Hear from Our Customers
Here’s what actually matters: you’re not stranded, you’re not late, and you didn’t spend $400 at a dealership for something that costs half that.
Your new key fob works exactly like the original. It locks your doors, pops your trunk, starts your ignition – whatever your car needs. The programming syncs perfectly with your vehicle’s computer system, and the cut is precise. You test it before we leave.
Most jobs in Marcus Hook take 30 minutes or less once we arrive. No appointment needed days in advance. No tow truck to the dealer. You call, we come, you drive away. That’s the difference between a mobile locksmith and the dealership runaround.
The McCausland family has been cutting keys and solving lock problems since the late 1800s. Tom McCausland and his daughter Chrissy run the operation now – fourth generation, same commitment to showing up fast and doing the work right.
We’re the largest locksmith company in the Delaware Valley, which means we’ve got the equipment, the inventory, and the experience to handle your car key fob replacement without guessing. Our storefront sits right in Prospect Park, but we bring the full shop to you when you need mobile service in Marcus Hook.
Delaware County residents have been calling us for over 140 years because we don’t overcharge, we don’t overcomplicate, and we actually answer the phone. Your car key problem gets solved today, not eventually.
You call us and tell us what happened – lost key fob, broken key fob, need a spare, whatever the situation is. We ask your vehicle make, model, and year so we know what equipment to bring.
We drive to wherever you are in Marcus Hook. Could be your driveway, your workplace parking lot, the grocery store – doesn’t matter. Our mobile unit carries the key cutting equipment and programming tools needed for most vehicle makes and models.
Once we arrive, we verify your vehicle ownership, then get to work. If your key fob needs cutting, we cut it. If it needs programming, we connect to your car’s computer system and program the new fob to communicate with your vehicle’s security system. The whole process typically takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Before we leave, you test the new key fob yourself. Lock the doors, unlock them, start the car if it’s a push-to-start system. Everything needs to work exactly right, and you confirm that before we pack up.
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You get a replacement key fob that matches your vehicle’s specifications – either OEM or quality aftermarket, depending on your car and your budget. We cut the key blade if your fob has one. We program the fob to sync with your car’s computer system using professional diagnostic equipment.
The programming covers everything your original key fob did: remote locking and unlocking, trunk release, panic button, remote start if your vehicle has it, push-to-start functionality for newer models. We’re not leaving you with partial functionality.
Marcus Hook residents deal with the same car key problems everyone else does – lost fobs, dead key fob batteries that won’t reprogram, broken fobs from drops or water damage, stolen keys that need deactivating. We handle all of it. If you’ve got an older vehicle with a basic remote or a 2024 model with a smart key system, we’ve got the tools and the training.
The job includes on-site testing and a clear explanation of what we did. You’re not getting a rushed job from someone who showed up in an unmarked van. You’re getting a licensed, insured locksmith with 140 years of family reputation behind the work.
The cost depends on your vehicle and what type of key fob you need. Basic key fob programming typically runs $50 to $100. Key-and-fob combos that include cutting and programming usually cost $150 to $250. Smart keys with push-to-start and proximity features can run $220 to $500 because they require more complex programming.
Compare that to dealership pricing, which starts around $150 and goes up to $600 for the same work. We’re usually 50% less than what you’d pay at a dealer, sometimes more. The reason is simple: dealerships mark everything up because they can. We’re a local locksmith operation without the overhead of a car dealership.
The final price also depends on whether you need a spare key fob or you’re replacing a lost one. If you’ve still got a working fob, we can sometimes clone it, which costs less than programming from scratch. If your fob just needs a new key fob battery, that’s a quick fix that costs almost nothing. We give you a clear estimate before starting any work, so you know exactly what you’re paying.
We program key fobs for the vast majority of vehicles on the road – Ford, Toyota, Chevy, Honda, Nissan, Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia, and most other common makes. Our equipment handles everything from older models with basic transponder keys to newer vehicles with smart key systems and push-to-start ignition.
Some luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and high-end models require specialized equipment and manufacturer-specific programming protocols. We can handle many of these, but the cost is higher because the technology is more complex and the programming requires additional steps. If you’ve got a luxury vehicle, call us first so we can confirm we’ve got the right equipment for your specific model.
The key fob programming process involves connecting to your vehicle’s onboard computer system and syncing the new fob’s transponder chip with your car’s security system. Modern vehicles use rolling code technology, which means each time you use the fob, it generates a new code. That’s why professional programming equipment is necessary – you can’t just swap batteries and hope it works. We’ve got the diagnostic tools to do this correctly for most makes and models.
Most car key fob replacements take 20 to 30 minutes once we arrive at your location in Marcus Hook. That includes cutting the key blade if needed, programming the fob to your vehicle’s computer system, and testing everything to make sure it works.
Some vehicles take a bit longer if they’ve got more complex security systems or if we need to deactivate old key fobs from the system. High-security vehicles and some newer smart key systems might take 45 minutes to an hour. We’ll let you know upfront if your vehicle falls into that category.
The bigger time factor is usually how fast we can get to you. We aim for 20 to 30 minute response times in Marcus Hook and the surrounding Delaware County area, but it depends on where we’re coming from and what time of day you call. If you’re in an emergency situation – locked out, stranded, late for work – we prioritize those calls. For non-emergency key fob replacement, like getting a spare made, we can usually schedule something same-day or next-day that works with your schedule.
Yes, and a dead key fob battery is one of the simplest fixes we do. Most key fob batteries cost under $10 and take just a few minutes to replace. We carry common battery types in our mobile units, so if that’s all you need, we can swap it out on the spot.
The catch is that sometimes a dead battery isn’t the only problem. If your key fob battery has been dead for a while, some vehicles lose the programming sync between the fob and the car’s computer. In that case, replacing the battery solves part of the problem, but we still need to reprogram the fob to get it working again. That’s more involved than a simple battery swap, but we can handle it right there.
If your key fob isn’t responding and you’re not sure whether it’s the battery or something else, we can diagnose it when we arrive. Could be a dead battery, could be damaged circuitry inside the fob, could be a programming issue. We’ve seen all of it. The good news is that even if the fob itself is damaged beyond repair, we can get you a replacement and have it programmed the same visit. You’re not stuck waiting days for parts to arrive.
No, we come to you. That’s the whole point of mobile locksmith service. We’ve got fully equipped vans that carry key cutting machines, programming equipment, and inventory for most common vehicle makes and models. Whether you’re at home in Marcus Hook, at work in Chester, or stranded in a parking lot, we drive to your location and do the work on-site.
The only time you might come to our Prospect Park storefront is if you want to browse security products, need a simple key copy that doesn’t require programming, or prefer to drop by instead of waiting for mobile service. But for car key fob replacement and programming, mobile service is usually faster and more convenient because you don’t have to arrange transportation when you don’t have a working key.
We do need your vehicle present for the programming work because we have to connect our diagnostic equipment to your car’s computer system. That’s how we sync the new key fob with your vehicle’s security features. But you don’t have to drive anywhere – we bring everything to wherever your car is parked. Just make sure you’ve got your vehicle registration or title with you so we can verify ownership before we start the work.
Yes. When we program a replacement key fob, it performs all the same functions as your original – remote locking and unlocking, trunk release, panic alarm, remote start if your vehicle has it, and push-to-start ignition for newer models. The programming process syncs the new fob completely with your car’s computer system, so there’s no difference in functionality.
We use either OEM (original equipment manufacturer) key fobs that match what came with your car, or high-quality aftermarket fobs that meet the same specifications. OEM fobs are pricier but guaranteed to match your original exactly. Aftermarket fobs cost less and work just as well for most vehicles, especially older models. We’ll explain your options based on your vehicle and your budget.
The programming itself is what makes everything work. Modern key fobs use transponder chips and rolling code technology to communicate with your vehicle’s security system. Each time you press a button, the fob sends an encrypted signal that your car recognizes. We use professional diagnostic equipment to program that communication correctly, which is why your new key fob works seamlessly. You test everything before we leave – if something doesn’t work right, we fix it on the spot. You’re not paying for a key fob that only half-works.
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