Car Key Replacement Tips For Your Mini Cooper
The days of turning the key to operate your vehicle are fading away as technology advances. We now have remote programming. Even these can fail and require assistance from a professional. A locksmith with experience is the best choice for quick replacement of your car keys.
You can also purchase an extra key from a dealer. However it will require programming for your specific vehicle prior activation. This is only done by locksmiths with access to your VIN and registration or title.
Keys lost or stolen
The owners of Mini Cooper cars often choose Mini Coopers for their high gas mileage, low maintenance needs and a high resale price. Similar to other cars Mini Cooper keys could be lost or stop working. If this happens, a reputable locksmith can assist you.
Modern vehicles have remote key fobs that can be used to unlock doors and start engines. They have an immobiliser system which prevents your vehicle from being driven without the correct key. It's costly to replace it the fob if it is lost.
Newer car models have an electronic chip embedded in the key fobs, which communicates to the transponder within the engine of your car. The chip has a unique code that is unique to your car. If you require an upgrade chip, it needs to be programmed for your vehicle through an authorized dealer or a locksmith who has the appropriate tools.
The process of replacing your keys at a dealership could be expensive, but it is often the only option. A professional locksmith on mobile can visit you and design a new key for lower, especially if have your car's registration or title in hand to prove you are the owner.
Unlocking Your Car
The horrible realization that you've locked the keys to your car can make your day miserable and leave you waiting for an emergency tow truck or friend to unlock the door for you. There are some clever tricks that you can employ to save time and money.
The first step is to locate a thin, long rod. A wire clothes hanger is ideal, but you might also consider an iron rod made of an incredibly strong strip of plastic or even a shoelace. It must be thin enough that it can fit through the door's seam and long enough to reach the lock button.
Make a slip knot in the string (a sliding knot that cinches tightly when pulled). Place the loop from the slip knot over the button for the lock. Use your fingers to gently move the string around the knot over the lock button using back-and-forth motions until the knob inside the door opens.
This trick isn't suitable for every circumstance, but it's a good option for many cars. It's particularly helpful when your car has the locking mechanism that is located on the side of the door, rather than at the top. If your car does have a knob at the top of the door, this method might assist you if you have the appropriate tool at hand. Be sure not to cause damage to your vehicle during the process.
Resetting Your Key Fob
If you lose your key fob or swap the battery, you might require a reset. mini cooper s replacement key 's not likely to alter the functionality of your key, however when it doesn't function immediately there's a chance that you have installed the new battery in a wrong way. You should bring the new battery to the dealership to be installed to confirm that it's a suitable one for your car.
You'll need you have another key that you can use while trying to reset yours. Then, sit in the driver's seat, and set the new blank key in a location close to the car. Then, push the small silver tab on the back of your key fob to pull out the metal key then remove the battery from its position. Replace the battery and make sure that it is the right way up (the negative end should be on the outside).
After you've replaced the key battery, turn the car on. Press the locks and unlock buttons on all of your fobs to programme them using the vehicle's computer. Once all fobs are programmed, return to your vehicle and lock it in the same way as usual. Be sure to shut off the ignition afterward to stop the program because if you wait too long between actions could cause your car to erase all its commands.
Replacing the Locks
It's not easy to get locked out of your vehicle and it can be costly to replace keys. Locksmiths may charge more than $150 for an ignition key. The dealer will charge about $150. It is best to keep your spare keys in a secure location or buy a smartlock for your mini cooper to unlock it with your phone.
Replacing the door lock actuator can be a DIY project for most people however, it will require a little bit of work and patience. The first step is removing the old actuator. To do this, reach inside and remove it. Take off the rod that's attached to the manual lock. It's a long rod with black plastic on one end. The rod is connected to an actuator's clip. It isn't easy to locate and then put back in its place which is why it is advised to keep the windows rolled down while you work on it.
Next, remove the cover from the battery and then remove the old battery. Then install the new battery and replace the cover. Finally, put the actuator back into position and ensure that the top end of the control rod is in the fitting at the top of the actuator. It may be necessary to apply some force to move the actuator in position. After this, your doors should lock and unlock when you press the buttons on the key fob. If they don't then you'll need to call a locksmith or a dealer for assistance.