​Transponder: noun
A device for receiving a radio signal and automatically transmitting a different signal
 
Most autos in today’s world have a transponder chip in the key—from Acuras to Volkswagens—depending on the year, make, and model. It’s hard to tell from key to key, especially the older ones. A locksmith can determine if your key has a transponder in a few ways. First, by looking up the year, make, and model from reference books. Second, some locksmiths have an electronic reader that they can place the key into. Third, most locksmiths can just take a look and know from experience. The proper method, without doubt, is the first mentioned—looking in the reference books. To determine if your key has a transponder, you should consult a locksmith or dealership.
 
Did you know that transponder keys are very sensitive to water, magnets, and age? The transponder is a chip about the size of a pinto bean. Transponder keys come in many forms: remote-headed to flip-keys to proximity keys…they can even look like a normal plastic-headed key. In fact, the plastic-headed key is the most common form of transponder key. It can look like a non-transponder because the chip is molded into the plastic head and a remote for the locks is separate.
*Note: transponder chips are part of a completely separate system on a vehicle than the remote (locking system) which means that they do not share/are not linked together through the vehicle’s computer.
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One last thing: if you only have one key to your vehicle, I would recommend getting copies made right away. With a working chip key, it will save you lots of money to get a copy made compared to losing the only key you have. I know, I’ve made many vehicle keys with and without chips because of lost keys. The cost difference will surprise you beyond belief. Check with your local dealer and locksmith to compare.

​Do you ever wonder why you can open a door handle with a credit card? It's because the door is not positioned correctly with the strike plate on the door frame. This could be due to a number of reasons. First, the strike plate might not be in the right place for the latch. In the photos to the left you will notice the latch and plate (the latch is the protruding object coming out of the door edge); the latch has two pieces--one bigger than the other. The smaller part of the latch is called the dead latch. If this is fully extended then the lock can be opened with a card, but if it is pushed in about 1/4" then you can't use a card. Test this by first pressing in the dead latch and then pushing on the latch (the bigger of the two)—the latch shouldn’t be able to move. Because of this, only the bigger part of the latch should go in the hole of the strike plate on the frame. This will leave the latch fully extended into the hole of the strike plate and the dead latch pressed in by the strike plate. If both go in then the lock can be opened by a card. Are you with me so far?

Another reason you might be able to open the door with a card is that the strike plate for the deadbolt is not positioned correctly on the frame. This is often the biggest issue with doors and can be easily fixed.  A third reason a door might not lock correctly is that the weather stripping is worn out and allows the door to close too far; when you lock the door you have to push or pull the door into position to be locked and may not get a good seal on the door. 

The last reason you might not be able to lock a door properly is mostly found in newly constructed homes where the builder has tried to square the frame and didn’t get it done quite right—it’s a matter of millimeters! This could also happen in older homes that have settled and the frame has shifted. The good news is that this is usually an easy fix with the correct knowledge and proper tools. Contact a locksmith to get a quote for checking all of your exterior doors and for proper installation of locks. They can also suggest any upgrades and new security ideas for your home.

I hope this helps you sleep better at night!