Question 1

How do I spot a fake locksmith before I get burned?

Accepted Answer

A few things to watch for specifically when you're calling about a 2023 Escalade, which is a high-value vehicle and a frequent target for bait-and-switch operations.

First, any real automotive locksmith who works on late-model GM vehicles should be able to tell you over the phone what programming process your specific key type requires and roughly how long it takes. If the person on the phone goes vague or tries to stall until they're on-site, that's a problem.

Second, watch for a quoted "service call" price that sounds impossibly low, with the explanation that they'll figure out the rest when they arrive. That number goes up the moment they're standing next to your car.

Third, search the business name. No physical address, no verifiable reviews, no history of working on GM vehicles, and a phone number that routes to a call center out of state: those are all signs to hang up and call someone else.

A legitimate locksmith willing to work on a current Escalade will talk to you straight about the process and the ballpark cost before they show up.

Question 2

What exactly is a "remote" key and why can't I just get one cut at a hardware store?

Accepted Answer

The factory fob for your 2023 Escalade is a six-button remote that handles lock, unlock, and the other functions built into that fob. It also contains a transponder that has to be registered to the vehicle's security system before the car will recognize it.

A hardware store can cut a metal key. They cannot write to the transponder or register it to your specific vehicle. That part requires professional diagnostic equipment and the correct software for current GM platforms. Without that registration step, the fob won't be recognized, regardless of how well the physical key is cut.

Question 3

What equipment do you actually use to program a 2023 Escalade key?

Accepted Answer

Current GM platforms including the 2023 Escalade run on a CAN-FD network architecture and require tools with current firmware that support GM's encrypted security protocol. I work with professional-grade key programming equipment and keep firmware updated specifically because GM pushes platform changes that can break older tool versions. There are posts in locksmith forums about failed Escalade jobs traced directly to outdated tool firmware, not a bad fob or a bad technician.

For the harder jobs, like clearing a fault state from a previous failed attempt, I carry bench-level equipment that lets me work directly with the body control module outside the vehicle. That's what saved the job described above. Not every locksmith carries that, and it's the difference between finishing the job on-site and telling a customer to call a flatbed.

Question 4

My Escalade shows a key-not-detected warning but the fob battery is new. What's actually going on?

Accepted Answer

This comes up more than you'd think on these, and it's not always the fob.

A few things to check first: the CR2450 cell in the factory fob is a specific size, and some replacement batteries from generic brands are slightly undersized and don't make solid contact with the tray. The car reads that as no fob present. Press the fob directly against the start button and try to start the vehicle. If it starts that way but not from your pocket or the cupholder, the battery contact is the first thing to look at, not the fob's internals.

If the warning is intermittent and tied to a specific door or area of the vehicle, the issue may be on the vehicle side rather than the fob. The antenna modules that receive the fob signal are distributed around the car, and a fault in one of them can cause inconsistent detection without the fob being involved at all. That's a different job than a key replacement.

If the vehicle stopped recognizing the fob after any kind of electrical work, battery replacement, or a previous locksmith visit, a corrupted or incomplete key registration is worth investigating before you buy a new fob.

Question 5

Can I add a spare fob myself, or does a 2023 Escalade always need a shop?

Accepted Answer

Always needs a shop. There's no onboard self-programming sequence on a current Escalade. The ignition-cycle tricks that work on older GM vehicles do not apply here. Adding a fob to this system requires diagnostic equipment that communicates with the vehicle's security module over the OBD port. You can buy a fob online, but it will sit inert until someone programs it. Buying the fob separately is fine and can save you money on parts. Just know the programming labor is a separate step that can't be skipped.

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