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Crenshaw Lock

Transponder Key Programming in Ojai · 24/7 mobile

Transponder Key Programming in Ojai, California

Crenshaw Lock Company provides mobile transponder key programming in Ojai, California, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We come to your vehicle and program chip keys to its immobilizer, wherever it is parked in the valley. Call (323) 997-8867 to talk with a real locksmith.

  • Mobile to your Ojai location
  • Available 24/7
  • Price quoted before we start
Call (323) 997-8867or tap to call — we answer 24/7
Car key being programmed with a handheld programmer inside a car
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A modern car key is more than a cut piece of metal. Inside the plastic head sits a small transponder chip that talks to the vehicle's immobilizer, and if the car does not recognize that chip, the engine will not run. Transponder key programming is the work of teaching your vehicle to accept a new key, whether you lost your only one, cracked a fob, or just want a reliable spare before something goes wrong.

In Ojai that need tends to show up at inconvenient moments: after a hike near Meditation Mount, at the end of an evening at Libbey Bowl, or when a visitor's rental car key goes missing somewhere along Ojai Avenue. Because the valley is tucked away from the bigger cities, towing a car to a distant dealership just to get a key made is a real hassle. Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile, so the work comes to you. We have no storefront to visit; our technician arrives equipped to do the job at your car.

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles and Ventura County since 1987, and owner and lead tech David Shar built the business on straightforward, honest automotive and residential lock work. We will tell you plainly what your vehicle needs, what can be done on site, and what the job depends on, before any work begins.

How it works in Ojai

  1. 1

    You call and describe the situation

    Call (323) 997-8867 any hour. Tell us the make, model and year, where the car is, and whether you still have a working key. That tells us whether we are adding a spare or starting from no keys at all, which changes the approach.

  2. 2

    We come to your vehicle

    We are fully mobile, so we travel to you, whether you are parked near the Arcade, at home in the Arbolada, or out on a rural road in the East End. There is nothing to tow and no shop to visit.

  3. 3

    Confirm ownership

    Before we program a key to an immobilizer, we need reasonable proof that the vehicle is yours, such as registration and identification. This protects you and every other owner in the valley from key theft.

  4. 4

    Prepare the key

    We match the correct key blank or fob for your vehicle and, where needed, cut it to the vehicle's lock. Some vehicles use a transponder only, while others combine a chip with remote buttons, and we sort out which applies to yours.

  5. 5

    Program to the immobilizer

    Using professional diagnostic and programming equipment, we connect to the vehicle and register the new key. Depending on the vehicle, older keys may also be re-registered or removed from the system so a lost key no longer works.

  6. 6

    Test everything before we leave

    We confirm the key starts the engine, turns the ignition and locks and unlocks the doors, and that any remote functions respond. You should leave with a key you can trust, ideally with a spare in your pocket.

Need transponder key programming in Ojai?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

What affects the price

  • Vehicle make, model and year, since some immobilizer systems are far more involved to program than others
  • Whether you have a working key to copy from or have lost every key, which can require a more extensive procedure
  • The type of key: basic transponder, remote head key, flip key or smart proximity fob
  • How many keys need to be programmed, including whether you want a spare while we are already there
  • Whether the key must be cut or the vehicle's lock has worn or damaged components
  • Time of day and location, since after-hours calls and more remote properties can affect the job

Why Ojai chooses us

  • Fully mobile service: we program the key at your car in Ojai instead of asking you to arrange a tow
  • Available 24/7, including nights and weekends when a lost key leaves you stranded
  • In business since 1987, with owner David Shar leading the work
  • We explain what your vehicle needs and what affects cost before we begin, without quoting numbers we cannot back up
  • We also handle residential and gate work, so one call can cover car keys and the lock issues at your valley property

Transponder Key Programming across Ojai

Ojai is a spread-out valley, and a lost car key can mean being stuck far from help. We work across the town, from the Arcade and Libbey Park downtown to the wooded streets of the Arbolada and the quieter ranch roads of the East End. Visitors staying near the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa or in one of the town's many vacation rentals sometimes lose a key far from home, and we can come to them as well as to residents in ZIP codes 93023 and 93024.

Getting around here means SR-33 (Maricopa Highway / Ojai Freeway), SR-150 (Ojai Avenue / Baldwin Road), El Paseo Road and Grand Avenue. Whether you are parked near Bart's Books, the Ojai Valley Museum or the Post Office Tower, or on a long driveway behind a gated East End estate, we plan the trip to reach your vehicle where it sits.

We also serve neighboring Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte and Oak View. If your property needs more than a car key, such as gate and intercom service on a rural estate or keypad reprogramming and rekeying for a vacation rental, we can help with that too.

Locked out or need a locksmith now?

24/7 Mobile Locksmith across Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County. We answer 24/7.

Call (323) 997-8867

Other Ojai locksmith services

See all of our Ojai services, or our citywide transponder key programming page.

Transponder Key Programming in Ojai — FAQs

Can you program a transponder key if I lost all my keys in Ojai?
In many cases, yes. Having no working key is more involved than adding a spare, but it is often something we can do at your vehicle. Call (323) 997-8867 with your make, model and year and we will tell you what to expect.
Do I need to tow my car to you?
No. Crenshaw Lock Company is fully mobile and has no storefront. We come to your car anywhere in Ojai and the surrounding valley.
Are you available at night or on weekends?
Yes. We are available 24/7. Call (323) 997-8867 at any hour and we will talk through your situation. We do not promise a particular arrival time, but we will be upfront about what we can do.
What proof of ownership will you ask for?
Typically registration or title along with a valid photo ID. We ask because programming a key to an immobilizer is a security-sensitive job, and verifying ownership protects you.
How much does transponder key programming cost?
It depends on the vehicle, the key type, whether you have an existing key, how many keys you need, and the time and location of the call. We do not quote prices on this page, but we will explain the factors when you call.
Can you program a key for a rental car or a visitor's vehicle?
We can often help with a vehicle that belongs to the person calling, with proper proof of ownership. Rental cars are usually owned by the rental company, so you may need to involve them first.
Will a lost key still start my car after you program a new one?
That depends on the vehicle. On many systems we can remove or deregister old keys so a lost one no longer works. Ask us when you call and we will confirm for your model.
Can you also help with my gate or home locks?
Yes. We handle residential and gate work too, including keypad reprogramming and rekeying. Call (323) 997-8867 to discuss both your car and property in a single visit.
DS

Reviewed by David Shar — Owner & Lead Technician

Crenshaw Lock Company has served Greater Los Angeles & Ventura County since 1987.

Last updated 2026-10-12.

Call (323) 997-8867 · Open 24/7