Camper Locks and Latches – How Safe is Your RV?
Your RV or camping trailer is your home-away-from-home and as such, it deserves the same sort of protection you give your house. Stop and think about everything you have invested in it—personal belonging, furnishings, the camper itself—and you begin to realize what a tempting target it could be. Whether at home or on the road, […]
Car Door Actuators Part 2: Replacing an Actuator
A worn-out lock actuator means going retro and opening and locking your door with a key. That’s a nuisance, not to mention adding wear and stress to you key and risking a real problem. Sooner or later you’ll want that actuator replaced…or maybe you want to add one to a vehicle that never had one […]
Car Door Actuators Part 1: What Are they and How Do they Work?
It’s rare to find a car these days without an automatic locking device of one sort or another. And whether they operate with a keypad, a fob, or some other gadget, they all have one thing in common—the lock actuator. You’ve probably never seen a door lock actuator because they’re buried inside your car door […]
Lock Cylinder Replacement-Part 2: Car Trunks
Trunk and tailgate locks are subject to wear, damage and malfunction. Replacing them is similar to replacing a door lock. Yet they’re built differently. Standard Trunk Locks Trunk locks generally have a dual catch called a trip-lock (also found on most car doors and hoods), an emergency release in case a child or a movie […]
Cylinder Replacement Part 1: Leave Car Door Lock Repair to the Pros
Whether it’s from wear and tear or damage due to an attempted break-in, lock cylinders can sometimes fail and need replacing. When it’s time for a new cylinder, there are important factors to consider—whether you’ve called a professional locksmith or if you’re tackling this as a DIY project. The Right Fit Aftermarket cylinders come in […]
Trunk Unlocking Tips
As “Oh, no!” moments go, locking your keys in the trunk can rank right up there. Unlike your car doors, trunks are designed to be nearly impregnable. There’s no place to slip in a coat hanger or slim-Jim, and even if there were, the locking mechanism can’t be grabbed and pulled to open. Are you […]
VATS/PASS Keys Part 2: Ignition Lock Repair & Replacement
Unless you’re driving a classic or a Formula One car, chances are your vehicle has some sort of anti-theft system. If it’s a GM car made between 1986 and 2003, it may have a VATS or PASS ignition. These acronyms stand for Vehicle Anti-Theft System and Personal Automotive Security System. When your anti-theft system breaks […]
VATS/PASS Keys Part 1: Key Decoding
Advancing technology makes it harder and harder for thieves to steal your car. That’s good. It also makes it more complicated to replace or duplicate keys. And that can be bad if you don’t know how those systems work. Embedded chip keys are commonplace and laser-cut “sidewinder” keys are becoming more popular. Another type of […]
Broken Car Key Extraction
Although it’s less common with newer, thicker laser-cut keys, car keys can still get stuck or broken in your ignition or door locks. When that happens to you, here are some things you can try. Put the Ignition in a Neutral Position If it’s your ignition key that’s the problem, try to rotate the lock […]
Transponder and Chip Key Programming
Transponder chips were introduced for car keys in the 1980s as an anti-theft measure and are standard on nearly all cars and trucks manufactured since the mid- to late 90s. They emit a small radio signal to the car’s ignition system that has to be recognized in order for it to work. Originally paired with […]
