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Copy key

5K views 9 replies 9 participants last post by  moriarty 
#1 ·
This may seem like a silly question, but is the transponder portion of the key needed to unlock the driver's or passenger doors? I'd like to get a copy made of my key without the transponder portion, just a flat key I can slip in my wallet; I have a weird habit of locking my keys in my car once or twice a year and have always kept a spare in my wallet for just such an occasion, saves a bunch of time over calling AAA and having the guy slim-jim it open while my engine's running!

So if I go to a hardware store and just have them cut the key onto a flat blank, will it open the car, or do I need the bulky transponder part to unlock the doors? That's all it has to do, obviously, is unlock the door so I can get my locked-in keys out, I don't want it to be able to start the car or open the glovebox or anything else of course, so even if I have my wallet lost stolen the key won't let anyone get away with my car, too.
 
#4 ·
Originally posted by steve_bev@Sep 22 2005, 09:53 PM
This may seem like a silly question, but is the transponder portion of the key needed to unlock the driver's or passenger doors? I'd like to get a copy made of my key without the transponder portion, just a flat key I can slip in my wallet; I have a weird habit of locking my keys in my car once or twice a year and have always kept a spare in my wallet for just such an occasion, saves a bunch of time over calling AAA and having the guy slim-jim it open while my engine's running!

So if I go to a hardware store and just have them cut the key onto a flat blank, will it open the car, or do I need the bulky transponder part to unlock the doors? That's all it has to do, obviously, is unlock the door so I can get my locked-in keys out, I don't want it to be able to start the car or open the glovebox or anything else of course, so even if I have my wallet lost stolen the key won't let anyone get away with my car, too.
Did you not get 3 keys when you got the car? We got 2 with the transponder & one "xB" type smaller key.
 
#5 ·
The plain and simple answer is...YES!!! Copy the key and it WILL open the doors w/o the transponder. That'll get you into your car when you lock the keys in it. Then retrieve the original key and start your car.
 
#6 ·
Go to a locksmith's shop to do this - don't go to a Home Depot or the like. They'll just tell you they can't do it. Locksmith shops make better keys anyway.
 
#8 ·
Cool, thanks. I did get 3 keys, but they all have the bulky transponder attached, freshdj, but 1 is smaller and doesn't have lock/unlock and won't open the glovebox--the 'valet key'. Can't tell you how often I end up locking my keys in my car, that spare in my wallet's a lifesaver.
 
#9 ·
I just made a habit of locking the car with the remote - that way it's harder to lock the keys inside


But making a door-only spare makes sense. There are so many nooks you can hide the spare key under the car and never worry about locking one inside.
 
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