Picture this: you’re running late to an important meeting, you hop in your car and get ready to speed off to your destination. You put your key in the ignition and try to start your car, but your key won’t turn! What’s going on? Your car was working fine yesterday, and you haven’t had any other problems with it in the past.
As with any sticky situation, your best bet is to call a professional for inspection and subsequent repair. However, calling an automotive locksmith in Fairfax, VA to make a new key isn’t always fast, and if you’re in a hurry, waiting around just won’t do. Here are a few DIY tricks you can try the next time you’re in this jam:
- Turn your steering wheel: Before you start panicking, simply try turning your steering wheel to the right or left and see which side is blocked. Turn the wheel to the side that does move, and then try turning your key. If that doesn’t do the trick, try turning your wheel and jiggling your key while it’s in the ignition. Let’s hope that does the trick and you can get on your way quickly! However, if you find yourself doing this every time you start your car, you might want to consider having your ignition inspected, as something clearly isn’t right with your vehicle.
- Lubricate the lock: This issue may have to do with your key and ignition slot’s lubrication. If you have lubricant (preferably graphite or silicone-based) in your vehicle, spray the key down and try jiggling it in the ignition slot. Don’t get discouraged if this trick doesn’t work on the first attempt—you might have to try spraying and jiggling it a few times to get it to work.
- Repair or replace your key: When you’re running late for a very important date, and none of the options above do the trick, you’ll have to call a mobile locksmith in Fairfax, VA. If your key is bent or twisted, or if the teeth are worn down, a professional locksmith can either repair your key or create a new one from scratch. Our licensed locksmiths can give you a new, working key in a flash.
- Repair or replace your ignition cylinder: If it’s not your key that’s causing your problem, it must be your ignition cylinder. Obviously, this is the worst-case scenario, but the good news is that we can handle the situation for you. Our professionals have years of experience repairing or replacing ignitions for all makes and models. The best part is that we can perform the job quickly, so you can get on with your day.
Don’t trust any other automotive locksmith in Fairfax, VA to make a new key the next time you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. The technicians at Artie’s Lock and Key arrive on the scene quickly and can get you back on the road in no time at all. Call us today to learn all about our services!
Sometimes you make a mistake or forget about something, and if that’s your car keys late at night, that can be a problem. While you wait for auto locksmiths in Fairfax, VA to help you out, you’ll want to keep safe during that time. Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can protect yourself and stay out of harm’s way:
- Find a phone: First things first—you’ll want to find a phone to make some calls. For most people, that means using their cellphone. However, if you’ve locked your phone in your car as well, you’ll want to find one as soon as possible. That may mean going back to your place of work or whichever establishment you just left and asking to use the phone. At this point, you’ll want to call a mobile locksmith in Fairfax, VA, like Artie’s Lock and Key, to come unlock your car. You may also want to call a friend or family member to come pick you up, or just to come by to make sure you’re safe and wait with you.
- When to call 911: Calling 911 should be a last resort, and simply locking your keys in your car doesn’t warrant that call. However, one time to call 911 in a lockout situation is if you lock young children in the car with your keys. In this case, the child’s safety could be at stake, especially on a hot summer day.
- Don’t break anything: One thing not to do is panic. You don’t want to lose your cool in this situation. In most cases, you don’t want to break a window to get into your car. That leads to another set of problems, including having to get the window fixed. There’s also the fact that there will be a broken window on your car, which is an open invitation for vandals to get into your car and for vermin to make your car their home. In most cases you’ll just want to wait in a safe place for a mobile locksmith in Fairfax, VA to arrive.
- Be aware: Find a safe place to wait for an auto locksmith in Fairfax, VA. It doesn’t have to be in view of your car. You can ask the locksmith to give you a call when they’re about to arrive. This will allow you to wait somewhere you feel safe that may not be near the car. You also don’t want to accept rides from strangers. While most people have good intentions, some people may not. Getting a ride home doesn’t help if you’re supposed to be waiting for a locksmith.
Locking yourself out of your car doesn’t have to be a catastrophe. If you stay calm and cool, everything will be alright. Artie’s Lock and Key is a reliable and fast mobile locksmith in Fairfax, VA. We’ve been in business for more than 40 years, providing helpful service throughout the region. Our professional locksmiths can handle any job and are more than happy to help out if you lock yourself out of your car. Get in touch as soon as you need us!
Most vehicles produced in recent years are equipped with a transponder key. Chances are, your car uses a transponder key, even if you’re unaware of it! Transponder keys use radio signals to prevent theft and enhance convenience. Unfortunately, they can be complicated and expensive to replace. Working with a qualified provider of transponder keys in Fairfax, VA is the best way to replace your vehicle keys if you have lost or misplaced your existing transponder key.
How it works
Transponder keys in Fairfax, VA are relatively simple pieces of machinery that provide users, and their insurance companies, with tremendous peace of mind.
Remote access keys in Fairfax, VA have a small radio chip installed inside the key’s plastic sheaf. This chip communicates with another chip inside the car’s ignition. The key’s chip sends a code over to the car’s chip when the driver begins to turn the ignition. The car’s ignition is programmed to only recognize one single code. If the code being sent by the key doesn’t match the code the ignition is programmed to read, the engine will not start.
Benefits of transponder keys
In addition to providing an extra layer of security, most transponder keys also allow for remote access. Remote access keys in Fairfax, VA are transponder keys equipped with typically one or two buttons that can open or lock your car’s doors from a distance.
Here are just some of the benefits you most likely experience each and every day, thanks to your car’s remote access keys in Fairfax, VA:
- Reduced risk of theft: Because most modern engines are programmed to only start while reading one specialized code, theft is substantially more difficult. Keys without a matching code can often turn an engine over; however, it won’t start unless it is reading the right code. Hotwiring cars is now a distant possibility for most would-be car thieves.
- Remote operation: Another clear benefit of transponder keys is the fact that they allow users to remotely access their vehicles. There are a number of reasons why remote operation is beneficial, including central lock capabilities and the panic button, which allows you to locate your car with very little effort.
- Central locking: Cars equipped with remote access keys in Fairfax, VA typically have central locking capabilities. You can lock every door in your vehicle with the touch of one button. If your car has an alarm, it will most likely also be armed when you take advantage of your central locking capabilities.
Artie’s Lock and Key has been the most trusted locksmith in Virginia since 1975. We are the foremost provider of transponder keys in Fairfax, VA. You can rely on us to replace your car’s remote access key with promptness and professionalism.
Our bonded, licensed and insured team members take a tremendous amount of pride in their ability to deliver high-quality locksmith services. We use only the most current and up-to-date tools of the trade to deliver an unparalleled customer service experience. To learn more about Artie’s Lock and Key, give one of our friendly representatives a call today!
