NorthWest Locksmith Reno Transponder Key (775) 276-5673

Why Would You Need an Ignition Service?

Automotive Ignitions can be very stubborn at times. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t, and sometimes they work so well your car disappears in the middle of the night. There are a couple of different reasons to call a locksmith for an ignition service. Maybe your key has stopped working or someone broke into your car and damaged the ignition in the process. 

If your key has stopped working, the ignition could be worn down enough that it would stops accepting the key. In some cases, the ignition can be repaired, in others; it will most likely be damaged beyond repair and would need to be replaced. 

When repairing an ignition, it can be as simple as a new connective port or as tedious as fully rebuilding the ignition switch. Sometimes, if the ignition has to be rebuilt, a professional would recommend replacing it all together. Seeing if the ignition can be repaired is always worth a look before deciding to just replace it. A locksmith can help you determine the best course of action. 

If your keys have been stolen, the best part about calling a locksmith to help is that they can replace the ignition and keys at the same time. They can also re-key the locks on the doors so that you would still only need one key for everything. If the locksmith has to special order the parts and keys, they can set up an appointment that best fits your schedule, day or night. 

If you are wondering about high security systems, don’t worry! The locksmith can make sure that everything is programmed correctly and running as smooth as it was before anything ever happened. A locksmith in Reno will make sure that the codes are correct for your specific make and model. Some codes would need to be retrieved from a large database or from the actual dealership. In such case, you won’t have to worry since most Reno locksmith companies have access to either. 

Automotive Ignition Service

Here at NorthWest Locksmith Reno we offer a wide range of automotive locksmith services for both imports and domestic make and model vehicles. From unlocking your vehicle, originating new keys, to repairing and replacing ignition switches, we do it all! Our technicians are professional and will explain you exactly what is needed to be done before performing any service.

The most common automotive service we usually perform is for an ignition. We have found that many make and model vehicles in the market have common issues that can cause the ignition switch to malfunction. When it comes to Hondas and Acuras vehicles, we found that many people had issues with the key getting stuck inside the ignition switch. Although it does happen on other make and models, we found it to be more common on Hondas and Acuras. This type of issue can be caused by wafers that got worn out in time and also dirt that may have entered into the switch and caused the malfunction.

Whether if its dirt or normal wear and tear, once the wafers are out of alignment, a key cannot be inserted or will get stuck in the ignition switch. However, these types of issues will not turn out overnight as the user may feel some difficulties over a certain period of time operating the ignition switch with the key. Once the key will get stuck inside the switch, calling a professional locksmith will be the best option.

There is the option of taking your vehicle to the dealer for service. However, not only it will involve an expensive towing charge, in addition to the dealer high rates, you most likely will have to wait for a few days to have the vehicle serviced with a new ignition switch and a key made. Here at NorthWest Locksmith Reno we provide mobile automotive locksmith services which means our technicians will travel to your location with no extra charge and replace or repair the ignition switch on the spot!

Ignition Switch Service

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Automotive Re-key Service

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Nissan Key Make

Unlike originating a key from scratch, there isn't much involved when it comes to duplicating an automotive key. However, it does depends on the circumstances such as the make and model, original key condition, and more. A locksmith technician would usually get all the required information needed from the original key, but there are many times where they key is worn out, that it won't be practical to get the necessary cuts from it in order to make a new key.

A few years ago, I remember getting a call from a customer who accidentally broke the key of his Nissan 240SX inside the door lock as he was trying to unlock it. The customer also mentioned that he would probably need a new key as well since he didn't have a spare. At that time, I don'r recall ever making a key for this or any other similar Nissan models, but since he "sort of" had the original key, I figured I could probably improvise a duplication.

Once I got to the customer's location, first thing I needed to do was getting the broken piece of the key out of the door lock. It took me a while to work on it, but I was able to get it out. However, the broken piece seemed to be distorted and worn out which explained why it broke inside the lock, but also prevented me from reading the cuts properly in order to duplicate a working key off of it. At this point, I figured I would probably need to disassemble the door or ignition lock the get the code off of it.

Since I never worked on this type of vehicle, I wasn't really sure where I could find the stamped code that was required for originating a key, so I decided to call a Reno locksmith co worker of mine to see if he could help me with the situation. He mentioned that the code should be stamped on the door lock cylinder and he was more than happy to explain how to get to it, but he also mentioned it was not necessary. Apparently, on these Nissan models there should be a code stamped on the key itself. The reason I was not aware of it was because the code was hiding under the head of the key rubber coating.

I then asked the customer, for the head piece of the key. As I started working on the rubber coating, I started noticing the stamped number under it. After I had all the coating peeled, all I needed to do was look-up the codes in the book and create the key in my machine.  

Motorcycle Gas Tank Key

As a locksmith technician most of the work I do it seem to be automotive services such as lockouts, ignition cylinder repairs, ignition cylinders replacements, key origination and few others. Most services are obviously for vehicles, but every now and then I would get called to service a motorcycle which is very rare thus I don't have much practice servicing them. Most of the time it will happen where I would need to service a motorcycle it would be for originating a key.

A while back I remember getting a call from a customer who just got a new motorcycle few days before and while he was driving it for few days he did not pay attention to the gas tank which went empty and left him stranded not to far from a gas station. Once he got to the gas station he came to realize that the key he had for the ignition of the motorcycle did not open the gas tank of the motorcycle. After letting him finish his story, I took his info and immediately called a Reno locksmith co-worker of mine for some info about the key needed.

According to my co-worker, the type of motorcycle the customer claimed to have was using a tubular lock to protect the gas tank. Luckily I did have a blank for these types of locks, so I knew I didn't have to make any stops on my way to the customer's location. I headed to the gas station where the customer was and the first thing I did was testing the blank key I had to make sure it was the correct one for the customer's motorcycle gas tank.

As soon as I inserted the key blank into the gas tank lock, it seemed I was able to operate it. Not only that, but I was actually able to open it as well. This was something I did not encountered with all my years as a locksmith technician. At that point, the customer's friends came on their motorcycles to the gas station as well. I then decided to test it on few of their motorcycles as well that had a gas tank with a tubular lock and on all of them I was able to unlock the gas tank. I have to admit that was the fastest key origination job I ever had to do.

NorthWest Locksmith Reno (775) 276-5673

Buick Trunk Key

Originating an automotive key level of difficulty may vary from model to model. Some models uses the same key for the door, trunk and ignition while others have two separate set of keys one for the ignition and the other for the rest of the vehicle. Sometimes, if a vehicle is equipped with a "master-key" it does not mean necessarily that the combination is exactly the same for all the locks in the vehicle. It can be that the glove box(if equipped), door lock and ignition cylinder will have the same cuts, but not the same amount. This fact sometimes will make it harder on a locksmith technician to originate a key. However, most experienced locksmith technicians with many years of experience in the field still have few tricks underneath their sleeves.

Few years ago, I remember getting a call from a customer who needed a key to the door and trunk of his 1988 Buick LaSabre. I did a lot of older GM models during my time and I knew I would not be able to get the codes to make that key neither from the dealer or the automotive key database I was subscribed to. The only way I could have generated the key was using the door lock. Since I knew it won't be such a big deal getting the door lock out to make the key, I decided to accept the job.

Once I got to the customer's home where the car was parked, I grabbed my tools and started working on removing the door panel, so I can the door lock out  in order to get the stamped code. As I started taking the bolts and trims holding the door panel to the door, I ran into couple of bolts that simply did not want to budge. After working on them for several minutes, I decided to stop wasting any time and started thinking of another solution.

At that point, the only solution I could think of was getting the 4 cuts out of the glove box lock and progress the other 2 to make the key. However, back then I did not have much experience progressing, so I had to call a more experienced Reno locksmith friend of mine for help. Once I got him on the phone and told him the story, he mentioned that progressing the extra 2 cuts won't be necessary since the glove box lock actually built with all 6 wafers. I did not believed him and wen to check for myself. Imagine my surprised as I finished taking apart the lock from the glove box and saw for myself it was a 6 cut lock just as the other locks in the vehicle. I then immediately moved on to decode the wafers, made a new key for the customer and assembled the glove box lock back together.  

Capri Key Origination

As a locksmith technician, I find that making a key to a vehicle can be a really easy task or hassle sometimes. Nowadays, for most make and model automobiles, in order to make a key from scratch, all that is needed is getting a code from the locksmith database software system using the VIN number. However, in the "old days" and even for some models pre 2000, there were two options that are still in use today for originating a key. The first one is impressioning which can be somewhat of a headache as this method works on 50% guessing the cuts that needed to make the key. The second one is by code as well except that the code will need to be retrieved from the cylinder itself. This mean taking apart the steering column for ignitions or door panels and mechanism for the door lock. Even though it may sound time consuming, it will still be much easier and more accurate than impressioning.

I got a call the other day from a customer who wanted a new key mad for his 93 Mercury Capri. He claimed that he can't find the key he had anywhere in his house, so he would need a new key originated from scratch. I didn't have much experience working with these types of models before, but I did make a key for a similar Ford model before, so I decided to accept the job. As far as I remember, making a key to the Ford model did not involve any type of issue, and I recall making a new key successfully.

When I arrived to the customer's address, I ran a quick review of my locksmith key origination book to get some information on the key blank that I needed and the series number that was required in addition to the code in order to make the new key. Since it was mentioned in the book that the same key supposedly will operate all the locks in the vehicle including the ignition, I figured I could take apart only the lock on the door to read most of the cuts and then use the series information to complete the cuts to operate the ignition.

After I finished taking apart the door panel and all the necessary components that were on the way of accessing the lock to read the code, I was able to retrieve it and started to make the new key. Once I finished making the key, I started testing it around the vehicle starting from the door locks, trunk and finally the ignition. When I got to the ignition, I noticed that I couldn't get the key inside it properly to turn it. After few minutes playing with it, I realized its not going to work and I called a fellow Reno locksmith of mine for advice.

When I got my technician friend on the phone, he mentioned that he had encounter this type of issue with these older Capri models. He then said that the issue is in the key blank. Apparently, the part that was closest to the head was not narrow like on the original key and needed to be file a bit in order for the key to fit properly in the ignition. And so I did. I filed the part closest to the head from both sides and surprisingly I was able to insert the key successfully to the ignition and start the vehicle. It seem as this issue is only related to these Mercury models as I haven't had any problems using the same blank on other manufacture models such as Ford or Mazda.  

Ignition Service in Reno

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Ford Ignition Tip

I found that the most common issue with older Ford models ignitions is that the ears on the exterior of the ignition tend to wear out or break most of the time which will allow the ignition to spin even if there is no key in it. For this type of issue there are few solutions. One of them that is the most common which many locksmith technicians use which is using a roll pin that will prevent the worn out ears from spinning the ignition. This will work on most Ford 10-cut ignition.

I did find another solution however using a lab pin. The way that it works, the ignition would need to be removed first from the steering column. Once the ignition cylinder is out, the key-way face plate will need to be aligned using a blank key. Then the final step would be to drill a hole large enough to fit the lab pin in it. When inserting the lab pin, it is recommended to use superglue or other similar product to prevent from it to move or fall out.

Using the roll pin method can be very secure for this type of fix, but for me it seem that using the lab pin will work just as good and takes much less time to work with. In addition, it can easily be found in every professional locksmith pinning kit. The last time I services this type of ignition was over a year ago and I never heard any complains from the customer or any other customer before hand in which I applied the same fix on the other Ford ignition jobs.

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Automotive Broken Key Extraction

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VATS Decoder Tip

Like any other experience locksmith technician in the industry, I too got a call occasionally to originate a key for GM vehicles that are equipped with the infamous VATS system. However, what do you do when you don't have a VATS system decoder on you or just don't want to spend the money to get one? I came across a good way that can save money for the average locksmith technician for decoding the VATS chip on GM models equipped with the system. The good news is that this improvised decoder will decode regular VATS keys as well as the double sided ones.

What needs to be done is purchasing an OHM meter at any hardware store or Radio Shack. Once you got it, remove the clear plastic face cover that protects the gauge. Move the needle to the "0" position with the adjustment screw. Put the VATS key in between the probes and mark a line where the needle stops. At the top of that line, you should mark the numerical value which should be anywhere between 1 and 15 for that key blank. You should do this process with all 15 keys and you now have a VATS decoder. You can now replace the cover back on the meter and you can start decoding VATS keys. I came across this trick way back in the late 80', early 90's when the VATS system equipped models were fairly on the Corvettes and Camaros. Since then, I've used it many times and never had any issues.

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1941 Ford Lock Re-Key

I had a customer recently that brought me a pair of new door locks for a 1941 Ford which he is currently working on a restoration for. The locks had the original Briggs & Stratton keys and looked similar to the older AMC door locks, beside the fact that they did not have the exposed plug release.

When I tried contacting the company where the customer got his locks from , I found out that these locks were manufactured as a limited production  and were not listed in any of the company's catalogs. In order to remove the plug of these locks for re-keying, I used the key to turn the plug left all the way to the stop position. Then, I inserted a curved shim between the plug and the cylinder at a point marked by a sticking surface point on the edge of the plug. At that point, I could feel the spring-loaded retaining pin. I then pushed in on this pin which in return allowed the plug to rotate past the stop, getting to a removal position. Finally, I was able to just pulled the plug out of the cylinder and re-key it just as I would do to any other wafer lock.

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Automotive Locksmith Services in Reno

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Working Under a Dashboard with Bi-Focal Glasses Tip

A problem that I'm sure many locksmith technicians had came across before, was looking up when are under an automobile dashboard while wearing  bi-focal glasses. Although during the years I ran into many different solutions, the following is the one I found most effective.

To be honest, wearing the bi-focals glasses upside down is not very effective and wearing them on the end of your nose is not very comfortable. Also, for those locksmith technicians who are getting old (like me), crawling underneath is not really an option, and even if they could looking up far enough to see what they need to see would be very difficult.

My solution was to have the lens duplicated on the top with the same or just a shade weaker, prescriptions lens cut. I can now see through the center of the lens, or if it needs to be magnified by the bi-focal, I can look through either the top or the bottom of my glasses. Check out this link for an honest and reliable locksmith company

Ford 10-Cut Ignition Tip

Like most locksmith technicians, using a roll pins to prevent the ears from spinning on a ford 10 cut ignition is a nice way to repair the problem. However, I have found that a .350 lab pan also works well. Simply align the keyway face plate (use a blank key) and drill the proper sized hole. Put in a dab of superglue or Loctite then the lab pin and the job is finished.

although the role pin is very secure, I have found that the lab pin works just as well and only takes about 10 minutes to do the entire job. Fast, simple and easy. And best of all, we all have pinning kits on the truck, so there’s little hunting for the right part to do the job