Hear from Our Customers
Your key fob stops working. The dealership says three days and $400. That doesn’t work when you’ve got meetings, errands, and a life to live.
We come to you—your driveway, your office parking lot, wherever your car is sitting. Most car key fob replacement jobs are done in under an hour from the time we arrive. You’re not arranging towing, not sitting in a service department waiting room, not rearranging your entire week around a broken fob.
The fob we program works exactly like your original. Same functions, same range, same reliability. We use proper diagnostic equipment to sync it with your vehicle’s computer system, so you’re not dealing with a finicky remote that only works half the time. And you’re paying 30 to 50 percent less than what the dealer would charge for the identical service.
We’ve been handling locksmith work in Delaware County since the late 1800s. Tom McCausland and his daughter Chrissy run the operation now—fourth-generation locksmiths who grew up learning this trade.
We’re the largest locksmith company in the Delaware Valley, which means we’ve got the equipment, the parts inventory, and the experience to handle your key fob issue the first time. Our Prospect Park storefront at 1101 Lincoln Ave has been serving Thornton families and businesses for years.
When you call a family business with over 140 years in the community, you’re getting people who can’t afford to cut corners or overcharge. Our reputation in Thornton and across Delaware County depends on doing the work right.
You call or contact us with your situation—lost fob, broken fob, fob that won’t program, whatever the issue is. We ask about your vehicle make, model, and year, plus where you’re located in Thornton.
We give you an upfront price right then. No vague estimates or “we’ll see when we get there” pricing. You know what you’re paying before we leave our shop.
Our mobile locksmith drives to your location with the replacement key fob and programming equipment already loaded. For most vehicles, we can have a new fob cut and programmed in 30 to 60 minutes. We connect our diagnostic computer to your car’s OBD port—usually under the dashboard—and sync the new fob to your vehicle’s security system.
We test everything before we leave. Unlock, lock, trunk release, panic button, remote start if your vehicle has it. The fob needs to work perfectly, not just kind of work. Once it’s programmed and tested, you’re done. No follow-up appointments, no coming back if something doesn’t sync right.
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You get the replacement key fob itself—the actual remote that controls your locks and ignition. We source OEM-quality fobs that match your vehicle’s specifications, not cheap aftermarket units that fail in six months.
The service includes cutting any physical key blade that’s integrated into your fob. Many modern fobs have an emergency key hidden inside for when the battery dies. That key gets cut to match your vehicle’s locks.
Programming is part of the job, not an add-on fee. We bring the diagnostic equipment to sync your new fob with your car’s computer system. This process varies by make and model—some vehicles take 20 minutes, others take 45—but it’s all included in the quoted price.
In Thornton, where most households own two or more vehicles and rely on them for the 82 percent of residents who commute by car, having a working key fob isn’t optional. We understand that in a community where the median household income is over $200,000, your time is valuable. You’re not looking for the cheapest possible option—you’re looking for the option that gets you back to your day without drama, without damage to your vehicle, and without paying dealer markup.
Battery replacement for existing fobs is available too. Sometimes your fob isn’t broken—it just needs a $10 battery. We’ll diagnose that honestly instead of selling you a full replacement you don’t need.
Most key fob replacement jobs in Thornton run between $150 and $350, depending on your vehicle’s make, model, and the type of fob. That includes the fob itself, cutting any integrated key blade, and full programming to your vehicle.
Dealerships typically charge $250 to $600 for the same work. You’re paying for their overhead, their appointment scheduling system, and their markup on parts. We’re a mobile service, so we don’t have those costs to pass along.
Luxury vehicles with advanced security systems—think BMW, Mercedes, Audi—cost more because the fobs themselves are more expensive and the programming is more complex. Basic fobs for economy and mid-range vehicles are on the lower end. We give you the exact price when you call, based on your specific vehicle, so there’s no guessing.
Yes. Losing every key to your vehicle is more complicated than replacing a spare, but it’s absolutely something we handle regularly in Thornton.
When you have no keys at all, we need to access your vehicle first—which we can do without damage—and then program a completely new fob to your car’s system. This process takes longer than standard key fob replacement because we’re essentially teaching your vehicle to recognize a brand new fob from scratch.
You’ll need proof of ownership—your vehicle registration and ID—which protects you from someone else ordering a key to your car. Once we verify ownership, we can get you a working fob the same day in most cases. The alternative is having your car towed to a dealership and waiting several days while they order parts and fit you into their schedule.
Most key fob programming takes 30 to 60 minutes once our locksmith arrives at your location in Thornton. That’s the actual hands-on work—connecting diagnostic equipment, syncing the fob to your vehicle’s computer, cutting any physical key, and testing all functions.
Some vehicles program faster. Older models with simpler systems might be done in 20 minutes. Some newer vehicles with advanced security features can take up to 90 minutes. We’ll tell you the expected timeframe when you call based on your specific make and model.
The bigger time savings is that we come to you. You’re not spending two hours driving to a dealership, waiting in their service department, and driving back. You’re not arranging a tow truck. You make one phone call, we show up, and you’re back in business within an hour.
If it’s programmed correctly with quality equipment, yes. The replacement fob should function identically to your original—same range, same reliability, same features.
The difference comes down to two things: the quality of the fob itself and the expertise of whoever programs it. We use OEM-quality fobs designed to meet your vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. These aren’t the $30 fobs you find online that work for a month and then quit.
Programming matters just as much. Your key fob communicates with your vehicle’s security system through specific codes. If that programming is rushed or done with inadequate equipment, you end up with a fob that works intermittently or fails completely. We use professional diagnostic tools—the same type dealerships use—to ensure the programming is done right the first time.
We handle key fob replacement and programming for virtually every make and model on the road—domestic, import, luxury, economy, everything. Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Jeep, Ram, you name it.
We’ve been doing locksmith work for over 140 years. We’ve invested in the diagnostic equipment and training to stay current with how vehicle security systems evolve. Modern cars are basically computers with wheels, and key fob technology changes constantly. We keep up with it because that’s the business we’re in.
There are occasional exceptions—some very new models or rare imports where replacement fobs aren’t readily available yet, or vehicles with proprietary systems that absolutely require dealer programming. But that’s maybe 2 percent of what we see. For the other 98 percent, we can get you a working fob the same day you call.
If your fob is working inconsistently—you have to press buttons multiple times, it only works when you’re right next to the car, or it works sometimes but not others—that’s usually a dead or dying battery.
Key fob batteries are cheap, typically under $10, and take about five minutes to replace. Most fobs have a small slot where you can pry them open and swap the battery yourself. If you’re not comfortable doing that, we can handle it when we come out.
If your fob isn’t working at all, if it’s been physically damaged, or if you’ve already tried a new battery and it’s still not functioning, then you likely need a full replacement. Water damage, being dropped repeatedly, or just years of wear can kill the fob’s internal electronics.
When you call, describe what’s happening with your fob. We can usually tell you over the phone whether it’s a battery issue or something more serious. We’re not going to sell you a $250 replacement if all you need is a $10 battery.
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