Calls Concerning Broken Key Shells at Barker’s Lock Service, Apex, NC

At Barker’s Lock Service I receive phone calls from customers in the Raleigh, Wake County, and surrounding areas on a fairly regular basis inquiring about replacing their broken remote head keys.

There are several vehicle manufacturers that either currently use a remote head key design or have in the past. This type of key has a fixed blade that is used to operate the vehicle’s locks. It has a plastic head that contains a remote keyless entry transmitter integrated into it.

Because these keys have the remote integrated into the head, and it takes up most of the available area, it makes the attachment point of the key blade to the plastic head necessarily small. The outer shell is thin and usually larger than a non-remote head key.

Those combined factors allow the user to apply higher torque stresses to these keys in the critical area where the key blade attaches to the plastic head. The result is a key that fails prematurely.

If you have been down this road and contacted one of the local dealers for a replacement, you know how expensive it can be to have them replace one of these keys.

Many times the customer is told that purchasing a brand new remote head key from the dealer is their only option and they aren’t even aware that there are multiple and less expensive options.

At Barker’s Lock Service, we have a less expensive solution to get you back on the road. We can replace the broken shell using your existing remote transmitter, assuming it is still functional. I keep shells for most popular applications in stock.

I’ll cut the new key blade to your vehicle’s code and place your remote transmitter into the shell. Depending on the type of key, I will reuse your transponder chip if possible. If not, I will program the new transponder into the vehicle. Regardless, the final cost of the job is a fraction of what you would be required to pay at the dealership.

The following photos show three ‘before and after’ examples of the most common broken remote head keys that I see. The before photos show the broken key and the after photos show the same remote keyless entry transmitters installed in a new key shell, ready to cut to your vehicle’s code.

Whether you are in Raleigh, Cary, Garner, Morrisville, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Clayton, Wake Forest, Chapel Hill, Durham, or any part of Wake and surrounding counties, make the call to Barker’s Lock Service and I will take care of your automotive lock and key needs.

Thank you for reading and your interest. Call me at Barker’s Lock Service and I’ll happily guide and inform you of all your options, even if it means that I don’t get your business this time. I want you, the customer to be best served.

Jay Barker, CAL

Barker’s Lock Service

Apex, NC

919-467-8212