Hear from Our Customers
When your key fob stops working, you’re stuck. Can’t unlock your doors, can’t start your car, can’t get to work or pick up the kids. The dealership wants $300-$600 and tells you to wait three days for the part to arrive.
Here’s what actually happens when you call us: you get a replacement key fob programmed to your vehicle’s security system, usually the same day, for significantly less than dealership pricing. No ordering parts. No waiting. No runaround.
You drive away with a fully functional key fob that locks, unlocks, and starts your car exactly like the original. That’s it. That’s what you actually need, and that’s what we do.
We’ve been serving Chester and Delaware County since the late 1800s. Tom McCausland and his daughter Chrissy run the largest locksmith operation in the Delaware Valley from our Prospect Park storefront, continuing a family tradition that goes back over 140 years.
When you’ve been doing this since before cars even had keys, you learn a thing or two. We’ve handled everything from simple key fob battery replacements to complex smart key programming for the newest vehicles on the road. We use OEM parts, professional diagnostic equipment, and the kind of expertise you only get from generations of hands-on work.
Chester drivers know they can count on us because we’re not going anywhere. We’re local, we’re established, and we show up when we say we will.
Start by contacting us and explaining what’s happening with your key fob. Lost it? Buttons don’t work? Won’t start the car? We ask about your vehicle’s make, model, and year so we know exactly what you need.
Dead batteries are the simplest fix—we can usually replace those in minutes for about ten bucks. Full replacements require sourcing the correct key fob for your specific vehicle. Our technicians use professional diagnostic equipment to program the new fob to communicate with your car’s security system. This involves connecting to your vehicle’s computer through the OBD port and syncing the unique identification code so your car recognizes the new fob.
Programming typically takes 20-30 minutes once we have the right fob. We test everything—lock, unlock, trunk release, panic button, remote start if your vehicle has it—to make sure it all works correctly. Then you’re done. You’ve got a working key fob and you’re back on the road.
Ready to get started?
Professional car key fob replacement means you get a fob that actually works with your vehicle’s specific security system. We handle all types: basic remote fobs, transponder keys with chips, smart keys for push-button start, and proximity fobs that unlock when you walk up to your car.
Chester drivers deal with the same key fob problems everyone else does. Fobs get dropped in parking lots outside the Wawa on 9th Street, left in pockets that go through the wash, or just stop working after years of use. The buttons wear out. The internal transmitter fails. The battery dies and you don’t realize it until you’re standing in the rain trying to unlock your car.
Here’s what matters for Chester specifically: we’re close. Our Prospect Park location is minutes away, and our mobile fleet can reach most Delaware County locations in 20-30 minutes. You’re not waiting days for a dealership appointment or paying premium prices because you’re in a bind. We handle key fob replacements for everything from older economy cars to newer luxury vehicles, and we stock the diagnostic equipment to program them all correctly. You get OEM-quality parts that will last, professional programming that syncs properly the first time, and fair pricing that doesn’t punish you for needing help.
The cost depends on your vehicle and the type of key fob you need. Basic key fob replacements typically run $75-$150. Transponder keys with chips cost $100-$250. Smart keys and proximity fobs for push-button start vehicles range from $200-$350.
Compare that to dealership pricing, which often hits $300-$600 for the same service. Dealerships mark up both the parts and the labor, and they know you don’t have many options when you need your car working. We charge fair prices because we’re a local business that depends on repeat customers and referrals, not one-time emergency markups.
The final price includes the replacement fob and the programming service. If you just need a battery replacement, that’s usually around $10. We’ll give you an accurate quote once we know your vehicle’s make, model, and year, so there are no surprises when the work is done.
Yes, we can program a new key fob even if you’ve completely lost the original. This is one of the most common situations we handle—someone loses their only fob or it gets stolen, and they need a replacement programmed from scratch.
We use professional diagnostic equipment that communicates directly with your vehicle’s computer system. This allows us to program a new fob to your car’s security system without needing the original fob present. The process involves accessing your vehicle’s OBD port and using specialized tools to sync the new fob’s unique identification code with your car.
Some newer vehicles with advanced security systems may require additional steps or verification of ownership, which is standard security protocol. We’ll let you know upfront what’s needed for your specific vehicle. Most key fob programming jobs are completed in 20-30 minutes once we have the correct replacement fob for your make and model.
Most key fob programming takes 20-30 minutes once we have the correct replacement fob for your vehicle. That’s the actual hands-on time to connect our diagnostic equipment, sync the fob to your car’s computer system, and test all the functions.
The total time depends on whether we have the fob in stock or need to source it. For common makes and models, we often have what you need ready to go. For less common vehicles or newer models with specialized fobs, we might need to order the part, but we’ll tell you the timeline upfront.
Compare this to dealership service, where you’re often looking at days or even a week. They schedule you for an appointment, order the part, wait for it to arrive, then schedule you again to come back for the actual programming. We streamline the whole process because we understand you need your car working today, not whenever it’s convenient for the dealership’s parts department.
Yes, we work on all vehicle makes and models, from economy cars to luxury vehicles. Our diagnostic equipment and programming tools cover everything from older vehicles with basic remote fobs to the newest models with smart keys and push-button start systems.
This includes domestic brands like Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and Jeep, as well as imports like Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia. We also handle luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, and Audi, which often have more complex security systems and higher-end key fobs.
Each vehicle manufacturer uses different security protocols and programming procedures. We stay current with the latest automotive security technology and maintain the specialized equipment needed to program fobs correctly across all these different systems. If you have an unusual or very new model, we’ll verify compatibility before starting work, but in over 140 years of locksmithing, we’ve learned how to handle just about everything that rolls through Chester.
Yes, significantly cheaper in most cases. Dealerships typically charge $300-$600 for key fob replacement and programming. We provide the same service for $75-$350 depending on your vehicle, which means you’re often saving $200-$300 or more.
Dealerships mark up both the parts and the labor because they can. They know when your key fob stops working, you’re stuck, and they position themselves as the only “official” option. But the reality is that professional locksmiths use the same OEM-quality parts and the same type of diagnostic programming equipment. We just charge fair prices instead of dealership premiums.
The other advantage is time. Dealerships often make you wait days for an appointment and then more days for parts to arrive. We typically handle key fob replacements the same day. You save money and you save time, which matters when you need your car for work, family obligations, or just getting around Chester and Delaware County.
Absolutely. Key fob battery replacement is one of the quickest, most affordable fixes we do. Most key fob batteries cost around $10, and we can replace them in just a few minutes. If your fob’s buttons are getting less responsive or your car isn’t recognizing the fob from as far away as it used to, a dying battery is usually the culprit.
Before you assume you need a whole new key fob, it’s worth checking the battery first. We can test it and let you know if a simple battery swap will solve your problem. If the fob still doesn’t work after a fresh battery, then we know it’s a deeper issue with the internal transmitter or circuitry, and we can move forward with a full replacement.
Chester drivers often don’t realize how easy battery replacement is. You don’t need to go to the dealership and you don’t need to pay diagnostic fees. Swing by our Prospect Park location or we can handle it during a mobile service call. Fresh battery, working fob, ten bucks, five minutes. That’s it.
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