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wants them deleted from the
vehicle, then they will all be
erased and extra keys won’t
have to be made up at a later
date. This can present the
locksmith with a chance
to upsell to a new key
but as is often the
case, most
customers
would rather pay
less now and take the
gamble that they will not lose
them at a later date.
The methods used to clone
The methods you go through
to clone a key can depend on
the type of transponder you
have. With the exception of a
technology called ID46 that
is found on a large majority
of the vehicles nowadays
(with the exception of Fords,
VAG group and Toyotas) the
cloning process is as simple
as reading the original, getting
the ‘hidden’ data from the
key (either by using internet
connecting or just doing
calculations with the key
itself depending on machine
and transponder type), and
then inserting a cloning
transponder on which to write
the data.
In the case of ID46, the
user must return to the
vehicle halfway through the
process and hold the cloning
transponder (or another
device that the cloning device
manufacturer will provide) up
against the original key while
it’s turned in the ignition. This
records the data and is used to
help recover the hidden data
from the key.
keycloning
The potential risks
when cloning
Compared with key
programming, cloning is
both a lot less technical and
problematic, as this tends to
be about you just working
with the transponder, rather
than communicating with the
vehicle directly.
On older vehicles, there
are minimal, if any, risks as
you’re simply getting the
data by reading the key as the
vehicle would - and has done
countless times before.
On newer vehicles,
particularly those that use
the ID46 technology as
mentioned previously, on
competitors’ transponder
cloning machines where you
‘sniff’ the data without the
original key present can cause
the vehicle to lockup. This is
because you are attempting
to start the vehicle without
the original key and so it acts
in an almost self-defensive
manner to stop it. In cases
like this, using the original
key after a couple of attempts
to sniff the data can reset the
car and allow you to carry on
trying to sniff the data.
What you can’t clone
and what you then
need to do then
Cloning is reliant on two
factors – having a method to
get the data off the original
transponder and having a
transponder that will accept
the new data. When both of
these are true, then the key
can be cloned. Some of the
transponders that cannot be
cloned at the moment are
listed here.
ID33 Rolling – These
transponders are found on
the diamond-shaped BMW
keys. The ‘rolling’ bit refers to
how the vehicle uses them.
They work by having the
vehicle write to them every
time they are used, meaning
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that even though you can
technically clone them, as
soon as either the original
or the new key is used, then
the other will stop working
as it will not contain the new
info.
ID48s – aside from a few
obscure makes and models
not commonly seen in the
UK, it is generally fair to say
that as a rule this transponder
cannot be cloned. Cloning
transponders for ID48s do
exist but with current devices
on the market, nothing can
get all the data off the key.
Ford/Toyota 80 bit
Transponders – this
transponder has been rolled
out for Fords and Toyotas
from 2010 onwards and has so
far been clone-proof. Neither
a method to get the data off
the key, nor a transponder
that can be written to, exist
at the moment. Needless to
say this, along with ID48s,
due to their widespread
popularity on vehicles, are
no doubt at the top of the ‘to
do’ list of most transponder
cloning manufacturers such
as ourselves.
Mercedes ‘Plug In Dash’
Keys – These keys currently
have no way to be cloned
and your only option is to
program new keys into the
vehicle.
Renault Key Cards – These
keys take the form of credit
card size fob that is inserted
into the slot. Unfortunately,
the nature of this slot prevents
the cloning transponder
being inserted to sniff the
data when cloning.
When you don’t have the
option to clone an existing
key, then you need to look at
programming a new key in,
either diagnostically or by
EEPROM/MCUwith a device
such as Touchclone.
How the locksmith
can save money in the
future by saving data
from the initial job
When using a product like
Touchclone, there is the option
to save the transponder and
key data into a database after
a clone. This offers the auto
locksmith a chance to build up
repeat custom and customer
loyalty by allowing them to
recall this information at a
later date. If the customer loses
their original key and gets
locked out, the doors no longer
have to be picked and decoded
since the bitting information is
already known. The locksmith
can even technically make up
another spare cloned key and
post it out to the customer if
needed.
Hardware required
When looking at key
cloning equipment, there
have historically been two
families of device. Dedicated
transponder cloners from the
likes of JMA, Silca and Keyline
that will work standalone
(that is without an internet
connection or computer
required). Or multipurpose
machines such as Touchclone,
AD900, Zedfull, Miraclone
or Tango that will clone keys
but also have the option t