The Pin Code Panic...
To address some of what is in the confusingly written article below, as well as some of the highly panicked legislation sweeping around the country, lets clarify a few things, shall we?We haven't experienced it, but yes, there are apparently a few automobile manufacturers and individual dealers that occasionally are refusing to give out the Pin codes required to program new keys into a few makes and models of some newer cars.
"Pin" codes are a security measure put into place by a very few car makers that provide one more buffer against someone having keys made to your car... without your knowledge. As more and more security is demanded by the consumer, there are occasionally inconvenience snags hit upon. Pin codes are one of the snags.
When a locksmith comes out to create keys to your vehicle, there are 3 possibilities... Well, 4, but the 4th is one in a million, and I'll address it later...
First possibility, you have a car with plain ol' silver keys, and no chip (i.e. no transponder) technology, heck, no technology at all. Good ol' Detroit (or Tokyo I suppose) rolling iron. The process by which a locksmith makes keys to these vehicles is as follows (extremely simplified):
- Validate & record the ownership of the vehicle: state issued picture ID, AND ownership papers, in person only...
- Get the "key code" (i.e. "cuts") by using any accepted locksmith method, 99.9% of which do not require dismantling a steering column (see later in this post). :)...
- Cut the keys...
- Test the keys to be sure they start the vehicle...
- Give the keys to the customer.
Second possibility, you have a newer model (mid 90's and up) that has transponder technology. This is usually a chip within the plastic head of the key that, in the simplest terms, "speaks" to the car or the ignition, and essentially gives it permission to start. The process by which a locksmith makes keys to these vehicles is as follows (extremely simplified):
- Validate the ownership of the vehicle, state issued picture ID, AND ownership papers, in person only...
- Get the "key code" (i.e. "cuts") by using any accepted locksmith method, NONE of which require dismantling a steering column (reference noted later in this post). :)...
- Cut the keys...
- Hook up the specialized equipment, and program the new keys in, and the old keys out.
- Test the keys to be sure they start the vehicle...
- Give the keys to the customer.
Third possibility, you have one of the very few newer models (usually early 2000's and up) that has transponder technology, but ALSO requires a "Pin" code from your auto maker or dealer in order to make it possible to program the transponder keys. The process by which a locksmith makes keys to these vehicles is as follows (extremely simplified):
- Validate the ownership of the vehicle, state issued picture ID, AND ownership papers, in person only...
- Get the "key code" (i.e. "cuts") by using an EZReader, or by another accepted locksmith method, NONE of which require dismantling a steering column (again). :)...
- Cut the keys...
- Attain Pin via the dealer, the maker's roadside assistance group, or from the customer him/herself.
- Hook up the specialized equipment, enter the Pin, then program the new keys in and the old keys out.
- Test the keys to be sure they start the vehicle...
- Give the keys to the customer.
Of the three possibilities above, only the last one should be of consequence, and I'll get to why in a moment.
ANY locksmith worth his/her salt can make keys to your car in the first example above. In the second example, any locksmith worth his/her salt, and with the right equipment, can make and program keys to your vehicle. Not all locksmiths have all the equipment to make and program keys to all vehicles. While the first one you call may not work on your car make, somewhere in your city, some locksmith does, so you're covered. :)
In the third example only, we run into problems... Locksmiths can still make keys to your car, but we need that Pin code in order to implement the computer program required to program the transponder keys into the car.
Very few vehicle makes/models require this Pin. Of all the thousands of makes, models, and years of autos, ONLY the following cars require a Pin in addition to the transponder programming...
Chrysler
*Sebring Coupe 2001 - 2006
Dodge
*Stratus Coupe 2001 - 2006
Honda
*Accord Sedan, Coupe 1998 - 2006
CRV 2002 - 2006
Civic Sedan, Coupe 2001 - 2006
Civic Hybrid 2003 - 2006
Element 2003 - 2004
Insight Hybrid 2003 - 2006
Odyssey 1998 - 2006
Pilot 2003 - 2004
Prelude 1997 - 2002
S2000 2000 - 2005
Mitsubishi
*Diamonte 2000 - 2005
*Eclipse 2000 - 2006
*Endeavor 2004 - 2006
*Galant 2000 - 2006
Lancer EVO 2003 - 2006
*Montero 2000 - 2006
*Montero Sport 2000 - 2006
Nissan
Armada 2004 - 2006
Maxima 810 2004 - 2006
Murano 2005 - 2006
Pathfinder 2006
Quest 2004 - 2006
Titan 2004 - 2006
350Z Roadster 2004 - 2005
Volkswagon
Passat 2002 - 2006
New Beetle 2002 - 2006
Jetta 2002 - 2006
Golf 2002 - 2006
Phaeton 2004 - 2006
(*Designates occasional "pin not required" exceptions in some model years noted)
If your car is listed above, call your dealer, and get your Pin NOW, before you need it. You may very well already have it. Most new cars have it recorded on or with the keys, or in the owners manual or ownership papers. Whether you have it or need to get it, record it in your Owner's Manual, scribble it into your wallet, etc. Criminals can't make it use of it, so don't worry that you need to go rent a safe deposit box for it, it doesn't work that way. Safeguard it as you would any important paperwork, but don't obsess. We generally don't have a problem as a locksmith company with attaining Pin codes for you when you need keys made, but it is cropping up more and more that locksmiths ARE having trouble getting that information.
If the above occurs, you could conceivably be left without keys until the dealer/maker's phone lines are open, and/or until you fulfill THEIR requirements for proof of ownership. These inconveniences could include: having to go into the dealership and provide proof, sending certify/notarized snail mail, etc. In these cases the dealers will oftentimes not release the information to you unless you agree to have the dealer make keys to your car rather than a locksmith. Having a dealer make your keys requires having your car towed into the dealership rather than having a locksmith come to you. So you are not only paying a higher price for the keys the dealer makes for you, but you have the added expense of having your vehicle towed.
If the dealer/maker has decided to keep the Pin to themselves, this doesn't mean a locksmith can't make the keys, it is rather an issue with the dealer Scroogishly keeping info to themselves for their own gain, not with locksmiths. Remember, they would prefer that no locksmiths make keys to cars, because they want the customer to be bound to them alone. That way they can set the price. Kind of like Ma Bell in the old days.
Do not allow your dealer or auto maker to tell you that locksmiths are not able to make keys to your vehicle. If you have one of the Pin code required vehicles listed above, ANY locksmith who has the proper equipment and training can make keys to your vehicle so long as you, or your dealer will provide the Pin. Period.
One more clarification...
The only time locksmiths categorically could not make keys to a vehicle that comes to mind is now a past issue... Some BMW models had keys that could not be made by locksmiths, because BMW had some proprietary rights to their blanks, and locksmiths did not have the equipment needed to create, cut, and program those keys. Locksmiths can now make keys to BMW's, blanks are available, and technology has been developed by locksmiths to allow them to create, cut, and program the keys. Again, this was not a Pin or transponder issue, simply a proprietary rights issue. This is the 4th possibility mentioned above.
I track news articles that pertain to locksmith issues, and specifically, the transponder and Pin codes issues. I am reading some quite extreme, and more and more obscurely worded news articles that, whether on purpose or not, are misinformation.
The author of the article referenced here (Locked Out - An NBC 7/39 Special Report) did write me back, and what follows is some of the give and take - To his credit, he had been given some seriously erroneous misinformation from several places, and was very receptive to getting the right information...
However to say that, if they have the equipment, locksmiths can make ignition keys for any new car is simply not true. I've spoken to the the New Car Dealer Association and they explained that at this time car manufacturers will not share the pin number or code or whatever it is with outside locksmiths...
The New Car Dealer Association should be talking to their dealers, and their own roadside assistance groups. :) We have never, to this day, had any issue with getting a Pin code for the very few vehicles that require them.
Remember, the New Car Dealer Association is NOT in the locksmith business. They do work very hard to try to make it impossible for locksmiths to open cars, or make keys to cars, but what we do is a skilled trade, and most locksmiths are very good at their jobs. For every innovation that the New Car Dealer Association comes up with to keep the business for themselves and their own dealers, and thereby control the rates and inconvenience the customer, there is a vast group of knowledgeable locksmiths and locksmith associations who are working just as hard to learn new techniques to open cars, program keys, etc. Keep in mind that new keys from a dealership generally cost more than new keys made by a locksmith. Makes sense that they would try to keep that information under wraps, doesn't it? :)
Transponder codes, and/or "key codes" are completely different, and require no dealer input whatsoever. In addition, I don't believe we have ever in 18 years, gone through a "dealer" to attain a Pin code in the rare instance it was required. We generally go through the roadside assistance program for whoever the maker is. These programs are 24 hours in most cases. In 18 years, we have never had to tell a customer that they would have to wait until business hours to get a key - Maybe we've been lucky. It may happen in instances, just because it's never happened to us doesn't mean it hasn't happened, particularly in instances where the technology is Sidewinder (as in Volkswagon, etc., which we do not do) but if it does, it is extremely rare, and considering the vast amount of keys made to autos by locksmiths in the course of a month or year, and the very few cars that require Pins, the number of occurrences are simply not that many.
So to state categorically that it is not true that locksmiths can make keys to any vehicle if they have the right equipment is misstating. Those couple of cars that require Pins, yes, we need the Pin to make the keys, but we can still make them. :)
Also, if I have it correctly, if the dealership is closed it is impossible to get the code at all. And watching a locksmith dismantle a steering column to get the code seems ridiculous.
Again, the different things that make up creating keys are getting mashed together. IF the situation requires a Pin code, and IF a locksmith is unable to attain a Pin, dismantling a steering column won't get it for them - The Pin is required for the computer that the locksmith carries to program the transponder keys - It's an additional security thing only, like an ATM Pin - It is NOT located on/in the vehicle. The only reason to partially dismantle a steering column is to get the key code, i.e. "cuts", and that applies ONLY to older GM model vehicles, which are not transponder or Pin equipped anyway. The "Key codes" are simply the cuts in the key, and have nothing whatsoever to do with transponder codes or Pin codes. At all. Most key codes are not in the steering column. 97% are in the door or the glove box. A knowledgeable locksmith can "read" the cuts without any dismantling whatsoever. Outside of the older GM models (approx. mid-60's to mid 90's), I can't even think of a car model that requires a steering column "dismantling" to get a key code. The GM models mentioned only require the top portion of the wheel be removed to see inside the lock, and again, none of them use transponder technology or Pin codes, so at no time would a knowledgeable locksmith dismantle a steering column because they couldn't get a Pin.
Even if the customer has the "cuts", in situations that require transponder programming it makes no difference in the price on new keys, as what the customer is paying for is the security built into their autos, and the difficulty, training, programming, equipment, and time needed to make the transponder keys work with the car, and to program out all the missing keys. Some more ethical locksmiths, ourselves included, will give a discount to a customer who has the cuts available to any car that does NOT require any transponder technology or programming (plain keys). Not all will or do. It takes seconds to get the cuts, whether a customer has them or not makes no essential difference in our job. Some locksmiths do push for legislation to make key codes available to customers, but in all honesty? It is sheer laziness. Not convenience, not for the customers benefit, nor to offer a discount. If some locksmiths can avoid having to use an EZReader (which takes practice) because the customer is providing the cuts, they'll jump on it. Saves 'em a second or two. :)
Auto Club is part of a group that is trying to establish some sort of 24 hour hotline to make that information available to car owners. AAA's effort at the state level with AB 714 didn't get out of committee but additional efforts are taking place on the national level. Now Auto Club has a vested interested since they are in the locksmith business...
Let me state very categorically, the Auto Club is not in the locksmith business. They contract locksmiths, they pay us to do locksmith work for them, but they are not in the locksmith business. They do not have locksmiths on staff, they are not a part of any locksmith association, and they use only contracted, outside, local locksmiths when locksmith services are required by members in any city.
...but they make a good point when they say, "We think that every automaker should give registered vehicle owners a secure way to access information that would allow them to obtain a replacement key."
They already can, and they do have a secure way. The local locksmith the Auto Club contracts is their point of access, and their in person proof of ownership of the vehicle. On the behalf of our own license, and state laws, and on the behalf of the Auto Club, we validate and record, in person, the customers right to have keys made to his/her vehicle. The customer can obtain a replacement key at will so long as they have the proper identification, they are present, and if, IF, a Pin code is required, that a locksmith validates that proof of ownership to the makers roadside assistance group to obtain the Pin.
I haven't experienced it, but I agree, if a dealer/maker refuses to give out Pins, or is going in that direction, then it needs be made a rights issue. Consumers have the right of choice. They have the right to get their keys made by any licensed person capable of doing the job, and for the price that is best for them. The dealers should not have the right to "lock" up (sorry, bad pun) the access to keys, leaving themselves the consumers only option.
But again, we're talking about 5 types of cars out of thousands that require a Pin. No dealer input is required to program transponder keys.
To sum up...
- A Pin code is required on very few makes/models/years.
- A Pin code can often be obtained by the makers roadside assistance group.
- A Pin code is in addition to, not in place of transponder programming, and is required on very few cars, and is NEVER required for non-transponder keyed cars.
- Transponder programming in and of itself requires specialized equipment and training, but does not require Pin codes or Key codes.
- Not all cars need transponder programming.
- Not all transponder programmed cars need Pins.
- "Key codes" and "transponder codes" require NO dealer input whatsoever.
- "Key codes", "Transponder codes", and "Pin codes" are three different things.
Please give a yell for any clarification!
We're happy to help...
Kim
We're not your normal locksmith company™... :)
