Your car key is easy to ignore until it stops working. A little care goes a long way, and it can save you a stressful morning and an expensive replacement. In this post, you’ll learn seven simple ways to look after your car key. You’ll also find out where to go if you ever need a duplicate.
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Keep your car key away from water
Water is one of the biggest threats to a modern key fob. It can damage the battery, circuit board and wiring inside. In fact, common key fob problems include dead batteries, water damage and the need for reprogramming after a knock.
- Take your keys out of your pockets before swimming or doing laundry.
- If your key gets wet, remove the battery and let everything dry before testing it.
- Avoid pressing the buttons while it’s wet.
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Protect it from drops and knocks
A hard fall can crack the casing or loosen the parts inside. However, a cracked shell doesn’t always mean the electronics have failed. If only the outer case is broken, a broken car key shell replacement can often give you a fresh housing without replacing the whole key.
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Don’t overload your keyring
A heavy bunch of keys puts constant strain on your ignition and on the key itself. Over time, this wears down both. Keep only the keys you need on your ring, and consider putting your car key on a separate, lighter ring.
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Avoid heat and direct sunlight
A dashboard on a hot day is not a good place for a car key. Heat can warp plastic and shorten battery life. Instead, keep it in a bag, a cup holder or a cool spot inside the car.
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Watch for a weak battery
Is your remote working only now and then? Do you have to stand closer to the car for it to respond? These are common signs that the battery is running low. Replace it early rather than waiting for it to die completely.
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Give your keys one key place at home
Most lost keys are simply misplaced. Choose one key place, such as a hook by the door or a small tray on a shelf, and return your keys there every time. This habit takes seconds, and it prevents most last-minute panics.
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Get a spare car key made early
This is the tip most people put off. Losing your only car key is far more costly and stressful than making a spare while the original still works. Store the spare somewhere safe at home, not in the car. Also, test it now and then, because an unused fob battery can run down over time.
Where to get a duplicate car key in Mount Druitt
Sometimes care isn’t enough. Keys get lost, stolen or worn out. When that happens, you need a local key place you can trust.
Tornooke Keys, at Westfield Shopping Centre in Mount Druitt, can help with duplicate car keys, car remotes and transponder keys, and flip keys, fobs and standard keys. Whether you want a spare or need a replacement, it’s worth asking before you’re stuck without one.
Need a spare car key? Talk to Tornooke Keys
Don’t wait until your only car key goes missing. Visit us at Shop 83A, Westfield Shopping Centre, Mount Druitt NSW 2770, or call +61 421 661 176 to ask about a duplicate. You can also explore our car remotes and transponder key services to see how we can help.
