Do You Need an Automotive Locksmith?
You may have heard of regular locksmiths but did you know that there is a range of automotive services available too? If you’re one to lose your car keys or lock them in the boot, having a professional automotive locksmith team on standby is a sensible decision. With expert knowledge of advanced locking systems and how to keep your vehicle safe, you never know when you might need their help.
From opening locked cars without causing damage to replacing car keys, automotive locksmiths can save you a lot of money and stress when you find yourself in an emergency situation and unable to get into your vehicle.
If you’ve locked your keys in the car one too many times or your keys have been damaged and no longer work, it sounds like you need help from experts locksmiths. In this blog, we explain all you need to know about automotive locksmiths and their services. Read on to find out more.
What is an automotive locksmith?
Regular locksmiths are specialists in locking mechanisms such as residential front doors and commercial buildings whereas automotive locksmiths specialise in vehicles. If you’ve ever had that dreaded feeling when you feel for your keys in your pocket or bag and they are nowhere to be found, an automotive locksmith can help by gaining entry to your vehicle without causing damage as well as creating a new set of keys.
Vehicle locking systems are more complicated than doors as they often contain advanced electrical mechanisms that need to be properly programmed or wired. It’s always worth having a reliable locksmith in your phonebook so you know exactly who to call when you require that kind of assistance.
What services do automotive locksmiths offer?
There are plenty of vehicle-related problems that automotive locksmiths can help with – and almost every car users will require help with one of them. The business of everyday life can sometimes cause you to rush around and make silly mistakes like lock your keys in the car or drop them without noticing which is not ideal.
Here are some of the services that a professional automotive locksmith can provide:
Unlocking cars
Breaking windows and forcing open your car doors is not the best option and will cost you not only a lot of money in repairs but you will still need to replace your car keys. By hiring an automotive locksmith, they will know exactly what techniques are needed to access your car without causing unnecessary damage.
You should always be mindful of vehicles that auto-locks as you could end up locked out yourself! Whether you’re at home or in the middle of a car park, you’ll need expert help to safely get back into your vehicle.
Removing broken keys
It’s not uncommon for keys to snap off because they’re damaged simply because of a wrong turn. In this situation, fiddling with the key further can aggravate the situation and cause the key to get even more stuck. Although it’s usually not your fault when a key breaks in the lock, it can be very difficult to remove and could leave you stranded! So, what should you do?
Automotive locksmiths use a range of extraction techniques to remove broken keys from inside and outside of the vehicle – it’s not recommended that you try it yourself. If something goes wrong with the extraction process, it can cost you a lot more and do a lot more damage than removing a broken key from a car door. Leave it to the experts who can assess the situation and find the best course of action for your situation.
At Campbell & McGovern, we’re an accredited locksmith company that specialises in automotive services. If you’re based in Liverpool and in need of professional assistance for your vehicle locking system, our experienced automotive locksmiths are experts at gaining access to all models of cars and other types of vehicle.
Immobiliser resetting
The majority of all modern cars are created with an engine immobiliser system. This is a piece of electronic security technology that prevents car theft. However, sometimes things can go wrong with the system especially if you have a keyless fob. For example, you may have issues with locking and unlocking your vehicle, your engine might not start, your ignition may stop turning or your alarm could start acting up.
Automotive locksmiths can help with this by replacing your fobs and performing an immobiliser resetting service. If you notice telltale signs that something is not performing as it should or normally would, the best thing to do is call a professional team who can take a look.
Replacement car keys
According to a RAC survey,1 in 20 (5%), or almost 2 million drivers, admit they have lost their car keys for good and 6% of these say they have actually managed to do this twice. Does this sound familiar to you? If you don’t have a replacement set of car keys to hand then you’re going to have real trouble getting into your car so it’s always worth having a spare set of keys on standby or someone you can call to replace your only set.
Today, most cars have computers and ignition keys have chips, called transponders. The chips and computer communicate with each other and ensure that only authorised keys can start the engine so if a thief tries to hotwire the car it will not work. What this also means is that to get back in your new key must be programmed by a professional as it’s not as simple as just having a new one cut. An automotive locksmith can do this for you very easily.
Campbell & McGovern: Professional automotive locksmiths in Liverpool
At Campbell & McGovern, we’ve been providing professional automotive services since 1981. We understand how frustrating it can be when you lose your car keys or your central locking system stop working, but our experienced team are on hand to help. Our experts can usually be with you within an hour, no matter the time of day!
We’re proud to offer a range of services including key replacement, removal of broken keys, roadside assistance, central locking system repairs and more. When you hire us, you’ll receive top-quality customer service across Liverpool and the Wirral making us the best people for the job.
Solve your automotive issues today. Whatever your problem, call us on 0151 922 4085 (Liverpool) and 0151 203 5987 (Wirral) or get in touch for more information.
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