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Car Key Replacement Tips For Your Mini Cooper
The days of turning the key to operate your vehicle are slowly disappearing as technology improves. Instead, we have remote programming options. Even these can fail at times and require a professional help. A mobile locksmith who is trained and skilled is the best option to get fast replacement of your car key.
You can also purchase an additional key from a dealer, but it must be programed to your specific vehicle prior to activation. Locksmiths who have access to your VIN and registration or title can do this.
Keys that were stolen or lost are not found
The owners of Mini Cooper cars often choose Mini Coopers for their high gas mileage, low maintenance requirements and a high resale value. As with all cars, Mini Cooper keys can get lost or cease to function. If this happens, a reliable locksmith will come to your rescue.
Modern vehicles have remote key fobs that can be used to open doors and even start engines. They have an immobiliser feature that stops the vehicle from being driven without the correct key. If you lose the key, replacing it will cost you a lot.
Newer models of cars include an electronic chip inside their key fobs that talks to the transponder within your car's engine. The chip contains a code that is unique to the car you own. If you purchase a replacement, it will have to be programmed to your specific car which requires an authorized dealer or a locksmith with the appropriate tools.
It's expensive to replace your keys at the dealer, but this is often the only choice. A professional mobile locksmith can visit you and create a new key for less, especially if you have the registration or title of your car on hand to prove you are the owner.
Unlocking Your Car
You can ruin your day by discovering that you've locked your keys in your car. You could be waiting for someone to come and unlock the door or for a tow truck to arrive. There are a few smart tricks that you can employ to save time and money.
The first step is to locate an extremely long, thin rod. A clothes hanger made of wire is ideal, however you can also use a rod made from an incredibly strong strip of plastic or even a shoelace. It must be thin enough to fit through the door's seam and long enough to reach the lock button.
Tie a slip-knot in the string. The loop of the slip knot over the lock button. The string can be gently wiggled with the knot on top of the lock button in back-and forth motions until the knob inside the door opens.
This method won't work in every circumstance however it's a great option for a variety of cars. It's especially useful in the case of cars with the locking mechanism on the side of the door rather than at the top. If you have a knob located on the top of your door, you could also use this method to lock it if you own it. Be careful not to harm your vehicle in the process.
Resetting Your Key Fob
If you lose your key fob or swap the battery, you may need to reset it. Most of the time, this won't affect the functionality of your key, however if it doesn't work immediately it's possible that you have installed the new battery in the wrong way. It's a good idea bring the battery to the dealer to have it installed so that they can make sure it's compatible with your car.
You'll need to make sure you have a working key that you can use while trying to reset yours. Then, you'll need to sit in the driver's chair and set your new blank key in a nearby location. Push the small silver tab at the back of the fob to reveal the keys made from metal, and remove the batteries. Replace the battery and make sure that it's the correct way up (the negative end should be on the outside).
Once you've replaced the key battery switch the car on. Use the lock/unlock buttons on your fobs to program them into the car's computer. After all fobs have been programmed, return to your vehicle and lock it as normal. Turn off your ignition to complete the program. If you are waiting too long, your car may lose all its commands.
Replace the locks
Getting locked out of your car is an immense hassle, and it can be costly to replace the keys. Locksmiths will charge you more than $150 for an ignition key. The dealer will charge around $150. It is recommended to keep your spare keys in a safe location, or purchase a smartlock for your mini cooper to unlock it with your smartphone.
It is possible to replace the door lock actuator yourself however it requires some patience and hard work. The first step is to disassemble the old actuator. To do this, reach inside and pull it out. Remove the push rod that is attached to the manual lock. It's a rod made of black plastic on one end. mini cooper key programming goes into a clip in the actuator. This can be a challenge to locate and put back to its place, which is why it's best to keep the window closed while you work on this.
Then, remove the cover and remove the old battery. Install the new battery and then replace the cover. Install the actuator, making sure that the end of the control rod is inserted into the fitting on the top of the actuator. You may have to apply a little force to get the actuator to fit. After that your doors should then lock and unlock when you press the buttons on the key fob. If they don't, you will have to contact a licensed locksmith or dealership for help.