Car Key Replacement Tips For Your Mini Cooper

The days of turning the key to operate your vehicle are becoming less common as technology improves. Instead, we have remote programming options. Even these are susceptible to fail and require assistance from a professional. To replace your car keys quickly, a professional mobile locksmith is the best choice.

You can purchase an additional key from a dealer, however it will need to be programed to your specific vehicle before activation. Locksmiths with access to your VIN and registration or title can do this.

Keys lost or stolen

mini key Cooper owners choose their Mini Coopers because of their high resale values as well as their low maintenance requirements and good gas mileage. Like any other car Mini Cooper keys may get lost or cease to function. If this happens, a reputable locksmith will assist you.

Modern vehicles have remote key fobs which can be used to open doors and even start engines. The fobs come with an immobiliser system that prevents your vehicle from being driven without the right key. It's costly to replace it when you lose it.

Key fobs for newer models of cars include an electronic chip that communicates with the transponder inside the engine of your car. The chip has a unique code that is unique to the car you own. If you receive a replacement chip, it must be programmed to the specific car and requires an authorized dealer or a locksmith with the appropriate tools.

A replacement of your keys at a dealer can be costly but it's usually the only alternative. A mobile locksmith can give you a key for an affordable price in particular if your registration or title is on hand as proof that you own the vehicle.

Unlocking Your Car

The terrifying realization that you locked your keys in your car could ruin your day and leave you stuck waiting for an emergency tow truck or friend to unlock the door for you. There are some clever techniques that you can employ to save time and money.

The first step is to locate a thin, workshop long rod. A wire clothes hanger is ideal, however you might also consider a rod made from a sturdy strip of plastic or even a shoelace. It must be thin enough to pass through the door seam, and long enough to reach the lock button.

Make a slip knot in the string (a sliding knot that cinches tightly when pulled). The loop from the slip knot onto the lock button. Gently wiggle the string with the knot on top of the lock button in back-and forth motions until the knob inside the door opens.

This trick may not work in all situations however it's a great option for many cars. It's especially useful in the case of cars with the locking mechanism located on the side of the door, instead of at the top. If you have a knob located on the top of your door, you can also make use of this method if you have it. Be careful not to cause damage to the car.

Resetting Your Key Fob

If you lose your key fob or replace the battery, you might need to reset it. This won't usually affect the function of the key, however it's possible that you've installed the battery in a wrong way. It's best to bring the battery to the dealer for installation so that they can make sure it's in sync with your car.

You'll need to ensure you have a working key in your possession while you're trying to reset yours. You should sit in the driver's chair and put your blank key in a nearby location. Then, push the small silver tab on the back of your key fob and take out the key made of metal and then take the battery from its position. Replace the battery with a new one, and make sure it's on the right side (the negative side is on the outside of the fob).

Once you've replaced the new key battery switch the car on. Use the lock/unlock buttons on your fobs in order to programme them into the vehicle's computer. Once all fobs have been programmed, you can return to your vehicle and lock it as normal. Make sure that you shut off the ignition following this to end the programming process in case you are waiting too long between actions could cause your car to wipe out all its commands.

Replacing the Locks

Being locked out of your vehicle is quite a problem, and it could be costly to replace keys. The dealer will charge about $150 for a replacement key fob, while locksmiths can charge more. The best way to prevent this is to keep your spare key in a safe place, or to purchase a smart lock for your mini key replacement cooper so that you can unlock it using your mobile.

It is possible to change the door lock actuator yourself, but it takes a bit of patience and work. The first step is to take out the old actuator. To accomplish this, you need to reach inside and pull it out. Take off the rod that's connected to the manual lock. It's a long rod with black plastic on one end. The rod connects to the actuator's clip. This part is difficult to locate and put back into place, so it's a good idea keep the window open while working on this.

Next, take off the cover from the battery and then remove the old battery. Then, you can install the new battery and replace the cover. Finally, put the actuator back in place by making sure that the star end of the control rod fits into the fitting on top of the actuator. This is a tight fitting and you may have to use some force to move it into place. After doing this, your doors should lock and unlock when you press the buttons on the key fob. If they don't you'll have to contact a locksmith or a dealer for assistance.