Auto Key Services0
A cracked or broken key shell does not always mean a full replacement key. We refurbish and replace shells, often for less than a new key.
We fix cracked shells, or fit a new OEM or aftermarket shell around your existing chip.
Your working transponder chip and blade are reused wherever possible, avoiding a full re-programme.
OEM and aftermarket shells in stock for a range of makes and button layouts.
We refurbish cracked shells and fit new OEM or aftermarket cases around your existing chip and blade.
Cracked and broken key remote shells are a common problem, particularly on certain Honda and Lexus models, but they affect most makes eventually. Replacing the whole key through a dealer can be costly, and in many cases unnecessary, when the underlying electronics, the chip and the circuit board, are still perfectly sound.
At Auto Key Services we have the tools, stock and experience to repair or replace a cracked or broken shell at a competitive price, keeping your existing chip and blade intact wherever possible rather than programming an entirely new key from scratch, saving you both time and unnecessary cost and hassle.
Key shells generally fail from ordinary wear and tear rather than a single dramatic drop. Plastic becomes more brittle with age and exposure to sunlight, and every twist of the key in the ignition puts stress on the point where the blade meets the shell, so cracks build up gradually over years of use.
Modern key shells also have to be thin, because they house a circuit board, battery, transponder chip and buttons in a small space. That compact design makes them more vulnerable to cracking than the solid metal keys of decades past, even though it enables far more security features.
A cracked shell is more than a cosmetic problem. It can let moisture reach the circuit board and battery contacts inside, and a loose or unstable shell puts extra strain on the blade, increasing the chance it snaps off during ordinary use, often at an inconvenient moment.
Trying to seal a crack with super glue can work in the short term, but if any glue reaches the internal electronics or contacts, it can cause further damage that makes a later professional repair more difficult and more expensive than if the shell had been replaced early.
For many keys, refurbishing the existing shell, or transferring the chip and blade into a fresh OEM or aftermarket shell, restores full function without the cost of an entirely new key. We keep a range of shells in stock and match the button layout and configuration to your original.
Where the shell is too damaged to save, or the electronics inside have also failed, we will tell you honestly and quote for a full key replacement instead, rather than attempting a repair that is unlikely to last for long.
Calls are answered 24 hours a day. Tell us the make, model and year, and we will tell you what we can do and what it will cost.
In most cases, yes. If the chip and blade still work, repairing or replacing just the shell avoids the cost of programming an entirely new key and chip from scratch.
You can try for a very minor crack, but glue reaching the internal contacts or circuit board can cause further damage. We would recommend having it checked first by a locksmith.
We carry OEM and aftermarket shells for a wide range of makes and models. Call us with your vehicle details and we will confirm availability, the likely cost and turnaround.
Clearing lost, stolen or old owners’ keys from your vehicle’s memory and programming fresh ones.
Rebuilding or replacing worn ignition housings on stiff, jammed or key-breaking ignitions.
Diagnosing and repairing faulty ignitions, from a stuck key to a car that won’t crank.
