Smart key & transponder programming in Burbank, CA
Programming is the electronic half of a car key: registering a transponder chip or smart fob so the vehicle accepts it. We do it at your vehicle for many makes, and when a key stops working we check whether the key or the car is at fault before replacing anything.
What key programming does
Most vehicles from the late 1990s on have an immobilizer: a control system that only lets the engine run when it detects a key it has been told to trust. Programming is the process of adding a key to that trusted list.
For a transponder key, a chip in the key head is read by an antenna ring around the ignition. For a smart or proximity key, the fob talks to antennas in the cabin and the car allows push-button start when the fob is inside. In both cases, registration uses diagnostic equipment connected to the vehicle, and the steps depend on make, model, year and security architecture.
Transponder keys
The blade is cut to turn the ignition and the chip is registered to the immobilizer. Adding a spare is usually simpler when a working key is present.
Smart keys and proximity fobs
The fob is registered to the passive entry and start system. Fob frequency, button layout and part number have to match the vehicle, so we confirm the correct fob by VIN.
Push-to-start vehicles
Push-button start relies entirely on the fob being detected. A weak fob battery, a damaged fob, or a fault in the vehicle can all produce the same symptom.
Why programming is separate from cutting a blade
A correctly cut blade turns the lock. It does not tell the car the key is allowed. That is why a copied key can unlock the door and still leave the engine immobilized.
If you need a whole new key made, start with car key replacement. If the key is correct but the car refuses it, the issue may be on the vehicle side; see immobilizer reset & reprogramming.
When people call for programming
- A new or used smart key was bought separately and needs registering.
- The dashboard shows “key not detected” or similar with the fob inside.
- A push-to-start car will not start even though the fob is present.
- A transponder key turns the ignition, but the engine cranks and stops or doesn’t crank at all.
- You want an extra key added while you still have a working one.
Checking the cause before replacing a key
A key that suddenly stops working is not always a bad key. Fob batteries, damaged antennas in the car, a low vehicle battery, or a lost registration can each produce the same warning. We test the key and read the vehicle’s response first, so you are not paying for a fob you didn’t need.
If the car cranks but won’t start and the key seems fine, the cause may not be a key issue at all. No-start car diagnostics covers that.
Guides for specific programming problems
Key fob not detected
The car says it can’t find the key, even though it’s in the cabin. Common causes and what we check.
Key fob not detectedPush start not working
Pressing the start button does nothing or the car won’t go into run mode with the fob present.
Push start not workingImmobilizer and authorization issues
When the vehicle stops trusting keys it previously accepted.
Immobilizer reset & reprogrammingWhat to expect
Send vehicle and key details
VIN, a photo of the key or fob, and what the car is doing.
Confirm the method
We confirm which programming method your vehicle uses and whether it can be done on site, then quote.
Test, program, verify
At the vehicle we test the key and the car, register the key, and confirm start and remote functions before leaving.
Programming depends on the vehicle
Frequently asked questions
Can you program a fob I bought online?
Sometimes. The fob has to match the vehicle’s frequency and part number and must not already be locked to another car. Send us a photo and the part number before buying if you can.
How many keys can a car hold?
It varies by vehicle. Many allow several keys; some have a fixed limit. We check during programming.
Will my existing keys stop working?
On some vehicles, programming erases all keys and re-adds the ones present, so bring every key you want to keep working.
Do you work on every make?
No mobile locksmith covers every vehicle. We confirm from your VIN whether yours can be programmed on site before we dispatch.
Where we program keys
Most programming calls come from Burbank and nearby Pasadena and Valley Glen. We program at the vehicle, which matters for push-to-start cars that can’t be driven without a working fob. For other parts of Los Angeles County, call to check availability.
Related automotive services
Adding a key that works alongside your current key
A current registration or title and matching government-issued photo identification must be verified before automotive key, lock, or immobilizer service is performed.
Get a programming quote
Call
Describe what the key and car are doing.
Text
Send your VIN and a photo of the key or fob.