What Is A Car Locksmith? |
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Donna Fuller
November 19, 2013
Locksmithing is a traditional trade and in many countries to be a locksmith requires the completion of an apprenticeship. In Australia one must complete an Apprenticeship or Traineeship in locksmithing.
Historically locksmiths constructed and repaired entire locks but the rise of cheap mass production made for a change in the locksmithing trade. Nowadays locksmiths cover a wide range of services for customers in keeping with the technological advances of the 20th and 21st centuries.
In contemporary times locksmiths can offer a range of services and usually provide products from storefronts and mobile vans, or they specialise in niche locksmithing services including investigational or forensic locksmithing.
One of the more recent additions to the locksmith trade has been the introduction of automotive locksmiths who specialise in the locksmithing of cars; these are the locksmiths that this article is concerned with.
What does an automotive locksmith do?
Just like regular locksmiths, automotive locksmiths work involves the opening and fixing of locks, albeit exclusively with cars, trucks, and other automobiles.
Before the advent of modern electronic locks in vehicles automotive locksmiths were more concerned with the opening of locked car doors in which customers had left their keys. And while early model vehicles still abound the job of an automotive locksmith has changed in recent times. With the introduction of modern electronic locks their job has changed considerably.
So what are the main services of modern day automotive locksmiths? Here is a list of some of the main responsibilities of modern day locksmiths.
1. Extraction of broken vehicle keys from locks
2. Repairing of damaged ignition lock of the car
3. Transponder key programming
4. Repair of central locking
5. Repair of the original remote control and programming the new one to suit the car
5. Immobilizer chip programming
7. Car lock and car key repair
8. Replacement car keys where originals cannot be restored
9. Roadside assistance
10. Emergency car unlocking when keys are locked inside
Perhaps the most important and differentiating feature of the modern automotive locksmith's job is the amount of labour that is put into modern key system. Most of the vehicles manufactured now have a microchip in the head of the key, this is called the transponder, automotive locksmiths can duplicate this mechanism at a cost much less than the actual car dealership.
They also specialise in the repair and replacement of keys, and key housing.
So if you need help with your car's keys or if you have an emergency, get in touch with an automotive locksmith expert today.