A copy may also be available with remote buttons, while another version may have no buttons. The available choices and their functions vary with the car and its key system, including whether keyless entry is supported.

We begin by examining your working key for wear and looking at how your car starts.

Even if the original still turns, worn cuts may be difficult to copy accurately. We explain what we find and whether the original gives us a reliable basis for a duplicate. If its condition leaves that uncertain, we explain what other options may be available for making a usable spare.

Before starting the work, we explain whether your car accepts a plain metal copy or needs a chip programmed to the vehicle. A spare with remote buttons may also be an option if a compatible version is available. Those buttons are a separate function from the one that lets the car start, so we explain what your chosen copy will do. We check the result with you in the door if it has a key operated lock, and in the ignition if the car has a key operated ignition. For a push button start, we check that the car starts with the programmed copy present. We also try any included remote functions.

Keep the spare key for your work vehicle in a secure place where you can find it, separate from the one you carry.

Avoid leaving either one in the vehicle. Protect the copy from moisture, heavy pressure, and hard drops. If it has remote buttons, keep it away from loose items that might press them in a pocket or bag. A worn or bent original is worth setting aside rather than forcing it into a lock.

Try the spare in the door and ignition as part of your vehicle checks. It should turn smoothly, and the vehicle should start if the copy has the required chip. If it sticks, turns roughly, fails to start the vehicle, or its remote buttons stop responding, don't force it. Call us to look at the problem, and have the working key available if you have it. A weak remote battery and a programming issue are different problems, so a closer look matters.