Practice Test Geeks(CAL) Certified Automotive Locksmith Practice Test
← All CAL Flashcard Decks

High-Security Automotive Keys Flashcards

7 cards from real CAL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 High-Security Automotive Keys flashcards as text

  1. Which General Motors immobilizer technology, introduced in the late 1990s, uses a resistor pellet embedded in the key head rather than a transponder chip?

    Answer: GM VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System) / PASS-Key

    GM's VATS/PASS-Key system uses one of 15 resistance values in a resistor pellet in the key blade; the BCM must read the correct resistance to allow starting.

  2. A technician is cutting a Medeco automotive key. What is the distinguishing feature of Medeco's key design that adds a layer of security?

    Answer: Rotating key pins that require angular cuts in addition to depth cuts

    Medeco keys require precise angular positioning (rotating the pins to a set angle) in addition to standard depth cuts, making them extremely difficult to duplicate without proprietary equipment.

  3. When a vehicle uses a 'smart key' or 'proximity key' (PEPS system), what must the locksmith program in addition to the key's transponder?

    Answer: The key's RF remote functions and the passive entry/start credentials into the PEPS BCM

    PEPS (Passive Entry Passive Start) smart keys require programming both the start authorization credentials and the remote/entry functions into the vehicle's PEPS module.

  4. What is the primary risk of using a universal 'copy chip' (such as a CN5) to clone a transponder without verifying compatibility first?

    Answer: The emulated chip ID may not match the vehicle's expected transponder family, preventing start

    If the CN5 or similar chip is not correctly configured for the target vehicle's transponder family, the immobilizer will not recognize it and the vehicle will not start.

  5. In the context of VAG (Volkswagen/Audi Group) immobilizers, what is the 'SKC' (Secret Key Code) used for?

    Answer: It is a 5-digit workshop code required to authorize new key adaptations to the immobilizer

    The SKC is a 5-digit secret code tied to each VAG immobilizer; it must be entered via a diagnostic tool (e.g., VCDS or ODIS) to allow new keys to be matched to the system.

  6. What does 'key cutting by code' mean, and why is it preferred for high-security automotive keys?

    Answer: Cutting the key using the vehicle's factory bitting specifications from a database, ensuring precision

    Cutting by code retrieves the OEM bitting specification from a key code database and cuts to those exact dimensions, which is more accurate than duplicating a worn key.

  7. Which type of automotive key incorporates both a transponder chip and a remote entry fob into a single integrated unit, commonly called an 'ORVM' or 'combo key'?

    Answer: Switchblade key (flip key)

    A switchblade (flip) key houses both a transponder and remote buttons in the fob body, with the mechanical blade folding out — combining ignition key and RKE in one unit.