You may have used the same car key for years without giving it much thought. Then a button stops working. The case splits. Or you get back to the car and there's no key in your pocket.
Now you need to know what can be done, and how you're going to get the car home.
Miki's Auto Locksmith provides mobile car locksmith service in Milwaukee. We help with lost keys, spare keys, fobs, car lockouts and ignition lock problems. Call 414-346-7165 to talk about your car and the work it needs.
"It's got buttons, but I still turn it to start the car" is a perfectly useful way to describe a key. You don't have to know the name for it. The year, make and model will help us check which services are available.
This is worth thinking about before you buy another one.
A fob with a worn unlock button may still start the car every time. Another may work the door locks but leave you with a message saying no key has been found. Both get called a broken key, though the faults may be quite different.
There's also the case that has cracked while the parts inside still work. Or the key that went through the wash and hasn't been right since. A new case won't fix a fault in the electronics. Programming won't mend a broken button.
Describe what happens when you use it. If you have a spare, does that one work? Did the fault start all at once, or has a button been getting harder to press? These are useful clues. You can leave the guesswork about parts to the person checking it.
With a transponder key, the metal blade and the chip do separate jobs. The blade may fit the lock, but the car also needs to accept the chip before the engine will start. That's why a key can turn and still fail to get you anywhere.
A push-to-start fob needs to work with the car too. The right shape and number of buttons don't prove it's the right part.
If you've seen a replacement online, check before you buy. Keep the listing if you've already ordered it. The part details matter when discussing key fob programming, and some supplied or used fobs may not be suitable.
A low price for a fob can be tempting. Just leave room for the rest of the job: any cutting, programming and the service visit. Otherwise, the price you're comparing may be for only a piece of what you need.
When two people use a car, sharing one key can get old quite quickly. Someone leaves early. Someone else needs the car later. The key is in the wrong coat, at work, or with the person who has just gone out.
A spare gives you a bit more freedom. Making one while you have a working key may also be a different job from replacing every key you've lost.
Think about what you want the spare to do. You may want all the same buttons as the original. You may be happy with a simpler backup, if the car supports one. Either way, it should be clear whether the new key will open the door, start the car and work the remote locks.
Once you have it, let the other driver try it too. Then keep the two keys apart. A spare in the same bag as the main key won't be much help if the bag goes missing.
You can have a new car key made without the old one for many cars. There may be no blade to copy, but that doesn't mean the only option is a tow to the dealer.
It does mean the exact car matters. Some jobs can be done on site. Others need parts or a service that can't be provided there. This is something to settle before anyone heads out, rather than when you're waiting beside the car.
Say that all keys are lost when asking about car key replacement in Milwaukee. A price for adding a spare may not cover that work.
We'll also need to confirm that the car is yours or that you have the owner's permission. If the papers are locked inside, mention it. For a rental, speak to the rental company first.
If the keys were stolen, bring that up as well. Getting a new key and dealing with what the missing key can still open are separate concerns.
It's especially annoying when you can see it.
If the keys are on the seat, you may only need the car opened. If they're in the trunk, say so. Getting into the cabin doesn't always give access to the trunk; that depends on the car.
There may be a spare you can get without a service call. Another driver, a family member or someone at home might be able to bring it. It's worth a call if they're close.
Otherwise, call 414-346-7165 about car lockout service. Use the place where the car is parked and ask for the current arrival estimate and cost.
If a person or animal is in immediate danger, call 911 first. While waiting for a normal lockout visit, leave makeshift tools out of the door. A torn seal or bent frame would add another repair.
A key that needs more force each day is worth dealing with before it snaps.
We handle broken key removal and supported ignition lock work. Keep any piece that has come out. If part is still inside, leave it there for the visit.
It helps to know whether the key sticks as it goes in or once you try to turn it. A spare that does the same thing may point to a different problem from one worn key.
And a car that won't start isn't always a key or lock fault. If the key turns but nothing else happens, describe that too. Some starting problems need a mechanic or other repair service.
At home, the address may be all that's needed. In a downtown Milwaukee parking ramp, the entrance and level help as well. A car off Brady Street may be behind the building rather than out front.
For a gated lot or locked garage, someone needs to provide access. You can wait elsewhere nearby, but keep your phone with you so we can find each other.
If you need a local locksmith beyond Milwaukee, our service-area page has more places to check. Give the actual address when discussing timing and any travel charge.
Before work begins, be clear about what's included in the price. For a new key, that may mean the part, cutting, programming and visit. Check any after-hours charge too.
When the key is ready, use it. Start the car and try the functions included in the job. Ask about anything you aren't sure of while the car and key are right there.
Call Miki's Auto Locksmith at 414-346-7165 for auto locksmith help in Milwaukee, WI. You can talk about a spare or a key that's begun to wear out. You don't have to wait until the car is stuck somewhere.
