Car Key Replacement: preparing for the visit

The fob went through the washing machine in a jacket pocket. It came out clean and completely silent. Nothing unlocks, the push-button start ignores it, and the little metal blade hidden inside only opens the driver's door.

Worth answering before the call

Was the key lost, stolen, broken, or damaged by water? Is there an aftermarket alarm or remote starter fitted to the car? Where is the car parked right now, and is it locked?

After a break-in the doors and ignition are on different keys. Can that be fixed?

Yes. When a door lock is forced and replaced, or an ignition is swapped, the car can end up needing two blades. A locksmith can rekey the replacement cylinder to match the surviving one, so a single key operates every lock again, and cut new keys to that combination. The transponder side is unchanged by the lock work, so your existing programmed keys carry on starting the car once the blades match.

What is a transponder key, and does my car have one?

A transponder is a small chip in the head of the key with no battery of its own. When the key is in the ignition, or the fob is inside the cabin, the immobilizer sends a signal and the chip answers with a code; if the code is unknown, the engine is prevented from running. Every new light vehicle sold in Canada since September 2007 has been required to have an immobilizer, so almost any car from that time on uses one.