Transponder Key Programming

Transponder systems entered the US market widely in the second half of the 1990s and were near-universal by the mid-2000s. The chip family, the programming route and whether an on-site procedure exists all depend on the platform and the model year.

Have: vehicle year, make and model; whether the engine cranks but will not stay running; how many working keys exist; whether the security or immobiliser light stays on or flashes. Proof of identity and vehicle ownership or written authorisation is required before any key is originated or programmed.

A transponder key carries a passive chip in its head. When the key is turned, the vehicle's immobiliser sends a challenge, the chip answers, and the engine is permitted to start. A key cut correctly but not programmed will turn the ignition and crank the engine without allowing it to run — which is the classic sign that the mechanical side is right and the electronic side is not.

It is offered as mobile service across Hampton Roads, Tidewater, the Peninsula, Western Tidewater, the regional airports and Virginia's Eastern Shore. Whether a specific vehicle is eligible is confirmed before a job is treated as scheduled.

For eligible jobs, mobile service can be coordinated at many accessible locations when the owner or authorized party can approve service and site rules allow access.