Tips for Maintaining Your Car Keys – And What to Do If Things Go Wrong.

Car keys may be small, but they play one of the biggest roles in your daily life. Whether you’re using a traditional key, a remote fob, or a smart proximity key, looking after it can save you from expensive repairs, stressful lockouts, and unnecessary inconvenience.

Here at Mr Car Keys, we see issues with keys that could have been prevented with some care and planning. So, we thought it would be a good idea to give some practical tips for maintaining your car keys and what to do if something goes wrong.

Keep Keys Clean and Dry

Moisture, dirt, and dust are some of the biggest enemies of modern car keys. Water damage can short out the electronics in a remote or transponder key, leaving you stranded. If your key gets wet, dry it immediately with a soft cloth and avoid using heat sources like a hairdryer, which may damage the internal circuit.

Another good idea, particularly if you access the beautiful beaches near us or enjoy getting out on a boat in our waterways, is to have an extra “surf” key cut. This is simply a metal key that will only open your car door. This will allow you to keep your keys safe in your car.

At Mr Car Keys, we can cut a spare key for you cheaply and easily for almost all cars, even for many of our smart key cars.

Avoid Excessive Weight on Your Keyring

It may be tempting to carry every key you own on one big keyring, but too much weight can wear down the ignition switch over time. A heavy bunch of keys bouncing while you drive puts constant strain on the ignition cylinder, leading to costly repairs. Keep your car key on a lighter keyring or use a detachable clip.

Ignition cylinders can be expensive and a hassle to repair, keeping you off the road. On average, we replace a few every week, most of which can be prevented.

Protect Keys from Physical Damage

Keys get dropped, knocked, and shoved in pockets every day. Over time, this can weaken the casing, bend the blade, or crack the buttons on a fob. Use a protective silicone or rubber key cover to shield it from impact. For flip keys, make sure the mechanism opens and closes smoothly—forcing it can snap the blade.

We often see keys with buttons that have been pierced or pushed in. Often times, it could be prevented by ensuring that buttons are not pushed with fingernails, but with the flat of the fingers.

Replace Batteries Before They Die

If your remote fob or smart key starts working intermittently or only at close range, it’s a sign the battery is running low. Replacing the battery early prevents unexpected lockouts and protects the internal circuitry from power surges. Most batteries are inexpensive and easy to swap, but always use the correct type for your key.

It is always worth remembering that most modern keys will be sending a signal out constantly, so even without use, the battery can flatten out over time. We always recommend swapping your keys regularly if you have more than one.

Have a Spare Key Made

Many drivers wait until they’ve lost their only key to call a locksmith. Unfortunately, replacing a lost key without a spare is much more complicated and expensive, especially for modern vehicles with immobilisers. Having a spare key made in advance saves time, stress, and money.

Here at Mr Car Keys, we often have conversations with our customers about the different processes used in creating a spare key using an existing key compared to the more difficult and expensive process of creating and programming new keys from scratch.

What to Do If Things Go Wrong

Even with the best care, keys can break, stop working, or get lost. Here’s what you can do:

• Key won’t turn in the ignition? Don’t force it—this can snap the key or damage the ignition cylinder. Call us on 0404621621 to check the problem.
• Key fob not working? First, try replacing the battery. If that doesn’t help, we can diagnose whether it’s a programming or circuit issue.
• Snapped or bent key? Don’t throw away the pieces—we can often cut a new key from the damaged one.
• Lost key? Contact us. We can cut and program a replacement on-site, saving you a trip to the dealership.

 

Looking after your car keys is simple, but it makes a big difference in preventing breakdowns and unnecessary expenses. By keeping your keys clean, light, and protected, and by having a spare handy, you’ll avoid most common problems. And if things do go wrong, remember that we are here to help. At Mr Car Keys, we have the tools and expertise to get you back on the road quickly. Call us on 0404621621 to see how we can help you.