CAL Automotive Locksmith Key Cutting & Programming 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When using a code cutter to cut a high-security laser-cut (internal) key, what is the primary difference from cutting a standard edge-cut key?
- The laser-cut key requires cuts on both edges simultaneously
- The cuts are made in a groove down the center of the key blade rather than on the edge (Correct answer)
- Laser-cut keys require a higher RPM setting on the cutting machine
- The depth increments are larger for laser-cut keys than edge-cut keys
Correct answer: The cuts are made in a groove down the center of the key blade rather than on the edge
Laser-cut (also called internal-cut or sidewinder) keys have cuts machined into a central groove running along the blade rather than along the edge.
Question 2: A customer's 2018 Ford F-150 requires a new transponder key. After cutting the key mechanically, what additional step is mandatory before the key will start the vehicle?
- Sanding the key edges smooth so it doesn't damage the ignition
- Programming the transponder chip to the vehicle's immobilizer ECU (Correct answer)
- Registering the key with the Ford dealer database
- Applying a heat treatment to bond the chip to the key blade
Correct answer: Programming the transponder chip to the vehicle's immobilizer ECU
Transponder keys contain an RFID chip that must be programmed to match the vehicle's immobilizer system or the engine will not start.
Question 3: Which key-cutting method uses an original key as a physical template to guide the cutter along its profile?
- Code cutting
- Decoding
- Impression cutting
- Trace (copy) cutting (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Trace (copy) cutting
Trace or copy cutting clamps an original key as a tracer template while a matching cutter simultaneously reproduces the profile on a new key blank.
Question 4: What does the term 'key bitting' refer to in automotive locksmithing?
- The total length of the key blade
- The specific combination of cut depths and positions that operate a particular lock (Correct answer)
- The process of inserting a key blank into a cutting machine
- The material composition of the key blade
Correct answer: The specific combination of cut depths and positions that operate a particular lock
Key bitting is the pattern of cut depths at specified positions along the blade that aligns the lock's tumblers to the shear line, allowing rotation.
Question 5: When programming a proximity (smart) key fob for a 2020 Toyota Camry, a locksmith finds the vehicle will not enter programming mode. The most likely first diagnostic step is to:
- Replace the vehicle's ECU immediately
- Verify the correct OBDII programmer software version and vehicle PIN are being used (Correct answer)
- Cut a new physical emergency blade before attempting programming again
- Disconnect the battery for 10 minutes to reset the immobilizer
Correct answer: Verify the correct OBDII programmer software version and vehicle PIN are being used
Incorrect software version or wrong PIN/access code is the most common reason programming mode fails, and should be verified before other steps.
Question 6: A depth-and-space (D&S) specification chart for a Ford key series shows Position 1 as the bow-nearest cut. If you are cutting by code and the code reads 3-1-4-2, what does '1' in Position 2 indicate?
- The second cut is the shallowest depth in that manufacturer's depth series (Correct answer)
- Position 2 is skipped entirely
- The second cut uses a #1 blade type
- The second cut is 1mm from the tip
Correct answer: The second cut is the shallowest depth in that manufacturer's depth series
In a D&S code, each number corresponds to a depth level defined by the manufacturer, with '1' typically representing the shallowest cut.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the 'maximum adjacent cut specification' (MACS) rule in key cutting?
- The maximum number of cuts allowed on a single key
- The largest allowable depth difference between any two adjacent cuts on a key (Correct answer)
- The maximum blade thickness allowed for a given keyway
- The furthest distance the key tip can be from the last cut
Correct answer: The largest allowable depth difference between any two adjacent cuts on a key
MACS defines the greatest permitted depth difference between neighboring cuts; exceeding it can cause the key to bind or break in the lock.
CAL Automotive Locksmith Key Cutting & Programming 2
When using a code cutter to cut a high-security laser-cut (internal) key, what is the primary difference from cutting a standard edge-cut key?