How to Replace a Mazda Key
by Jen Davis
Losing the key to your car can be stressful. Fortunately, it is fairly simple to have replacement key made for your Mazda vehicle. Depending on the year model of your car, getting a replacement key can be as simple as going down to your local hardware store, though some newer vehicles feature car keys with require specially programmed computer chips that can only be made by a dealership or trained automotive locksmith. You have several different options for having a replacement key for your Mazda.
Step 1
Take your key to your local hardware store and have them make you a copy using their key machine. This will only work if your car key does not have a computer chip inside of it. Car keys with computer chips have to be able to sync with the car's computer system in order to work.
Step 2
Go to your local Mazda dealership and have them make you another key. The Mazda dealership will be able to replicate chipped keys and program them for you on site. Depending on the size of the dealership and the age of your car, the dealership might also be able to replicate a key for your car without having the original key. This can usually only be done with recently manufactured cars.
Step 3
Contact an automotive locksmith to make a replacement key for your vehicle. Locksmiths often keep blank programmable chip keys on hand as well as basic keys. Locksmiths typically charge less than dealerships to make a new key for your Mazda car and are a good alternative if your nearest Mazda dealership is not near your location. However, whether or not your local locksmith will be able to make a working key will depend on his level of sophistication and technology, while your dealership is a sure bet for getting a working key. Also, locksmiths may not be able to duplicate your key without using the orginal key.
References
Tips
- You can determine if your car key has a computer chip in it by looking at the top of the key where it attaches to your key ring. If the key is plain metal or relatively flat black plastic, or your car was made in the early 1990s or before, chances are fairly high you do not have a key with a computer chip.
Writer Bio
Jen Davis has been writing since 2004. She has served as a newspaper reporter and her freelance articles have appeared in magazines such as "Horses Incorporated," "The Paisley Pony" and "Alabama Living." Davis earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication with a concentration in journalism from Berry College in Rome, Ga.
