We’re always impressed with Car Key DIY. We see car keys held together with tape and glue, that they have managed to keep the car moving and the buttons working!
This article is to show you some examples of Car Key DIY. We’ll look at how our local customers have tried to fix their key, along with how with finished off with our repair.
What can got wrong with car keys?
For a start, if you have a flip key, then you already have a potential problem. The flip out blade causes problems as the keys get old as the mechanism gets worn.
With Peugeot and Citroen keys, the button to release the flip key gets wobbly. Sooner or later it so loose that it falls out!
We had the pleasure of seeing this Peugeot key, that has done too many presses. Nuts and bolts become a theme, this is the first example.
The nut and bolt was our customers answer to a wobbly blade. We’re impressed!
More nuts and bolts on this Fiat Ducato key, that also has a fair amount of tape to stop it falling apart. Although the key blade no longer folded down, the key worked fine, however eventually it needed a new car key battery. This car key DIY worked wonders, but eventually it needed a new case so that the key battery could be changed.
Car Key DIY - Buttons that fall off
Let’s move on to the key buttons. When you press the rubber button, it is held in place by a thin rubber join. The rubber is thin enough to let the button move up and down, but needs to be strong enough so that it doesn’t break. Eventually some of these buttons fall through, exposing the electroncs underneath.
The interesting thing is how our customers manage to deal with this, making temporary repairs. Here are some great examples of Car Key DIY in Lincoln.
Masking tape work well at the start, but broke after a few uses. I liked how they labelled the buttons correctly! The Car Key Man repair is a simple and cost effective at just £36 for a new case, battery, and any micro-switches that are needed.
This Vauxhall key, used on Insignia, Astra J, Meriva, Mokka and a few more, is our most popular repair. The customer kept the key going with some simple sellotape whilst she looked for someone to help. She kept the insides of the key protected from water, which saved the whole key being replaced. We re-cased it for £45 and it was as good as new.
More nuts and bolts
We can usually tell when an engineer or mechanic has fixed their key, as it involves nuts and bolts! This ford Transit key was a good example of keeping the key going. The key blade had become worn and started to rotate inside the head of the key. We used to see this a lot, but these keys are being phased out now.
We hope you’ll agree this was a great job, it worked fine, but caught on things in his pocket. This was an easy fix, we just cut out the chip and put it into a new case. Then cut it to suit the van, which saved him the programming cost.
Getting a grip with Car Key DIY
This key started the van! With a broken key blade held in grips, then the grips taped to the key, he managed to use the van for weeks. It’s impressive, but a real pain to use, and how do you put the key in your pocket?
Our fix for this break is very simple, we put into a new case, then cut the blade. We fix lots of these VW, Seat and Skoda keys. Click here to see how we do this
Bad car key DIY
Sometimes, by having a go at fixing a key, things just get worse. We see this a lot with customers trying to change rechargeable batteries. The battery is soldered on to the key so that it charges up as the car drives. The idea is really good, but unfortunately the batteries only last so long.
Although they’re not meant to be changed, we fix many of these and have great results. To get the battery out of the key without damaging the key is a bit of an art. The solder must be liquid when the battery is removed, or it wil rip off the delicate tracks off the key. This will ruin the whole key.
Here are a couple of examples of soldering gone badly wrong. In the photo above, the solder point has been ruined, and now appears black. The fine metal contacts on the green board have been torn off and the battery legs have nothing to make contact with. This key is now scrap.
In the photo below, some poor soldering has left small deposits of solder but they are not making a contact. Also, the pad that the leg joins to has started to lift which may cause the key to become unreliable.
You can easily see the difference in good and bad soldering. The the photo below, the pad has an even layer of solder that touches the leg of the key battery.
Rechargeable key batteries are where we see bad car key DIY. Unless you’re profecient in fine soldering, we recommend you leave these keys alone. If you need help with Land Rover Freelander keys, then click here to find out about our key repair service.
Where are you in Lincoln?
We’re really easy to find just off Tritton road. If you want to drop in and get some car key diy advice, then click here to find us on google maps. If you’re local just drop in, but if you are travelling any distance please call us first on 01522 514141.
Sometimes we’re out an call , so best to check we’re in the Car Key Man Workshop.