If you need a car key replacement, there are three primary options available to you: the dealership, DIY, or locksmith. Of course, each option has its own advantages and disadvantages that you should take into account. For example, dealerships will be more expensive but also more trustworthy; on the other hand, choosing the DIY route will be cheaper but requires both skill and luck in terms of finding quality products. Locksmiths represent a happy medium between these two extremes in terms of price and trustworthiness.
Avoid the headaches and save money by calling your local locksmiths, or more preferably LockAngeles, whenever you need to replace your car key. Local locksmiths are reliable, dependable services that take out all of the guesswork when replacing car keys—ensuring quality work for fair prices! Plus, if you go with a locksmith instead of third parties or dealerships, then you can rest easy knowing that faulty equipment won’t be an issue.
Parts of a Key
To figure out what type of car key replacement services you require, it could be useful to evaluate the different aspects of your key. But if you’d like an expert opinion on what is damaged and needs fixing, LockAngeles has got you covered!
1. Bow
To use your key, you’d place the thumb and index finger on this part of it. The bow is usually circular or rectangular in shape. Buttons for a fob may sometimes be located here too if they’re integrated into one device. If there’s plastic covering around the bow, that likely indicates a transponder chip inside which isn’t possible with just metal keys since there’s no space to hide the chip.
2. Blade
This component of the key is where all the action occurs. It houses the bitting, tip and wards before culminating in either its shoulder or bow – whichever comes first. When it’s fully inserted into a matching lock, the rotation will open doors or start vehicles alike! Anything outside of this area when it’s been embedded isn’t considered part of its blade.
3. Bitting
The bitting on a key is what allows the internal components of a lock to move, also known as its ridges or teeth. Depending on the type of lock, these bits may vary in shape from serrated edges to snake-like patterns for modern car keys. By strategically arranging and varying the depths of each bit along either side of a key, it can fit perfectly into any compatible lockset.
4. Wards
The wards on a key are what prevent it from fitting into different keyways. These cuts on the key do not affect the internal components whatsoever; they exist solely to keep Nissan keys from fitting into Subaru locks. To obtain properly warded key blanks, you must purchase them directly from the car manufacturer.
5. Tip
To begin unlocking your door, you’ll need to insert the tip of the key into the keyway. This is located on the end opposite of where you’d grip it by its bow. You must make sure that this end lines up correctly, as most car keys can be inserted in two different ways: horizontally or vertically. In either case, there’s no wrong way to orientate it—both will be “right side up”.
6. Shoulder
Traditional car keys often include a specific part, known as the ‘shoulder’, which prevents it from being inserted too far into its designated keyway. This feature is designed to guide users on how deep they should push the device before stopping. In most cases, this is achieved by making the blade of the key wider near its bow area; other times, an elevated piece of metal larger than that of the keyway will act as a shoulder instead.
Now that you know what the parts are, you can be more aware of what part of the key you’re having problems with—making both our jobs significantly easier.