CAL CAL - Certified Automotive Locksmith Lock Cylinder Service and Rekeying Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the standard term for replacing the internal tumblers or wafers of an automotive lock cylinder so that it operates with a new key?
- Rekeying (Correct answer)
- Reprogramming
- Recoding the immobilizer
- Transponder resetting
Correct answer: Rekeying
Rekeying refers to physically changing the internal tumblers or wafers of a lock cylinder so it operates with a different key cut.
Question 2: Which tool is specifically used to remove a lock cylinder from a vehicle door without damaging the surrounding sheet metal?
- A cylinder removal tool or clip removal pick (Correct answer)
- A slim jim
- A key extractor
- A plug follower
Correct answer: A cylinder removal tool or clip removal pick
Cylinder removal tools and clip removal picks are designed to depress retaining clips and slide cylinders out cleanly without marring surrounding panels.
Question 3: When disassembling an automotive door lock cylinder, which small component is responsible for retaining the key in the lock when it is at the rest position?
- The key retainer or wards spring (Correct answer)
- The plug follower
- The sidebar
- The actuator rod
Correct answer: The key retainer or wards spring
The key retainer or wards spring holds the key in place when inserted to the rest position, preventing it from falling out.
Question 4: What is a 'plug follower' used for when servicing an automotive lock cylinder?
- To keep springs and tumblers in place while the plug is removed from the shell (Correct answer)
- To follow the VIN and locate the correct key code
- To push cut keys into the cylinder for testing
- To hold the cylinder steady in a vise
Correct answer: To keep springs and tumblers in place while the plug is removed from the shell
A plug follower is inserted behind the plug as it is removed, maintaining spring and tumbler tension to prevent them from scattering out of the shell.
Question 5: Automotive wafer-tumbler lock cylinders differ from pin-tumbler cylinders primarily because wafers:
- Use flat spring-loaded wafers that slide in slots rather than stacked pin pairs in bored holes (Correct answer)
- Require electronic signals to operate
- Use a sidebar mechanism as the primary locking element
- Are only found on motorcycle ignitions
Correct answer: Use flat spring-loaded wafers that slide in slots rather than stacked pin pairs in bored holes
Wafer-tumbler cylinders use flat, spring-loaded wafers that must align at a shear line, whereas pin-tumbler cylinders use stacked driver and key pins in drilled holes.
Question 6: What is the correct procedure after rekeying multiple automotive lock cylinders (door, trunk, ignition) to ensure they all operate on a single key?
- Decode an existing working key or cut a new key to the desired bitting, then rekey all cylinders to match that bitting (Correct answer)
- Program each cylinder individually using a TPMS tool
- Replace all cylinders with new OEM units keyed alike from the factory
- Use a master key to override all cylinders simultaneously
Correct answer: Decode an existing working key or cut a new key to the desired bitting, then rekey all cylinders to match that bitting
The locksmith determines the target key bitting, then sets the tumblers in each cylinder to match, ensuring all locks operate on one key.
CAL CAL - Certified Automotive Locksmith Lock Cylinder Service and Rekeying Questions and Answers 1
What is the standard term for replacing the internal tumblers or wafers of an automotive lock cylinder so that it operates with a new key?